White Christmas Could Hit Broadway in 2008

With the Grinch on the fence about returning to New York this November, producer Kevin McCollum is in talks to bring a stage adaptation of the 1954 Irving Berlin movie musical “White Christmas” to Broadway.

McCollum, 46, said he needs concessions from Broadway’s unions to make the $4 million to $4.5 million show viable.

“I would love to bring it in, but I can’t do it alone,” said McCollum, who produced “Rent,” “Avenue Q” and “In the Heights” on Broadway. He wouldn’t specify the concessions he needs. “The economics still have to work. I’m not quite there yet.”

McCollum said he’s in talks to rent the 1,611-seat Marquis Theatre, which became available on Sunday when “Cry-Baby” closed. He said he’ll have just 7 1/2 weeks to break even on a show that’s big by Broadway standards — 24 musicians and 32 performers.

Since “White Christmas” runs about 2 hours and 15 minutes, McCollum said he can present it just eight or nine times a week. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” had a contract permitting 15 performances a week of the 80-minute show. Its executive producer, James Sanna, said it broke even in 2006 yet lost money in 2007 because of the stagehands strike, which shuttered the show for 12 days.

Unions typically fight to protect contract terms that were hard-won during previous negotiations. Maria Somma, a spokeswoman for Actors’ Equity, said her union had granted concessions to McCollum for “White Christmas.” As of last night, she didn’t have details.

Two Romances

“White Christmas” tells the story of two male friends, two sisters, two romances and some unpredictable weather. It features standards from the movie, including “White Christmas” and “The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing,” and other classics such as “Love and the Weather” and “Snow.”

The show already has been presented in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Toronto and St. Paul, Minnesota. Walter Bobbie (“Chicago”) directed, with choreography by Randy Skinner (“42nd Street”) and a book by David Ives (“Wonderful Town”) and Paul Blake.

“It’s solid entertainment,” said Scott Mallalieu, a co- owner of Group Sales Box Office, a ticket agency. “We’re holding a lot of orders because people had heard about it.”