When it comes to the holiday season, JR Russell knows that he doesn’t need a lot of fancy tricks to capture the magic of Christmas time.

He demonstrated that recently by loosening his grip on a book he was carrying titled, “Santa’s List,” and offering only a brief glimpse inside.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, there’s names in there,” Russell said before quickly closing the book. “They’re from all over the world.”

Russell, an Oak Harbor magician and entertainer, will serve as a narrator of sorts for the holiday musical revue, “Christmas at the Playhouse,” which opens Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Whidbey Playhouse.

His wife, Sarah Russell, is the producer.

She introduced the idea to the playhouse a few years ago to take a stab at mood-lifting wintertime variety shows that feature classic songs and skits and encourage audience participation.

It started with “Wish Upon a Star” in 2012 and “Christmas Snapshots,” a year later.

“Christmas at the Playhouse” is intended to offer the community an escape from the sometimes chaotic holiday season with the hope of recapturing the spirit of Christmas.

“It’s kind of a gift to the community,” said Sarah Russell. “It’s an opportunity for families who want to gather and feel the Christmas spirit … to get out of that rush and come and sit down and sing with us.”

“Good, old-fashioned Christmas,” JR Russell piped in.

Not every show will be exactly the same, as certain acts will perform on specific dates but not others.

Acts consist of choral groups, including one from from Click Music, solo performances, duets, sketches and magic.

Songs include “Santa Baby” by Allenda Jenkins, “Blue Christmas” by Douglas and Ella Langrock and “O Holy Night” by Trey Montoya.

Tess Hightower, who recently moved to Oak Harbor from Los Angeles, is part of the chorus and is singing solos.

“It’s like a big group thing. We’re all going to experience this together,” said Ron Wilhelm, who will be singing “Holly Jolly Christmas.”

Stan Thomas, the show’s director, said the Christmas-themed production is something the community has come to expect. Many people let the playhouse hear about it when a year is skipped.

“It’s something our public wants us to do,” he said.

As narrator, JR Russell fashions his role to be a little like Burl Ives in the 1964 animated television classic, “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.”

He’ll offer a few magic tricks, but knows his main role is to help re-create the magic of Christmas, which requires no illusions.

“We’re going to encourage everyone to go back to when you were a kid,” Russell said, “because, if you think about it, there’s not a 7-year-old or 8-year-old that walks around saying, ‘I protest Christmas. I can’t do this.’ Every single little kid likes the lights. They like Santa. They like the season. They like everything about it.

“And if you could just think about back to when you were that age, that’s what we’re trying to re-create up here, so that everyone can go to a time in their lives when Christmas was cool and fun and nostalgic, and put everyone in the true spirit.”

After all, Russell noted, he has connections with Santa. The evidence was in the secret list in his hands.

“He and I had this conversation,” Russell said. “We talked for about an hour. No maybe we didn’t talk for an hour. We talked for five minutes.

“No, actually he de-friended me on Facebook. But he’s allowed me to show off his list.”

TICKETS: The holiday musical revue, “Christmas at the Playhouse,” will be performed every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Dec. 1-18 at the Whidbey Playhouse. Multiple acts will include singing of carols, instrumentalists, Christmas skits, magic and more. Stan Thomas is director and Sarah Russell is the producer. Shows will Call the box office at 360-679-2237 for further information, show dates, group discounts, and reservations, or email at office@whidbeyplayhouse.com or visit the website at www.whidbeyplayouse.com.