Irving Berlin's "White Christmas: The Musical" Brings Holiday Joy at the Pantages Through Dec. 4

Well here we are at that magically time of year when Thanksgiving is a warm memory and Christmas is straight ahead. And here in Southern California that means that most of the trees still have leaves, flowers are still very much in bloom and generally we only need a sweater or light jacket to venture outdoors. Yet we can still relate to those magical words:

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to know

Where the tree tops glisten and children listen

To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

For some of the real snow you can drive up through the Angeles National Forest but for a magical evening of pure delight you need only go to the Hollywood Pantages where "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" is bringing holiday joy to thousands of Angelinos but only now through December 4th.

Sean Montgomery is Bob Wallace, Jeremy Benton is Phil Davis, Kerry Conte is Betty Haynes and Kelly Sheehan is Judy Haynes. So give yourself a great early gift and enjoy this amazing classic and for sure your days will be merry and bright even if not all of your Christmases are white.

"Irving Berlin's White Christmas" is playing now through December 4th at The Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90028. Show times are Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Reservations maybe be made online at: HollywoodPantages.com or by calling 800-982-2787.

Irving Berlin (born Israel Isidore Baline; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.

His music forms a great part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russia, Berlin arrived in the United States at the age of five. He published his first song, "Marie from Sunny Italy", in 1907, receiving 33 cents for the publishing rights, and had his first major international hit, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" in 1911. He also was an owner of the Music Box Theatre on Broadway.

He wrote hundreds of songs, many becoming major hits, which made him "a legend" before he turned thirty. During his 60-year career he wrote an estimated 1,500 songs, including the scores for 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films, with his songs nominated eight times for Academy Awards. Many songs became popular themes and anthems, including "Easter Parade", "White Christmas", "Happy Holiday", "This Is the Army, Mr. Jones", and "There's No Business Like Show Business". His Broadway musical and 1942 film, This is the Army, with Ronald Reagan, had Kate Smith singing Berlin's "God Bless America" which was first performed in 1938. Celine Dion recorded it as a tribute, making it no. 1 on the charts after the September 11 attacks in 2001

"White Christmas" is a 1942 Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 100 million copies worldwide. Other versions of the song, along with Crosby's, have sold over 150 million copies.