December 4, 2025
By Rachel Scofield

Pickerington Community Theatre (PCT) is bringing mid-century charm and holiday warmth to the Violet Woods Theatre (the former Wigwam) with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, directed by Bram Fulk.

While the beloved musical is known for its classic songs and cozy aesthetic, Fulk says the story delves far deeper.

“Obviously there’s the nostalgia factor for anyone who loves the movie or is a big fan of Irving Berlin,” Fulk said. “But much more than that, it’s a story about love and doing what you can to care for the people that you love and to do whatever you can to make them happy.”

That love appears in many forms.

“There are the romantic love stories between our two pairs of leads,” he said, “but there’s also the love everyone has for this revered paternal figure in General Waverly. We have the characters’ love of the stage and for their fellow performers, their love of Christmas and the holidays—and all of this warm wholesomeness is wrapped up in mid-century Americana.”

To deliver that warmth, PCT has assembled an exceptional creative team. Music director Pam Villarreal leads the vocal work, choreographic duo Andrew and Jessica Perry designed the elaborate dance numbers, and Bettie Bechtel and Coreen Janetzke crafted “hundreds of period-accurate costumes.” Their work, Fulk said, plays an enormous role in transporting audiences back to the 1950s.

Dave Zweibel, who plays Bob Wallace, is amazed by all the talented performers.

“No joke, this cast can sing—oh my gosh can this cast sing—and the dancers, they are insane!” he said.

Zweibel also praised director Fulk for his passion, creativity, and attention to detail.

“There are some little nuances that he picks up and really puts a great twist on how they are portrayed,” he said. “There are hints of that in almost every single scene—little nods to things that happened in the movie, as well as things he wanted to create for the characters. Even around a cup of hot cocoa, for crying out loud! To me, that’s so cool.”

Zweibel believes White Christmas is one of the top five holiday movies of all time and resonates across generations.

“It plays well for kids, it plays well for young adults, it plays well for your 99-year-old great-grandmother,” he said. “It’s just a way to continue traditions and keep those holiday warm fuzzy feelings alive.”

Megan Gibson, who plays Betty Haynes, echoed Zweibel’s sentiment.

“You get to bring characters that people have loved for a very long time to life and bring that nostalgic feeling back during this Christmas season,” she said. “All the feels for the holiday times.”

She also expressed how meaningful it has been to share the stage once again with Zweibel. The two played opposite each other in PCT’s Spamalot as the Lady of the Lake and Sir Galahad.

“It’s good to get back together,” Gibson said.

Performances run through the first two weekends in December with 8 p.m. shows on Fridays and 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $21 per adult and $19 for seniors (55 and older) and children under 12 and may be purchased online at Tickets – Pickerington Community Theatre. Hurry, as some dates are nearly full.

On Dec. 14, families can have their photos taken with Santa Claus before the performance beginning at 11 a.m.

“(White Christmas) is fun for the whole family; it’s wholesome and wildly entertaining,” Fulk said. “You’d be hard-pressed to find something more perfect to soften the sharpness of our world today and offer a couple of hours of respite from your worries while setting the ideal mood for the rest of this busy season.”

Gibson encourages folks not only to attend the show but to become involved in future productions.

“PCT is a phenomenal organization,” she said. “If you haven’t been a part of the theatre, come out and participate—whether it’s auditioning to be on stage, helping backstage, in the tech booth, or just volunteering as an usher. Everybody is like a second family here. They are really kind and care about each other, and it’s just a good place to be.”

In the spring, PCT will present Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.