Russellville is about to get a lot more festive as the Historic Roxy Theatre prepares for its first-ever “Christmas Spectacular.”

Rehearsals for the show began this week and will continue through October and November until the first performance Dec. 5.

The show follows Fred the elf as he travels across the country to discover the reason for the season. The show will end with Fred’s arrival in New York City and will feature a live nativity scene.

“My favorite part has been the nativity because that is something I’ve wanted to do for many years,” said director Hillary Hall. “I love the whole aspect of what Christmas is about.”

The show features 33 children and 46 adults, with each person having multiple parts, except for Fred.

Hall said lots of familiar songs will be featured throughout the show, and each performance will end with the song “Holiest of Nights,” written by Denise Davis Arnold specifically for this production.

Choreographer Susan Crittenden said as a school teacher, she loves asking her students about the production after they see it.

“And whenever they see the show, I just love watching their faces to see the smiles on their faces and see which parts they really enjoy,” Crittenden said.

Hall said the Christmas production is the largest the Roxy puts on each year. This year, a $4,200 grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts helped with costs of production. Hall said the Roxy is the first organization in Franklin County to receive this grant. 

Performances will be Dec. 5-8, with four shows for schools and six public shows. All tickets will be reserved this year: $15 for the orchestra section, $10 for the mezzanine and $6 for general admission in the balcony. Tickets are on sale now.

Hall said the show  would not be possible without its 25 sponsors, particularly the gold and platinum level sponsors: Alabama Central Credit Union, Jamie Kiel, First Baptist Church of Russellville and Webb Oil Company.