Changes are happening at Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre, including a joint venture with The Coeur d'Alene Resort, an organizational restructure, and a 45th Anniversary celebration.

For the first time in four decades, Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre will team with The Coeur d'Alene Resort to present a Christmas-inspired musical-theater show, "G.I. Holiday Jukebox" in The Resort Theatre (formerly the Shore Lounge).

This will be the longest running show in the history of Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre, with 21 performances.

The show opens tonight and runs through Dec. 23 with performances on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and matinees on Sundays at 3 p.m.

"We are excited to work with The Coeur d'Alene Resort on this joint venture," said Artistic Director Roger Welch.

Four actors, all alumni of Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre, will present "G.I. Holiday Jukebox" together for the first time.

What makes this reunion unusual is that each actor has performed this show aboard the world-renowned Mississippi Queen Riverboat, but never together.

"G.I. Holiday Jukebox" was a holiday favorite for years on the Mississippi Queen, which was an authentic passenger steamboat that ran up and down the mighty Mississippi River for 30 years, until Hurricane Katrina forced this national treasure to close its doors.

The show at The Resort will feature Kurt Raimer, Callie McKinney Cabe, Laura Sable and Mark Cotter, who play four fictitious Hollywood stars who put together a string of 1940s hits and Christmas music to entertain "the boys" at the front.

"G.I. Holiday Jukebox" takes place at Christmastime during World War II.

Filled with great standards, holiday music and comedy, the show is reminiscent of the USO shows of yesteryear. The cast sings some of the best music of the 20th century, including tributes to The Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, Spike Jones and many more.

"G.I. Holiday Jukebox" is directed by Welch, with musical direction by Carolyn Jess, who will also accompany on piano. Rob Peterson plays bass and Bryan Swenland plays drums.

"We are excited to bring this delightful, uplifting show to Coeur d'Alene for the holidays," Welch said. "People are going to love this show, and I believe it will become a holiday favorite."

Raimer is a tenor who has sung all over the world, in some of the world's most celebrated venues. Northwest audiences may have seen Raimer as a guest soloist for the Portland and Seattle symphonies. Raimer was last seen at CST as Che in "Evita."

McKinney Cabe is a CST favorite who has been seen on our stage many times, last season in "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Sound of Music." She has recently made Coeur d'Alene her home.

Sable spent a decade working onboard the paddlewheel riverboats of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. It was onboard the American Queen where she met her husband, Bill. They have created and performed many shows together since and have toured from Alaska to England. Sable was last seen in CST's "A Little Night Music."

Cotter has appeared in more than a dozen CST productions including "Chicago," "Oklahoma," "Les Miserables," "All Shook Up" and "Putting It Together." Cotter is also an acclaimed Cabaret artist having performed his one man show across the country and on various cruise ships around the world. For 14 years, Cotter sang on The Mississippi Queen in New Orleans where he performed in various incarnations of "G.I. Holiday Jukebox."

The Resort Theatre, which holds 200 stadium-style seats and small drink-tables, will be transformed into a World War II-style cantina. Theatergoers will be able to enjoy a drink and a dessert during the show or at intermission.

Ticket prices: $25 for prime, $20 for regular adult tickets (ages 13 and up) and $18 for children (ages 6-12). Parking in The Resort parking garage is included (subject to availability). Overnight and dinner packages are available through The Coeur d'Alene Resort by calling (800) 688-5253.

Information: Michelle Mendez (509) 230-0245