We kick off our second theatre production of the semester with “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas!” This production is perfect as we enter the winter season of being grateful and giving. The director, Chelsea Collier, describes it as “…a story full of joy, friendship and ultimately is about doing good things for the people that we care about.”
When meeting with Collier, we wanted to get a clear image of why this production is one that the audience needs to see. She gives her insight, saying “[It] offers people a reminder in the darkest times of the year that there is going to be light again and hope is on the horizon. [This production] is a way to bring warmth in the darkest, coldest time of year.”
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” is a love story that takes place after World War II, that focuses on universal experiences like love, generosity and how jumping to conclusions can have unfortunate consequences. The tale follows Phil and Bob, who have a long friendship and two sisters named Betty and Judy. The dialogue uses strong language, stressing the depths of these relationships. They often borrow each other’s language, will speak at the same time or finish each other’s sentences. “It is a charming and realistic way of showing people that mind melds when they have known each other for a long time and are very close to one another.”
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is a story that she holds dear to her heart, explaining “…about ten years ago, some theater friends and I went to see the movie production in theaters and that created a Christmas tradition for us all. [It means something because] it gives me an opportunity to connect with friends and it helps me focus on the people that I care about.”
Collier’s advice to upcoming directors is to “…go through your source material several times before you really get ideas about who you want to cast or what you want to see on stage. Find out if there are any cultural references and what they mean [to the final production], look up what the time period was like. Get as much context as you can so that when it comes to cast your show, you have a strong sense of who the characters are and what you want to bring to the stage. The more you read the materials, the more you get ideas and images of what you want the production to be.”
When asked why she wanted to become a director, Collier quoted John W. Morris “…when you find a show where you want to be all of the actors, that is the show that you want to direct.” For Collier, this moment occurred during a production called “Curtains.” She had a prior career as an actor in theater but “Curtains” was the first time she had ever found herself wanting to bring every character to life.
While casting for the production, the main things Collier looked for were people who connected with one another, those who had an easy rapport as well as a sense of humor. She also wanted to be sure to include some faces that she had yet to see grace the Parkland stage.
For her latest production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Collier hopes that the audience walks out of the production and has the urge to call someone they love and connect with them. She wants them to feel the joy, nostalgia, warmth and consideration that is involved throughout the production.
Collier’s secret to captivating the audience is by focusing on what is important – namely focusing on the relationships between the characters and bringing them to the forefront.
So come prepared for an emotionally charged show topped with amazing dance numbers and beautiful music. Show times are from Dec. 5-7 and 12-14 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 8 and 15 at 3 p.m.
