Redhound drama team wows crowds with production of White Christmas

Last week, the Redhound Theatre, Corbin High School’s student drama club, wrapped up its presentation of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, a stage play based on the 1954 musical starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.

The play was originally slated to debut on Friday, Dec. 2, but that show was canceled when the Redhounds football team found themselves playing in this year’s Class 4A state championship game that same night. Instead, White Christmas ended up debuting with two shows the following day, and a total of three shows were presented last week – one on Friday, Dec. 9, and two on Saturday, Dec. 10.

A talented cast of performers sent crowds home happy each night, including leading men Andrew Collins and Josh Edwards (both juniors), who starred as Bob Wallce and Phil Davis, respectively, a pair of WWII vets turned showmen who delight audiences with their lavish song and dance routines.

“It’s unmatched,” Collins said when asked about doing live performances during the Christmas season. “It really adds to that Christmas spirit, and it helps you to get into it as well. It is very stressful, but it is also very much worth it. It’s just awesome.”

Collins said that preparations began for White Christmas a little over two months ago, and much work has been put in since that time. “We spent two months learning the music, the choreography, everything,” he explained. “It took every day of those two months, and this year has been a little harder because of sickness and breaks, but we were able to pull it all together.”

Edwards’ love interest in White Christmas, Judy Haynes, was played by another CHS junior, Bailyn Scent. At one point in the production, Edwards and Scent perform a rather lengthy and complex dance number which, according to Edwards, was a personal highlight of the performance.

“That is the most magical, and scariest, part of the whole show,” Edwards said of the dance routine. “We spent hours and hours learning that, but it makes it easier when you are working with someone, like Bailyn, who is willing to help in any way that she can. It ended up being a really fun experience.”

“There is nothing like getting to perform in front of a live audience,” Scent added. “I love it. I have been doing it since the fifth grade. I also love being backstage, helping and getting to see everything that goes on behind the scenes.”

Speaking of behind the scenes, senior student director Kenton Lowe explained that, while the finished product on the stage may look polished and easy, it takes a lot of effort and manpower to get to that point.

“There is a lot that goes on backstage,” said Lowe, who is the current president of Corbin’s chapter of the International Thespian Society. “There are props, microphones, costumes… so many issues that can happen in a live performance that nobody ever sees. We all work together to push through it and make it happen, though. It is really incredible.”

Libby Phipps, another senior with the Redhound Theatre, played the role of Betty Haynes in White Christmas, serving as Collins’ love interest on stage. She also played the part of Anna in the drama club’s special presentation of Disney’s Frozen last spring. Speaking about that experience, she said, “Frozen was magical. I think it was one of my all-time favorite shows that I’ve ever done. I really loved performing for all of the kids, because they’re such a great audience. They come dressed up, and you get to take pictures with them. It was just really awesome. I think it was definitely one of the best times that I’ve ever had performing a show.”

Fans of Frozen will be delighted to learn that the Redhound Theatre’s next presentation will be another popular Disney story – the Little Mermaid. That show, currently slated to go live in April of 2023, is one that Phipps is very much looking forward to.

“I am really excited for it,” Phipps, also a member of the CHS chapter of the International Thespian Society, said of the upcoming production. “The younger kids are some of our biggest supporters, and it is truly magical to get to perform for them.”

Preparations for the Little Mermaid will begin in earnest after students return from the upcoming Christmas break. The News Journal will provide more details on the show as they become available.