Click on any entry in Barry Bradford’s Speaking Schedule for full details.
- This event has passed.
Irving Berlin Holiday Inn
December 16, 2022 @ 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Come and celebrate the holidays with Holiday Inn The Irving Berlin Musical, featuring music from the incomparable Irving Berlin!
“Holiday Inn” is a brand-new stage adaptation of the timeless 1942 the great Irving Berlin omnibus musical movie. That classic film starred Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. The original “Holiday Inn” movie, from Paramount Productions, gloriously featured some of Irving Berlin’s best holiday-themed songs. The unforgettable score included “White Christmas,” “Easter Parade,” “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve,” & “Happy Holidays.
The original film, while wonderful, is also problematic. It features a cringe-worthy blackface number, a few songs that are just duds, and a few racial stereotypes that are just awful. These elements can make the film hard to watch – and harder still to introduce to young audiences/
In 2016, Broadway showcased a brand new, reimagined stage version of Holiday Inn! This fast-moving and music-filled presentation will examine both the film’s backstory and the “new Irving Berlin” musical. As an extraordinary treat, you will see rare clips of the Broadway production. The musical’s producers kept the original premise, dropped the blackface (thank heavens!), axed the poor songs, and added other great Irving Berlin melodies, including “Heat Wave” and “Cheek To Cheek.” This reimagined musical is a total delight! Join us to celebrate Irving Berlin and “Holiday Inn!”
If you are a fan of Irving Berlin, classic holiday movies, and inventive Broadway musicals, or if you just want to smile and soak up the holiday spirit, you definitely do not want to miss this presentation!