Mondays, Dec. 17 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV + Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. & Monday, Dec. 24 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2
Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster and DOWNTON ABBEY actor Hugh Bonneville will star as guest musical artist and narrator for this year's "Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir."
They join the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, Bells on Temple Square handbell choir, Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble, dancers and actors in an elaborate, Victorian-themed program that celebrates the Christmas season through music, dance, storytelling and pageantry.
“I’ve always associated the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with Christmas, so it was truly an honor to take part in this wonderful tradition, which is unlike anything else I’ve done before,” said Foster. “There’s something that happens when you stand on the stage and you’re sharing this experience not only with the Choir and Orchestra, but with the 21,000 people that attend each night. It becomes about everyone, no matter what you believe, coming together to celebrate this season. For me, this time of year is all about family and celebrating the people that have passed, so to be able to bring in all of the things that I love was a very powerful experience.”
Bonneville added "I've never been part of something where the word ‘amateur’ has had a truer sense of the word, coming from the Latin root, ‘amo,’ or ‘the love of it.’ The love and the commitment that these people who are volunteering give to this program for the single purpose of celebration through music, word and dance – it's a rare and extraordinary experience.”
Watch On Your Schedule:
This episode will be available to stream on demand for a limited time after broadcast. Extend your viewing window with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members ($60 yearly) using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.
Last year's concert is currently available to stream on KPBS Passport.
In addition to the broadcast, this Christmas special is available for purchase as a DVD or CD titled “A Merry Little Christmas,” and an illustrated book titled “It Is Well with My Soul.” For more information, visit: mormontabernaclechoir.org/shop/christmas.html or Shoppbs.org.
Connect:
The Tabernacle Choir is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @TheTabChoir on Twitter. Sutton Foster is on Facebook. Hugh Bonneville is on Facebook.
Credits:
Produced by BYUtv and presented by WGBH Boston.
