Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS Heads to Ocean State Theatre for the Holidays

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), currently celebrating its fifth season in its comfortable stadium-style theatre in Warwick, will present the family-friendly, holiday musical, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, which will run at Ocean State Theatre from November 30 - December 24.

Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaptation features seventeen Irving Berlin songs. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil's former army commander. The dazzling score features well known standards including "Blue Skies," "I Love A Piano," "How Deep Is the Ocean," and the perennial favorite, "White Christmas."

Ocean State Theatre Company is thrilled to welcome Paula Hammons Sloan to Ocean State Theatre. Ms. Sloan who has directed or choreographed numerous national tours including Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie, Urban Cowboy, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Copacabana, Singin' in the Rain, My One and Only, and Crazy for You, will be making her Ocean State Theatre Company debut as the director and choreographer of White Christmas. John Jay Espino, who music directed previous OSTC productions of It's a Wonderful Life, LES MISERABLES, The King and I, and this season's critically acclaimed production of Billy Elliot: The Musical, returns as Musical Director.

The twenty-two person cast includes New York actor, Nate Suggs, who returns to OSTC after portraying Billy Crocker in last season's Anything Goes and OSTC founding member, Joel Kipper of South Kingstown, who was last seen in Rounding Third, in the roles of Bob Wallace and Phil Davis. The roles of sisters Betty and Judy will be portrayed by Stefani Wood of Riverside, who appeared as Mrs. Martini in It's a Wonderful Life and is currently touring in OSTC's educational production of Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical and Maria Logan of New York, who made her OSTC debut as Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde: The Musical. Mark S. Cartier of West Bridgewater, MA., seen in OSTC productions of Fools, Miracle on 34th Street, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The Diary of Anne Frank, Meet Me in St. Louis, Breaking Legs and 1776, returns as the General, Broadway actress Susann Fletcher, (The Full Monty, Guys and Dolls, The Goodbye Girl, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) will be making her OSTC debut as Martha and Casey Nadzam of Hamden, CT, will be making her OSTC debut as Susan Waverly. Rounding out the cast are Rachel Abbate of Norfolk, MA, Melissa Buriak of Ledyard, CT, Eileen Cannon, Blayne Gregg-Miller, Michael Luongo and Ashley Rubin of New York, Aaron Dore of Fairhaven, MA David Groccia of North Providence, Daniel Guay of Fall River, MA, Breezy Heller of Westerly, Tess Jonas and Daniel Forest Sullivan of Boston, MA, Daniel Larson of Smithfield, Taylor Hilt Mitchell of Warwick and Tobias Wilson of Providence.

White Christmas will be presented at Ocean State Theatre from November 30 - December 24. Previews are scheduled for Wednesday, November 30 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, December 1 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. All other performances will be held Wednesday (except December 7), Thursday (except December 8), Friday, and Saturday(except December 24) evenings at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Thursdays (except December 15), Saturdays (except December 3) and Sundays (except December 18) at 2:00 pm. Special Sunday, December 18 at 12:00 noon and 5:00 pm and Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30 pm.

Conducting Conversations Live!, a free post-show discussion hosted by WCRI's Mike Maino, will follow the 2pm performance on Sunday, December 4. The post-show Piano Bar Series, hosted by Robert Miller, Jr., will continue following Friday and Saturday evening performances in the theatre's lobby on December 9, 10, 16 and 17.

The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $39 for preview performances and $39-$59 for all other performances. Discount rates for groups of 20 or more are available by calling (401) 921-1777 x112. $30 "Rush" tickets are available on a limited basis one hour prior to curtain on the day of the performance. Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm, and from 12 noon until curtain time on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC) is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre whose mission is to preserve and pass on the tradition of live, professional theatre - including the American musical - and to pursue avenues of enrichment and education for the benefit of the state of Rhode Island and the surrounding region through the theatre arts. OSTC, which re-opened and ran the historic Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck, RI from 2007-2012 and began producing shows in Warwick, RI in 2012, is an IRS designated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

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