POST FALLS - An evening of Christmas and gospel music is coming to the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center Wednesday through Friday.

"A Winter Worship," directed by Marina Kalani and featuring the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Choir of Spokane, will be held at 7:30 each night at 405 N. William, Post Falls.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. For tickets, call 457-8950 or e-mail art@thejacklincenter.org.

"We are not a typical theater venue ... but what we do have is gorgeous a 1890s building that is screaming for site-specific productions," said Liisa Spink, executive director of the nonprofit JACC.

"That is why we choose director Marina Kalani to direct 'A Winter Worship' for our December theatrical show, asking her to produce an evening of entertainment that celebrated the Christmas season as well as highlighted the beauty of our building."

Kalani said the intent is take a step back from commercialism and recent tragic events and focus on the sacred element of Christmas with a simple message.

"We want to celebrate Christmas with a range of gospel music," she said.

Elisha Mitchell, the choir's director, said the choir wants to keep Christ in Christmas and with the performance.

"Circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth are relevant today," she said.

Mitchell said the group enjoys how each member contributes to the performances.

"Mutual respect is formed for each member regardless of age and background," she said. "We pray, share, laugh, create and sing together.

"Many of our members are transplants from other areas of the country. They find our surrogate, local family in which to belong. The group consists of students, retirees, entrepreneurs ... all who aspire to sing or play instruments and return thanks to God for who He is and what He does in their lives."

Prior to settling in Coeur d'Alene, Kalani toured nationally with groups, including Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Coasters, Dion and comedian Howie Mandel.

In her early theater days, she played the title role in "Romeo and Juliet," and Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker. Marina's local theater experience began with the title role in "Kiss Me Kate" in 2006. Since that time, she has acted in, musically directed and directed more than 25 productions. She will be featured in the upcoming production of "Sweeney Todd."

The designer of the event is Coeur d'Alene's Bob McAdams, who has been in the Lake City Playhouse productions of "Man of La Mancha," "Into the Woods." "A Few Good Men" and "Oklahoma!"

"A Winter Worship" will be the second performance of the JACC's Theater Troup that was started last spring with the intention of using the historical and unique aspects of the JACC in a theatrical context.