COEUR d'ALENE - Well-dressed and talented, David Mills and Zachariah Baker, a pair of North Idaho College musicians, delivered a strong performance on Sunday night at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

As a selection panel looked on, the two young men, both 19, played an up-tempo piece, with Mills on the violin and Baker at the piano.

The performance went well, they thought.

"It was pretty cool how it came together," Mills said.

The duo had just auditioned for "A Coeur d'Alene Christmas," a variety show that will take place this holiday season in the Shore Lounge at The Resort. Around 45 performers tried out over the weekend, competing for 17 spots.

"It was just all over the board," said director Jillian Kramer, who was on the audition panel. "We saw a hula-hoop routine. We saw a glow-in-the-dark juggling routine. We saw some incredible singers and dancers, and musicians as well."

After tryouts concluded, Kramer called participants who had been selected for the show.

"(The auditions were) very successful, and very entertaining," she said, adding that it was a challenge to pick the best performers. "There were certainly very talented people who auditioned who will not be in the show."

Full-fledged rehearsals won't start until mid-November. Performers are expected to practice their routines on their own, Kramer said. They'll also be paid for their efforts, which was good news for Mills and Baker. The duo said they were excited for the experience, but - if they were picked - they could really use the money.

"We're both very unemployed," Mills said.

"A Coeur d'Alene Christmas" will include a range of holiday-themed entertainment, such as singing, dancing, music and comedy.

Jerry and Darci Lord, two dance instructors from Spokane, tried out Sunday night. The couple performed two brief routines, impressing the selection panel. In fact, Jerry, a former professional dancer, once competed against a "Dancing With the Stars" pro Corky Ballas.

"We like being a part of fun stuff," Jerry said. "It's really fun. We never get a chance to dance together."

Jerry and Darci know jive, tango, samba, foxtrot and other dances.

"If we get in, we'll put together something very fancy," Jerry said. "It'll be like a pro routine with 'Dancing With the Stars.'"

Strumming the guitar, playing the harmonica, and singing "Let It Be" by The Beatles (all at the same time), Jake Ryan was a versatile musician. The 21-year-old from Coeur d'Alene has played guitar since he was 15.

"I've got the passion for it. I've done coffee shops, and different bars, and open mic nights," Ryan said. "I'm pretty much open, just been out and about, looking for work."

He has done theater in the past for his church and school, and now he's looking for something a little bigger.

"When I heard about this, I was like, 'This sounds amazing,'" Ryan said. "(The audition) went pretty good, it felt good. I've been looking for an opportunity to perform here in town, besides just at a bar."

The show premiers the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, and runs through the holidays.