The Park City Players: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
Book by David Ives and Paul Blake
Get your tickets to White Christmas today!
Director: Nancy Lessard
Choreographer: Scott Sisbarro
Musical Director: Stephanie Gaumer-Klein
Stage Managers: Craig Baldino of Shelton and Matt Iacozza of Stratford, both seniors at St. Joseph’s High School in Trumbull
Playhouse on the Green, a not-for-profit theater company performing in the heart of downtown Bridgeport, launches a new Musical Theater program for high school students in December 2009 with a production of the classic holiday musical Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. This first production by the newly-christened “The Park City Players”, will feature high school students from Fairfield County and beyond, and run for 5 performances December 10-13, 2009, at Playhouse on the Green, 177 State Street, in Bridgeport.
Nancy Lessard and Scott Sisbarro have a long history of producing shows together in a number of venues. They encourage each student to do everything they can to achieve their personal best with each performance. Lessard and Sisbarro emphasize professionalism and perseverance in addition to acting, dancing, and singing skills, which they believe are key factors in the success of their long list of sold out runs year after year. Among their popular high school productions have been contemporary shows such as Smokey Joe’s Café, Little Shop of Horrors, Tony and Tina’s Wedding, and Back to the 80s, as well as classics such as West Side Story, Peter Pan (including magical stage flight by Flying By Foy of Las Vegas), Footloose, and Grease.
Nancy and Scott strive to include the families of students in the productions as well. Scott Sisbarro says that “The parents are always there to help. Many even come back after their children have graduated from high school.” Nancy Lessard adds: “We have more than a cast and crew. We have their families…which melds into one big family.” Nancy and Scott are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with students from school throughout the Greater Bridgeport area in what may be the first of many teen productions at the Playhouse.
Based on the beloved, timeless film, White Christmas is a heartwarming musical featuring 17 Irving Berlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake. 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 “White Christmas”.
Adult single tickets to Irving Berlin’s White Christmas are $25. Senior Citizens tickets (65 and older) and student tickets $20.
Tickets can be purchased 24/7 on-line or by calling TheaterMania at (866) 811-4111 (phone hours 9-9 weekdays, 10-6 weekends).
About the Directors
Nancy Lessard
Nancy (Lampugnale) Lessard is a locally renowned director of both high school and youth theater programs in Fairfield County, including Trumbull Pee Wee Theatre, of which she is the co-founder. For over 10 years, this program provided area youths grades 3-8 the opportunity to perform in full-scale musical productions. She is currently in her 9th season as writer and director of original scripts performed at CT Dance Summer Theatre Camps in Monroe. Her credits also include directing nearly 25 high school productions. Born in Trumbull, Nancy is a graduate of St. Joseph High School and Marymount College. Through multiple terms on the Trumbull Town Council, careers in the financial industry, elementary education, and her current position as a high school educator, the common thread that has woven each stitch together has been theater. Nancy currently resides in Huntington with her husband Brian and their two children Emily (17) and Alec (15).
Scott Sisbarro
Scott Sisbarro has been teaching dance for 19 years and currently is Director of Saint Savior’s School of Dance in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, where more than 250 students are enrolled. His competition group has won many high score and special awards with his choreography. Scott is a graduate of Southern CT State University with a degree in Communication and a graduate of Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School. He is past president of the Dance Teachers Club of CT Chapter # 18 of Dance Masters of America. In addition to teaching at St. Saviour’s, Scott has choreographed for the past few years at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull. He has choreographed and hosted for the “Mr. Student Body” contest at St. Joes for the senior boys that compete. Scott travels every weekend, January through May, all over the United States for American Dance Awards to Judge and Host their Dance Competition. He has served as an adjudicator for numerous regional and national competitions, including New England, Michigan, and Louisiana DMA Chapters, Indiana state dance championships, Canada’s Dance Force Productions and Rhythm Dance, International Dance Challenge.
Performance Schedule
- Thursday, December 10 at 7:30PM
- Friday, December 11 at 7:30PM
- Saturday, December 12 at 1PM and 7:30PM
- Sunday, December 13 at 1PM
