A 'musical journey'
<p>Performers re-enact the Nativity scene during Traditions of Christmas, an annual holiday show in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
<p>The Traditions of Christmas kickline dancers perform during last year's show at the Salvation Army Kroc Center.</p>
<p>Dancing soldiers march their way through a military tribute that is part of this year's Traditions of Christmas show running Dec. 11-22 on stage at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
This year's "Traditions of Christmas" holiday show will bring some old favorites to the stage, and offer audiences some new surprises.
The festive extravaganza, produced by Laura Little Theatricals, opens Dec. 11 at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene and will run Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 21, with one additional performance Dec. 22.
Producer Little said "silk dancing" is one of the new additions to Traditions, now in its third year.
"It's aerial dancing. We've hung silks like Cirque du Soleil," Little said. "It's beautiful. We're really excited about that."
Traditions is billed as a "musical journey of all the greatest Christmas songs and traditions from around the world."
Santa's workshop will come to life with dancing elves, gingerbread dolls and toy soldiers.
"My hope is that people will continue to go to this every year," Little said.
Another new addition to this year's show is the "Candy Bomber," Little said.
Part of a military tribute, which includes a USO scene, the "candy bomber" sequence brings to life a story from the post-World War II years in Germany, during the Berlin airlift.
The 1948-49 airlift was a humanitarian campaign that delivered food and supplies when Soviet occupation forces blocked all rail, road and water communications between Berlin and the West.
During that time, U.S. pilots - with help from American citizens and candy manufacturers - dropped sweet treats, tied in handkerchief "parachutes," to children living in Berlin.
A visitor to Coeur d'Alene who saw the show last year contacted Little last summer and suggested adding a "Candy Bomber" scene.
"We started working on it right away," she said.
The entire show features a cast of 80 and more than 400 costumes.
It ends with a fully staged living Nativity scene.
Little said the show is well-attended each year, and several of the show times are already nearly sold out.
"The biggest surprise for me is how many seniors are coming to this," Little said.
She said the older audience members often come in large groups.
"I think it's because it's something that's nostalgic to them," Little said. "We have a bus coming from Seattle. They came last year, and they're coming back."