By Cailyn Kennedy 

The holiday season is fast approaching, and Lenoir Community College is gearing up to bring a dose of holiday cheer to the community with its upcoming production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas The Musical for two evenings and four matinees in December. 

The show, directed by LCC's Fine Arts Program Chair/Music Instructor Jessica Cruz, will take place at 7 p.m. December 1 and Dec. 8 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 2, 3, 9, and 10 in the LCC Briley Auditorium on the Turner Stage. This show is one of many that will be a part of the performing arts series at LCC. The title sponsor of Irving Berlin's White Christmas The Musical is Neuse News.

Tickets are available now at www.lenoircc.edu/whitechristmas. Ticket prices are as follows, accessible seating: $15, orchestra seating: $20, standard seating: $15, and student standard seating (ages 4-17; 18+ student ID required): $10. 

Along with this outstanding performance, the College will host a Stocking Stuffer Maker's Market, where vendors will sell their products before show time beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 8 and at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 2, 3, 9, and 10. 

This timeless show is a heartwarming story of love, friendship, and the spirit of giving. This production will take its audience to a snow-covered Vermont inn, where two veterans’ team up with a duo of singing sisters to save their former commanding officer's struggling business. The result? It is a delightfully nostalgic show full of romance, laughter, and music.

Art Rimbert will be taking on the role of Veteran Bob Wallace. Rimbert is thrilled to be back at LCC after performing as Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol! He has performed in Annie Get Your Gun, MacBeth, opera choruses, show chorales, and a cappella octets. He is overjoyed to reunite with the LCCT family. Rimbert is always grateful for the love and support from his husband, Alan, his most enthusiastic fan! 

Adrian Jones will portray veteran Phil Davis. Jones, a co-choreographer for the show, is from Wilmington and is a junior Dance Performance and Choreography major at East Carolina University. His previous theater credits include Man of La Mancha, Funny Girl, Newsies, Footloose, Swing!, 42nd Street, and Disney's The Little Mermaid. Jones is excited to be making his lead debut as Phil Davis and co-choreographing this show.

Cristle Gaskins, realtor, wife, and homeschooling mom of seven, will be stepping into the shoes of Betty Haynes. Gaskins dips her toes into the realm of theater to fulfill her dream of acting and singing on stage by playing the role of Betty. Her favorite pastimes are designing and staging homes and writing while watching the sunset over the ocean.

Judy Hanes, the other half of the Haynes sisters, will be played by Gabby Cruz. Cruz, a co-choreographer of the show, is delighted to play her first leading role in a show. Her love of dance led her to the theater, and she has performed across three counties in the last seven years. Cruz is a student at LCC and will finish her degree in December. She loves a good Arnold Palmer, a great playlist, and traveling with her friends and family.