Texas megachurch glorifies the incarnation in ‘Gift of Christmas’ extravaganza

First and foremost: I’m not exactly what you would call a huge fan of musical theater.

Now, that’s not to say I don’t like music. I enjoy all types of music, worship and otherwise (no emails, please). I might even consider myself “musical” in the strictest sense of the word, albeit not exactly spiritually gifted in that department.

But a fan of musicals? No, not even a little bit.

Yet after taking my family to see “The Gift of Christmas” musical extravaganza at Prestonwood Baptist Church, I have to confess that I may just become a fan after all.

Featuring a nearly 1,000-member cast and choir, live orchestra, zoo animals, and yes, flying angels, “Gift of Christmas” is, quite simply, a visually stunning and biblically evocative production.

Full disclosure: my family and I are regular attendees at Prestonwood but have no formal ties with the Dallas-area megachurch.

Timed at roughly 100 minutes long, the show is briskly paced and engaging for all ages and opens with an almost entirely Santa-centric Act 1, with scenes at the North Pole and Santa’s workshop consuming much of the storyline.

Featuring an electric flying sleigh, Mrs. Clause and Frosty the Snowman, the first act feels a lot like one of those traditional TV holiday specials: enjoyable and entertaining but lacking in real substance.

The show initially places a bit too much emphasis on color and wonder in the opening act, as if to “feed the kids first” from a content perspective. … (Excerpt from The Christian Post)