POST FALLS - Anne Lillian Mitchell has taken a bunch of youths - some with no acting experience - to give them a chance on stage and roll out "The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever."

The classic comedy is being presented at the nonprofit Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center, 405 N. William St., Post Falls, tonight through Sunday and next week from Thursday through Sunday. Both Sunday performances are sold out.

The play, in which a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the troublesome Herdman kids, is a local breakthrough.

"This is the first community theater production (outside a school or church) involving children in Post Falls," said Mitchell, who is directing the play. "It will be funny as all get out."

The Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 adults and $10 for students.

Fourteen of the 27 cast members have never been in a play and seven of those 14 have never seen one, Mitchell said.

"The idea is to give them exposure and an opportunity to perform," she said, adding that there is no cost to be in the play. "A lot of it is education ... teaching them areas of the stage and basic theater etiquette.

"This is really what community theater is. We're helping grow the arts as a team."

Mitchell said kids ages 4 to 8 rarely get a chance to perform locally, but this production by the JACC Theatre Troupe gives the young actors that chance.

Mitchell's parents, brother and two of her nieces are also involved in the play.

"It makes it a special Christmas present for us," she said.

For tickets, call 457-8950 or purchase them online at www.thejacklincenter.org.