Monroe County students in cast of Trenton's 'White Christmas'

The Monroe News
·2 min read
Reagan Lewis (left) and MacKenna Tocco (right) star as sisters Judy and Betty Haynes in the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center’s performance of “White Christmas.” The musical runs for two weekends, starting tonight, at Trenton Village Theatre.
Reagan Lewis (left) and MacKenna Tocco (right) star as sisters Judy and Betty Haynes in the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center’s performance of “White Christmas.” The musical runs for two weekends, starting tonight, at Trenton Village Theatre.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Several Monroe County students, including two with main roles, are part of the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center’s upcoming performance of “White Christmas.”

The musical opens today at Trenton Village Theatre. It will be staged at 7 p.m. tonight, Saturday and Dec. 9-10 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 4. Tickets are $18 for premium seats, $16 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

For tickets, visit dypac.com or DYPAC on Facebook.

The Trenton Village Theater’s show is a stage adaptation of the classic 1954 feature film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. Two male singers join forces with two sisters to perform a Christmas show in Vermont. There, they meet the men’s commander from World War II, who is having money troubles. The four singers plan a big show to help the commander.

Playing the sisters are Reagan Lewis, a sophomore at Airport High School, and MacKenna Tocco, a junior at Carlson High School. Several other students from Airport, Flat Rock and Carlson High Schools also have ensemble and supporting roles.

Audra Bass of Newport, an AHS graduate, is in charge of music and vocals. “White Christmas” is directed by Mary Zaleski and produced by Karen Rutkowski, with choreography by Nina Nelson.

Reagan and MacKenna have been performing with DYPAC for several years, but this is their first opportunity to play lead female roles together.

“Playing sisters Betty and Judy is especially fitting for us, since we are as close as sisters in real life and we love to perform together on stage,” Reagan, 15, of South Rockwood, said.

MacKenna and Reagan are students at Connie’s Studio of Dance in South Rockwood and both take private vocal lessons. Reagan has attended the three-week Classical Voice program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Camp for the last two years, and studies piano privately. Reagan also is a member of Varsity Voices, Airport High School’s honor choir.

MacKenna, 16, of Brownstown Township has participated in Carlson’s theater and choir programs and writes and performs original songs with her father, Chuck.

DYPAC was founded in 1998 and is allows downriver youth, ages 5-19, to learn, teach and perform in a variety of artistic areas.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County students in cast of Trenton's 'White Christmas'