ZELIENOPLE – “Holiday Inn”, the Broadway musical based on the 1942 feel-good film, opens at The Strand on Friday.
The musical Irving Berlin is the perfect way to get in the holiday mood, said a theater director.
Ron Carter, executive director of The Strand Initiative, said they are thrilled to be the first venue in the Pittsburgh market to license and manufacture the Holiday Inn.
“The iconic Christmas song” White Christmas “made its debut on Holiday Inn and won an Oscar for Best Original Song. (Bing) Crosby’s single sold 50 million copies, the most of any single,” he said.
The production includes many classics such as “Blue Skies”, “Steppin ‘Out with My Baby”, “Heat Wave” and “Happy Holiday”. takes this production to the next level where the audience will see, hear and experience the music.
Director Jeremy Czarniak said he was looking forward to making Holiday Inn because he loved the movie and it has been part of his Christmas tradition for years.
“I was introduced to the show before it was even shot on Broadway by a former Point Park student of mine who was on the original production,” he said. “The show is different from the movie in a number of ways, although the story is pretty much the same, we get a lot of different music, a few more characters, and the expansion of some of the others. It’s awesome.”
The cast of Czarniak is led by veteran actor Quinn Patrick Shannon, who is making his beach debut as Jim. Shannon’s long list of theater experiences includes the Pittsburgh CLO, the Pittsburgh Public Theater, and the Pittsburgh Musical Theater.
“Quinn has great comic flair, vocal skills, and acting skills that are exceptionally impressive. All members of the cast shine in their respective roles, ”said Czarniak.
Other cast members include Caroline Nicolian, who was nominated for Best Actress in 2017 by the Pittsburgh City Paper, as Lila; Jon Rolf as Ted; Emily-Ann Stephens as Linda; and Elizabeth Surmacz as Louise.
“Holiday Inn” is the story of Jim stepping out of the bright lights of show business to settle on his Connecticut farmhouse, but of course life is not the same without a little singing and dancing. When Jim meets Linda, a teacher with amazing talent, the rest of the time revolves around dazzling performances to celebrate the Thanksgiving holidays through July 4th.
This production offers singing and dancing at its finest. The audience can sit back and enjoy the best of Irving Berlin in the intimate space of The Strand and let the actors sing and dance until Christmas time.
Holiday Inn plays Friday and Saturday November 19th and 20th at 7:30 pm and Sunday and November 20th and 21st at 2pm. The theater is located at 119 N. Main St., Zelienople.
The cost is $ 30 and $ 40 for reserved seating, respectively. For more information, visit thestrandtheater.org or call 724-742-0400.
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