Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" Kicks off at Taylor Performing Arts Center this Weekend

The presentation of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" kicks off Friday night at the Taylor Performing Arts Center at Monrovia High School.

The following news release, provided courtesy of the Monrovia Unified School District's director of performing arts and the show's artistic director, outlines all the information needed to catch this professional production:

This Holiday Season, the spectacular Taylor Performing Arts Center in Monrovia, California will present Irving Berlin’s White Christmas on December 6th, 7th, and 8th for four performances only.

“Like many of you, I've watched this holiday favorite on television for as long as I can remember but have never seen the stage version, and always wanted to”, said Patrick Garcia, Director of Performing Arts for Monrovia Unified School District and the Producing, Artistic Director for White Christmas. “That is why we are so thrilled to present White Christmas here at the Taylor Center in Monrovia this holiday season for four extraordinary performances, Friday, December 6th at 8:00 PM, Saturday December 7th at 2:00 and 8:00 PM, and Sunday, December 8th at 5:00 PM.”

White Christmas is the second professional production for the community to be produced at the Taylor Center which is located on the campus of Monrovia High School. Many local theater goers may remember Meredith Willson’s The Music Man which was produced last July as the Taylor Center’s first ever professional production for the community.

“We have a remarkably talented cast and creative team on board for White Christmas,” said Garcia, who is hoping that many audience members who came out to see Music Man will return to the Taylor Center to see White Christmas.

The exceptional creative team for White Christmas includes Director/Choreographer, Paul David Bryant; Tap Sequence Choreographer, Hector Guerrero; Music Director/Conductor, Brigham Freeth; Stage Manager, Martyn Tyler; and Set Designer, Angelo Collado.

Garcia is especially pleased that Monrovia Unified School District’s own Grace Osimo, currently a junior at Monrovia High School, will play one of the lead roles (Judy Haynes) in White Christmas.

“Grace is an extremely talented singer, dancer, and actor and we couldn’t be more delighted to have her in our cast,” said Garcia.

The Taylor Center is also pleased to welcome back well known Southern California actor Allen Everman (who recently played Professor Harold Hill in Music Man) as Phil Davis in White Christmas. Rounding out the other two leads are Cody Clark as Bob Wallace and Elisabeth Hunter as Betty Haynes. White

Christmas also features a talented cast of 16 dancers and 12 singers.
For those of you who have not been inside the Taylor Center since bond money paid for it to be restored, you are in for a treat. This beautiful 1928 theatre was built by John C. Austin, the same architect who built Los Angeles City Hall, The Shrine Auditorium, and Griffith Park Observatory.

“We invite all of you out there in the community who have never seen this beautiful 1,700 seat, state-of-the-art theatre facility, to come out and see it for yourself,” said Garcia, “and bring the whole family with you!”

Advanced tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/488714 or by calling 800-838-3006! You may also purchase advanced tickets at Monrovia Travel located at 401 South Myrtle Ave. or from anyone on the Taylor Center’s Publicity and Marketing Committee including Meg Walker, Lani Pedrini, Maria Gray, Kim Petula, Joanne Spring, Michelle Costerella, Helen Hernandez, Ella Robertson, Landie Lopez, James Hartford, Anne Osimo, Kathy Rosenberg, or Dinorah Keith.

General admission tickets are $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for students and children age 12 and younger. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or larger as well as for senior citizens age 65 and above. VIP tickets, center section, rows 2 through 6 are available for $35.00. Rush tickets in the first row are $10.00 and will be sold on a first come first served basis before each performance. The Taylor Performing Arts Center is located at 845 West Colorado Boulevard in Monrovia, California 91016.

Tickets may also be purchased at the Taylor Performing Arts Center beginning one hour before show time.

Plan to begin your Holiday Season at the Taylor Performing Arts Center in Monrovia for this timeless classic featuring the incomparable music of Irving Berlin.