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Entertainment

American songbook

A show will review the catchy musical contributions of Irving Berlin, who dreamed of a Christmas just like the ones he used to know.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN
Published August 12, 2005

White Christmas in August? In Florida?

It's appropriate, if the show is Puttin' on the Ritz, a review of songs by one of America's most beloved songsmiths, Irving Berlin. He wrote that holiday classic in 1942 and watched it become a favorite among soldiers fighting in World War II and their families back home.

The show opens Aug. 19 at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre for a six-week run.

"I think it's the kind of show everyone wants to see in the summer," said Matthew McGee, the Show Palace's artistic director and part of the 12-member cast. "It's a great escape."

More than 60 Berlin tunes were put together for the show by Joe Camper and Gary Wyatt, the co-creators of last summer's hit production of The Fabulous 50s and 60s Revue, which is being expanded and brought back in July 2006.

"Ritz is a lot like 50s and 60s; we talk some about the music of Irving Berlin, but it's mainly singing and dancing," McGee said. "There's hardly an Irving Berlin song that people don't love."

That includes Blue Skies, Alexander's Ragtime Band, There's No Business Like Show Business and God Bless America.

It is, as company manager Todd M. Eskin put it, "a show where you already know all the words to the songs."

The cast of 12 includes Show Palace veterans McGee (Mary Sunshine in Chicago; Hysterium in Funny/Forum); choreographer Katie Kerwin (Velma in Chicago; Prima Donna in Sugar Babies); Ken Robinson (Jinx in Forever Plaid); Laura Lynne Tapper (Sugar in Some Like It Hot; Irene in Hello, Dolly!); Chuck Cantrell (Red Hot and Cole, Swing!, Detective in Run for Your Wife); Andrea Eskin (Show Boat, Anything Goes); and Sara DelBeato (Sister Amnesia in Nunsense Jamboree).

Also in the show are returning performers Justin Barnette (Van Buren in Damn Yankees); Lisa Katt Watson (The All Night Strut); and Lucianne Hamilton (Francis in No Sex, Please, We're British); and newcomers Tom Andrew (national tours of The Music Man and Titanic); and James J. Mitchell, a New Port Richey native who got his theatrical start at Richey Suncoast Theatre 23 years ago in Oliver! and has since performed in dinner theatres along the eastern seaboard and on cruise ships around the world.

The show will recreate scenes from some of Berlin's musical movies: A Couple of Swells from the Judy Garland-Fred Astaire movie Easter Parade and, of course, White Christmas from the Bing Crosby-Rosemary Clooney movie of the same name.

"There's also lots of tap dancing by Katie Kerwin," to such songs as I Love a Piano, McGee said.

The show looks at Berlin's extensive career, starting with his ragtime melodies, to his vaudeville shows, Broadway and the movies.

"It's an Irving Berlin extravaganza," McGee said.

WHAT: Puttin' on the Ritz, the songs of Irving Berlin

WHERE: Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson

WHEN: Aug. 19-Sept. 25. Shows are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays and 1:30 p.m. some Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Doors open two hours before each show for cash bar and included buffet.

TICKETS: Dinner and show, $41; show only, $29.95; ages 12 and younger, $23.45 and $18.45; all plus tax and tip. Call 863-7949 in west Pasco; toll-free elsewhere at 1-888-655-7469.

[Last modified August 12, 2005, 00:47:15]