Alpine Theatre Project marks 20th anniversary of holiday performance

The Alpine Theatre Project is celebrating its 20th anniversary of the “Yuletide Affair” this season, a mix of heartwarming holiday music and irreverent satire that has become one of the Valley's biggest holiday traditions.

The tradition began in 2003 before ATP became its own company and was still under the umbrella of Whitefish Theatre Company. "Yuletide Affair" has sold out every performance since 2003 and the show has never been repeated year to year. 

“The concert originated as a fundraiser after ATP’s first year and was meant to raise funds for the following season for the fledgling operation,” says Betsi Morrison, ATP founder. “Then it just kept growing.”

The first concert featured ATP’s founders, David Ackroyd, Betsi Morrison, and Luke Walrath, accompanied on piano by Kate Schenck, the granddaughter of Big Mountain co-founder, Ed Schenck. Invitations to the concert were handmade by Morrison and Walrath and tickets could be ordered by leaving messages on Morrison’s home phone.

“Yuletide was born out of Luke’s and my living room. It's hard to imagine it's 20 years later,” says Morrison. “Yuletide is such a special program to us — incredibly talented, friends getting together to make beautiful music. We feel so honored that Whitefish has loved this program for all these years.”

Artists in the 2023 production include Robert Creighton, Virginia Woodruff, Julie Foldesi, Aaron Lavigne, Angela Wildflower, Meredith Patterson, Summer Boggess, Ross Bridgeman, Halladay Quist, Lauren Thomas, Luke Walrath, Rob Fahie, Todd Cowart, Jeremy Reinbolt, Tracy McDowell and Betsi Morrison.

“Its roster of artists and set lists that change each year, so it never gets dull,” says Walrath. “It has become one of the most sought-after gigs for past and present ATP artists, and a holiday tradition for many in the Valley.”

Over the years, "Yuletide Affair" has featured notable performances that include David Sedaris’s “The SantaLand Diaries” and a collaboration with Montana Public Radio to present Orson Welles’s radio version of “A Christmas Carol.” In 2007, Tony Award winner, Kelli O’Hara performed along with singer/filmmaker husband Greg Naughton.

As the unique method of creating the show solidified, artists were invited to travel to Whitefish and spend seven to 10 days rehearsing and performing. 

“We create a set list of songs and hole up in beautiful places to rehearse the show,” says Morrison.

The popular concept of the “Politically Incorrect Carolers” was added, bringing more satire to balance out the heartfelt musical tone of the show. The performance also began to include more artists who had recently performed at ATP during the summer productions, including Broadway stars, opera singers and rock bands.

"What better way to sum up the Alpine Theatre Project than with the ‘Yuletide Affair,’” says Walrath. “It started as an experiment, it is focused on strong entertainment with jaw-dropping talent, it keeps reinventing itself, and, hopefully, never takes itself too seriously. I'm grateful that the community has embraced it — and ATP — all these years."

Two shows remain for the 20th-anniversary run starting on Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. 

The event is sponsored by Whitefish Mountain Resort, Glacier Bank, Stebbins Dental, North Forty Resort, Whitefish Credit Union, and Tamarack Dispensary.

For more information and tickets, visit www.atpwhitefish.org.