The show opens with a traditional Christmas-themed set that has a nativity scene and other Holiday visuals on the stage. Metter continued: "There is about 25 minutes of traditional Christmas music and then the focus turns to the kids." In each town, the production uses a local choir as well as local children in the show. There are vignettes that are performed by the children, with Kenny Rogers coming out to sing with them on several numbers.
The second part of the show is an adaptation of The Toy Shoppe - a one-act play that Rogers performed on Broadway. Metter went on to say: "The staging and lighting for this part of the show are a scaled down versions of the designs featured in the Broadway production. The play focuses on the magic of Christmas as seen through the eyes of a toyshop owner."
Metter had nothing but praise for the crew and equipment: "The level of preparation and planning is superb. There are never any last minute surprises." The system has been basically the same since the inception of Rogers Christmas tour and utilizes a combination of Vari*Lite VL2000 Studio Spots, High End System Studio Beams and ETC Source Fours, which are all controlled from a GrandMA Lighting Console.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
