La Conner supplies talent for Christmas classic

Irving Berlin’s classic holiday musical “White Christmas” is jingling into the historic Lincoln Theatre in downtown Mount Vernon tonight, with a cast that includes many familiar La Conner faces.

The musical, which runs for the next three weekends, is put on by Theatre Arts Guild, and is based on the 1954 film that starred Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. It remains to this day a staple in every holiday movie marathon.

When army buddies and Broadway directors Bob Wallace and Phil Davis follow singers Betty and Judy Haynes to Vermont for the holidays, they are shocked to find that their old C.O. General Waverly now runs an unsuccessful inn. To change the general’s fortunes, Bob and Phil invite their Broadway cast and their old army comrades to the inn for a Christmas extravaganza.

While the stage production includes favorite song-and-dance numbers from the film, such as “Snow,” “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing,” “Sisters,” and, of course, “White Christmas,” it also boasts other Berlin pieces not included in the big screen version, such as “I Love a Piano” and “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy.”

Besides a wide array of swinging, full-cast musical numbers, “White Christmas” features quite a few local La Conner actors, including Dustin Moore as Bob Wallace; Torie Giesen as Judy Haynes; Victoria Hayes as Susan Waverly, the general’s granddaughter; Heather DeGroot as the saucy showgirl Rita; Heidi Hayes as Mrs. Snoring Woman and an ensemble singer; and me, Nicole Jennings, as the cigarette girl and a chorus girl in Bob and Phil’s troupe.

DeGroot, 26, a 2007 La Conner High School graduate and esthetician at Salon Rouge, has fun with her character, a dim-witted but bold showgirl with a bit of a scandalous reputation. “I wanted to be Rita because of the dancing, but I found that being a showgirl is fun,” DeGroot said. “I get to have very few boundaries as an actress. It’s been fun to explore.”

Heidi Hayes, who is married to La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes, has also gotten creative with a crazy character, the “crotchety and impatient Mrs. Snoring Woman,” who joins the leads in singing “Snow” on the train to Vermont. “I’m having a blast,” Heidi said. “I don’t know much about theatre, but I’m just going for it.” She added that doing a show with her daughter, Victoria, has been an incredible bonding experience.

Victoria Hayes, an 11-year-old La Conner Elementary fifth-grader, has quite a bit in common with her character. Like Victoria, Susan Waverly is a hardworking student, who realizes that her life’s ambition lies not in the world of academia, but in the bright lights of Broadway.

The cast has become a real family throughout the rehearsal process, which has been going on since early August.

“We have had a very dedicated cast that has worked really hard on the music, which is incredible and difficult in this show,” said Moore, who works in La Conner. “Everyone’s smiles and handwork have been a pleasure to be a part of.”

“Everyone is bonding, it’s really nice,” said Victoria of the experience. “This presence is there — everyone will catch your back if you need it.”

“This is a creative foxhole,” Heidi added. “There’s an energy and bonding that happens in theatre that’s unlike anything else. We all have the same goal, we’re all encouraging.”

The intense three-month vocal, dance, and acting training has improved the actors’ abilities as well. “My favorite part has been the experience of singing,” said Giesen, 21, who works at Seeds Bistro. “I’ve grown leaps and bounds just since auditions. I’ve really come into my own.”

The show’s director, Cally Holden, offered some insight as to why “White Christmas” has remained a beloved Christmas tradition for over half a century. “The magic of music goes beyond all generations. It brings you into it whether you’re 12 or 90,” Holden said. “My grandparents watched it, and now my grandchildren watch it. My daughters sang ‘Sisters’ to each other at their rehearsal dinners.”

“I think it has endured because of its themes of love and redemption,” added Moore. “To me, that is what Christmas is all about…With good music, comedy, and lots of love, I think it will continue to be a part of my Christmas tradition.”

“White Christmas” plays at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 26, 28, 29, and Dec. 4, 5, 6, 12, and 13, and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 7.