Seattle, Washington
Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Judy Haynes
“... when [Greg McCormick] Allen pairs up with the delightful Tari Kelly in the Vera-Ellen role of Judy Haynes, the two singing hoofers flash their ballroom chutzpah in The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing.
On the way to the predictable happy ending, Rocco choreographs some great production numbers. [...] Act Two opens with Allen and Kelly in a sensational tap extravaganza, I Love a Piano, backed by a line of dancers garbed in black and white to simulate a keyboard.”
photos by Chris Bennion
“Adding second-couple sparkle are Tari Kelly as Betty's sis Judy and Greg McCormick Allen as Bob's sidekick Phil. They have grand dance chemistry, and make like Marge and Gower Champion (look 'em up, children) when they take to a night club floor for their first pairing (to Berlin's charming The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing).”
“As the two young women who are smitten (eventually) by the stars, Betty (Christina Saffran Ashford) and Judy (Tari Kelly) are impressive and delightful. Tari Kelly has a terrific voice and tons of presence, and as the more assertive and ambitious of the two sisters, her connection with Phil seems like a perfect match of sweetness and pizazz. [...] Both women were endearing in Sisters and Kelly and Allen, as Judy and Phil, have a sweepingly romantic recognition that The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing.”
