However, the musical by John Reeger with music and lyrics by Julie Shannon and directed by Thom Hofrichter is also funny, moving, and features some of the most beautiful music I've heard in a long time.

Peter Stossel (Scott Rumage) is the captain of the MOLLY DOONE in Manistique, Michigan. His wife Alma (Nancy Kartholl) ignores her Swiss heritage, proclaiming to her son Karl (Aaron Bartscht) that they are Americans now. Her good-natured teasing with her proudly German father-in-law Gustav (endearingly played by Joel Scribner, who specializes in playing characters twice his age with European accents) has an edge.

On Christmas Eve, Peter receives a letter from his cousin Martha (Eileen Ahlersmyer, who shines in her small role) in Chicago, where evergreens are scarce, expressing remorse that she cannot pass the tradition of a Christmas tree to her children. A year later, Peter gathers his crew to chop down indigenous evergreens and deliver them to Chicago to sell.

Gustav tells young Karl the story of the first Christmas tree in a scene that could easily be hokey, but is tempered with humor. The story is crucial to the plot because it truly conveys the importance of the traditional Christmas tree in bringing a family together for the holidays. If the audience had any doubts about Peter's reasoning in risking his life to deliver Christmas trees to family and strangers 300 miles away, this story instantly quells them. As the chorus sings, "The heartbeat of life is in our stories and our songs." By the end of the second act, you will understand why Stossel makes the sacrifice he does.

Standouts include Aaron Bartscht and Brett Hunter as Karl at 10 and 15, respectively. Aaron's beautiful soprano voice will be missed when his voice changes and he has amazing comedic timing for someone his age. Brett makes the most of his solo, "Hardwater Sailor," one of the highlights of the show, and he elicits tears in a later, heartbreaking scene.

Nancy Kartholl has recently played a Moorish prostitute, a Liverpudlian punk, and an insane Norwegian mountain woman, but her deliberately non-ethnic Alma is played with equal range and skill. She combines hard-edged tenderness with loving humor and her character runs the gamut of emotions.

Sasha Bachwich does a very believable Irish accent in her too-brief scene. Andrew Gingrich, Andrew Gross and Scott McMeen add laughs as the loyal but IQ-challenged sailors. Scott Rumage plays the lead role of Peter Stossel with a quiet strength and tenderness but adds a devilish romanticism in his scenes with his wife that might have been missed.

The rest of the ensemble, including Grace Bachwich, Deb McMeen and Mike Palmreuter, fill important roles as narrators of the harrowing voyage across Lake Michigan in late November.

Choreographer Lisa Root created several lively dances, including a sort of Christmas Tree "Stomp" dance number at the end of Act I. The cast should be commended for singing clearly while dancing energetically in a small space.

The choral harmonies blend beautifully, thanks in no small part to musical directors Stephen Sheftz and Jeanette Walsh.

The set by Jennifer Schmied and the costumes by Virginia Badour added to the authenticity, although the "invisible" food was a little distracting at first.

Judging from the nearly sold-out premiere performance, this musical will likely sell out, so get your tickets fast. And bring a hankie.