An acrobatic Christmas

Seven locals perform in elaborate ‘The Glory of Christmas’ at Crystal Cathedral. Allison Jakubowski, an angel, will fly through the air.Allison Jakubowski says she doesn’t fear dangling 80 feet above center stage.

Christine Tomasello has managed to balance a grueling rehearsal schedule with a full-time job.

Ryan Lisack says that rehearsals have him excited about opening night.

As to why they wanted to become a part of one of the Southland’s favorite holiday traditions, “The Glory of Christmas,” the three say it’s the reason of the season, the glory of the story -- and it looks good on a resume too.

The 25th season of the production opens Friday and runs through Dec. 30 at the Crystal Cathedral in Santa Ana.

Jakubowski, Tomasello and Lisack are three of seven Surf City residents who landed parts in the extravaganza, joining dancers Annie Koeller, 9, Diana Perreira, 24, Kathleen Edens, 26, and Jessica Pontillas, 10.

An ensemble cast of 150 soloists, dancers, performers, volunteers and live animals, with prerecorded orchestration by the London Symphony Orchestra, make up a spectacular produced and directed by Paul David Dunn -- who also has ties to Huntington Beach.

Dunn grew up spending his summers at the Surf City home of his grandmother, Margaret Cookerley, said his wife, Jeanne Dunn, an assistant director on the production.

The Dunns have been involved with the production for the past 23 years.

The original production of “The Glory of Christmas” was a conglomeration of holiday traditions from around the world, Jeanne Dunn said.

When Paul Dunn became head writer, he rewrote the script, basing it on the Biblical story of the Nativity.

“He wanted to shed light on what happened by incorporating aspects of the story into the production,” Jeanne Dunn said. “Paul actually lived in the Holy Land for five years and retraced the steps, hiking by foot, to recreate and get a feeling for what it might have been like to have traveled as Mary and Joseph did, from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

“He also touches on the Roman occupation of the land during that time, why there was a census, and the terrible reign of King Herod, in the script.”

“The Glory of Christmas” has been seen by more than 2.5 million people worldwide during its 25-year history. The traditional telling of its story blends Christmas carols, performances and live animals to create Dunn’s vision of a living Nativity.

“While staying true to what we’ve done for the past 25 years, we’re also trying to keep it fresh with some theatrical advances, such as lighting and special effects,” Jeanne Dunn said. “We’re trying to keep it as technically up-to-date as we can. Some of the flying aspects of the show, our angels, will glide gracefully and angelic-like, high above the scenery on stage. We have new technology for that this year.”

The angels, who make a grand descent from the all-glass ceiling at the cathedral, will be outfitted with advanced rigging devices that heighten their flying ability and mobility.

Jakubowski, 26, who has been a dancer for 23 years, danced in last year’s production. This year, she’s taking on the role of one of the flying angels.

She and the rest of the angels in the show’s two casts -- Jakubowski is a member of the red cast -- has undergone safety precautions for the five-point harnesses they’ll wear during the production.

She said that 15 minutes before show time -- the production runs 80 minutes -- the angels have to be strapped in their harnesses and ready to fly.

“I like to call it ‘in-the-air dancing,’” said Jakubowski, a member of Saint Bonaventure Church in Huntington Beach. “I had such a great experience in the show last year, and I think it’s great to have such a professionally run show locally.

“It’s really spectacular and definitely gets you in the Christmas spirit. It’s a story -- a true one, I believe -- that is amazing to tell. It’s a beautiful production.”

Tomasello, 26, a member of the green cast, will dance in five scenes. She is one of three soloists in her cast.

Rehearsals for the show began in mid September and have been held three nights per week.

“It’s been a pretty grueling schedule, combining rehearsals and costume fittings with my full-time job,” she said.

“But it’s all worked out fine, and I really like the fact that it’s such an extravagant, local production that dancers can take part in. It looks good on a resume.

“But more than that, the story itself is a wonderful, family-oriented production. The production has a great history and valuable reputation. If someone hasn’t seen it, it’s a great tradition to start.”

Ryan Lisack, 9, one of the child soloists in the show, is performing in “The Glory of Christmas” for the first time. He’ll sing “What Child is This.”

“I’m really excited,” said the fourth-grader. “I like singing in front of people, and there will be a lot of people coming to this show. It’s going to be really great. I can’t wait.”

WENDI KAMINSKI / INDEPENDENTRyan Lisack, 9, sings “What Child Is This?” during a dress rehearsal of “The Glory of Christmas” at Crystal Cathedral Monday evening. 20051124iqe0u6knWENDI KAMINSKI / INDEPENDENT(LA)Christine Tomasello of Huntington performs in “The Glory of Christmas” at the Crystal Cathedral. 20051124iqe0uwknWENDI KAMINSKI / INDEPENDENT(LA)Christine Tomasello of Huntington performs in “The Glory of Christmas” at the Crystal Cathedral.