ZACH's New Topfer Theatre Welcomes WHITE CHRISTMAS, 12/5-30

ZACH – Austin's Theatre and Texas' longest running theatre, in the first-ever season in its new Topfer Theatre, presents the Austin premiere of WHITE CHRISTMAS, based on the Paramount Pictures film written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank. The show features music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by David Ives and Paul Blake, with musical direction by Allen Robertson. WHITE CHRISTMAS is directed and choreographed by Nick Demos.

What do Austinites dream of every December but never experience? A WHITE CHRISTMAS, of course, and this holiday their dreams come true when the beloved movie musical turns ZACH into a winter wonderland. In this delightful new stage adaptation, former Army buddies turned famous song and dance men find love with two singing sisters in a snowy Vermont Inn, singing Irving Berlin classics like "Happy Holidays", "Count Your Blessings", "Blue Skies," and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm." A must-see on your family's holiday wish list!

ZACH's Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley says: "The most popular holiday song of all time begins with the lyrics 'I'm dreaming of a …'. With this season's focus on dreams, WHITE CHRISTMAS had to be on the season. In December we welcome the most audience members at ZACH, and for the first holiday in the Topfer Theatre I selected a musical that is great for families, and has not been produced in Austin. This is a big show performed in the intimacy of our 420-seat theatre; the joy from hearing those great Irving Berlin songs like 'Sisters', 'Blue Skies', 'Happy Holidays' and the title song performed live will permeate the room and every heart. I guarantee the forecast will be snow for every single performance in the Topfer! "

ZACH's production of WHITE CHRISTMAS features an all-star cast of 30 actors including: Matt Redden, NY Guest Artist Matt Gibson, Meredith McCall, Beth Koepp, Harvey Guion, Barbara A. Schoenhofer, Hannah Roberts, Daniel Monplaisir, Lara Wright, Laura Galt, Brian Coughlin, and Tyler Jones – with a live orchestra!

The creative team includes original set design by Cliff Simon, lighting design by Jason Amato, sound design by Craig Brock, properties design by Blake Reeves and costume design by Deborah Roberts.

WHITE CHRISTMAS previews December 5-12. The Champagne Opening and Press Night is Thursday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a reception with the stars of show. A GLBT Wilde Party pre-show mixer is Thursday, December 6. Performances continue through December 30, 2012, running Tuesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

To order tickets call 512-476-0541 ext. 1 or visit www.zachtheatre.org. Tickets range from $25-$75. Student Rush Tickets: $18 one hour before showtime (with valid ID). ZACH's new, full bar opens one and half hours prior to showtime and remains open for one hour post-show.

ZACH's new Topfer Theatre is located at 202 South Lamar Blvd. (corner of Riverside Drive and South Lamar Blvd.)

ZACH Theatre is Austin's leading professional producing theatre, employing more than 600 actors, musicians, and designers annually. Founded in 1932, ZACH is the longest running theatre company in Texas, serving 95,000 adults and youth annually. ZACH creates its own nationally recognized plays and musicals that ignite the imagination, lift the spirit, and engage the community under the proven leadership of Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley and Managing Director Elisbeth Challener. Launching its 80th season in 2012, ZACH continues to expand and engage with Austin, adding the new 420-seat, 32,000-square-foot Topfer Theatre to its performing arts campus, nearly doubling ZACH's capacity while retaining its hallmark intimate theatre-going experience. Visit www.zachtheatre.org for more information.

ZACH Theatre is sponsored in part, by Applied Materials, Austin Catering, Four Hands Home, Holiday Inn-Lady Bird Lake, Kirk Tuck Photography, Marquee Event Group, OnRamp, Austin American-Statesman, KXAN TV 36, and Time Warner Cable; and by grants from Junior League of Austin, The Shubert Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, which believes an investment in the arts is an investment in Austin's future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.

For real-time updates on ZACH Theatre news, events and happenings, visit http://www.zachtheatre.org/blog, be a fan of ZACH Theatre on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/zachtheatre, and follow ZACH on Twitter @zachtheatre http://www.twitter.com/zachtheatre.

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