The ever-popular holiday movie “White Christmas” is well-loved for three main things: its warm-hearted story, the wonderful Irving Berlin songs, and the dancing which includes tap, jazz, and ballroom. It’s also been called “a costume extravaganza” and with good reason – there are over 300 costumes in the show. 

Sterling College Music Theatre will present Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 6, 7, and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, October 9 at 2 p.m. in Culbertson Auditorium on the Sterling College campus. 

Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” is a retelling of the beloved Bing Crosby/Danny Kaye 1954 movie revived as a Broadway-style stage musical. Set less than a decade after the close of World War II, the show focuses on two war buddies turned successful showbiz men Bob Wallace and Phil Davis. The two veterans team up with a sister act of Betty and Judy Davis and visit a small town in Vermont, where they discover that their beloved former Army commander is now operating a failing inn. 

The two entertainers stage a show to revive their superior’s fortunes, calling upon former servicemen, their show business connections, and local townsfolk. In the process, much romance and comedy along with lots of singing and dancing ensue.

“We chose the show because of its great Berlin music set in 1950s jazz style arrangements and the dance opportunities for tap, jazz, and ballroom – things we haven’t done a lot of onstage,” said director Sasha Hildebrand. “But along with all that comes 300 plus costumes.”

The cast of 24 is actually smaller than recent Sterling musicals which have featured casts of more than 30. But less people on stage doesn’t translate to less costumes. While some in the cast have three or four costume changes in the 2.5-hour show, others have more than 12! 

The movie featured costumes designed by noted Hollywood designer Edith Head. “We’ve tried to stay close to the ‘swish and swirl’ of those glamorous 50s looks,” said Hildebrand who is sharing costume design responsibilities for the show with senior student Dylan Werth. 

“All of the dance-number costumes are glittering, and the party gowns, cocktail dresses and general every-day looks for the actors are glamorous and in the fashion of the day that was at its height. We used Christian Dior’s distinctive style featuring rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and a full skirt,” Hildebrand said. “We also have tried to perfectly match the costumes with the characters’ personalities: Betty Haynes is sleek and controlled, while sister Judy is all about the swish and swirl. Plus, we want the men to look dashing throughout, too.”

“We are holding to the movie’s color palette,” said Werth. “The movie was done in vivid Technicolor with bold blues, vibrant yellows, and sassy bright pink as well as classic Christmas red and green. We use much the same.” 

Much of the musical and movie of “White Christmas” is a show within a show – that is the characters in the musical are rehearsing and putting on a show. Therefore, many of the songs in the musical are not plot oriented songs – they are production numbers which generally call for special costuming.   

One number in total black and white – the Act 2 opener “I Love a Piano” which comes as a surprise to the musical audience as it wasn’t in the original movie. The big chorus numbers like “Piano” and the Act 1 closer – “Blue Skies” – feature the ensemble in special costumes used only for those individual production numbers. “That’s one of the hallmarks of a classic movie musical,” Hildebrand said, “using different costumes for every number.”  

“Doing costumes for this show really feels like we are presenting a 1950s fashion show,” said Werth. “It’s been fun but a lot of work, too.” Hildebrand and Werth were joined by more than 30 college students in helping with costuming for this show. In addition, there were six community seamstress volunteers to help, too, including a sewing class at Sterling High School. “The saying ‘It takes a village’ pertains to theatre costuming, too,” Hildebrand said. 

Tickets to see the 1950s fashions as well as all the songs and dances and the whole story of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” are $15 for adults and $5 for students and are available in advance online at www.sterling.edu/arts and at the door before each performance.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.