Marriott Theatre presents regional premiere of beloved 'Holiday Inn'

Director/choreographer Denis Jones first checked in to “Holiday Inn” about five years ago, during the development stages for the musical adaptation of the 1942 film about a crooner who gives up show biz to run a small-town inn.

“The bones of the story are fantastic, and the Irving Berlin score begs to be appreciated by a live audience,” he said.

Now Jones - who received Tony and Drama Desk award nominations for choreographing Roundabout Theatre Company's 2016 Broadway premiere - is in Lincolnshire to direct and choreograph Marriott Theatre's regional premiere. It stars Michael Mahler as the crooner-turned-inkeeper, Will Burton as his former dance partner and Johanna McKenzie Miller as the talented local who catches his eye.

While “Holiday Inn” is perceived as a Christmas show, Jones says its message resonates year round.

“It's a show that has such a beautiful heart at its center,” he said. “What it says about relationships, home and the families we create is extremely heartwarming.”

“To revisit a show that is dear to me but restage it for the round is an exciting opportunity,” said Jones.

After spending the first decade of his career singing and dancing on Broadway, Jones began choreographing 10 years ago. He took on directing a few years later.

He served as associate choreographer for the Broadway productions of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (2005) and “Legally Blonde” (2007), and then worked at regional theaters around the country. He returned to Broadway in 2015 to choreograph the premiere of “Honeymoon in Vegas.” And he'll be back in New York City next spring for his latest project, the opening of the Broadway-bound “Tootsie,” which premiered in Chicago last month.

“There's always a challenge when you adapt a film that's beloved by an audience,” he said of “Holiday Inn,” which starred Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.

“You want to give the audience an experience that celebrates their relationship with the source material. But it's important to bring something fresh to the production.”

The film's iconic scenes remain, such Mahler's Jim and Miller's Linda singing “White Christmas” and Burton's Ted Hanover punctuating an Independence Day dance number with firecrackers.

“We don't want to rob audiences of the pleasure of those moments,” Jones said.

Marriott audiences will also experience some Broadway flourishes, such as the rousing jump-rope tap number set to Berlin's 1927 tune “Shaking the Blues Away.”

Dancers have been working hard to perfect the crowd-pleaser, said Jones, who welcomed the chance to bring the show to the Marriott.

“There's something about actors running up and down the aisles that infuses a musical with that much more energy and vitality,” he said.

“Holiday Inn”

<b>When:</b> In previews; runs through Jan. 6

<b>Where:</b> Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com

<b>Tickets:</b> $50-$60, dinner theater packages available