For 15 years, Fayetteville residents have made attendance to the Heart of Christmas Show an annual tradition. The show, which combines music, comedy, dance and more, kicks off the holiday season for many, is scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 30 through Dec. 1 at the Crown Theatre.

Laura Stevens, a talented musician and songwriter, is the force behind the show. Stevens has mentored many talented performers in our community with her showcase vocal group Voices of the Heart. The group, which is made up of young ladies, is the backbone of the show, but Stevens brings together a dynamic cast of 26 singers and dancers to make it a spectacular show that can compete with similar productions seen at theaters in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Branson, Mo.

Since its inception, Voices of the Heart has raised more than $500,000 for the Friends of Children, The Child Advocacy Center and many other children’s agencies and the public schools.

“If you would have asked me 15 years ago if I would have still been doing this, I would have said no,” said Stevens. “But this is what I am supposed to be doing, so everything has fallen into place.”

Reflecting back on the past 15 years, Stevens is proud that her sponsors have been with her since the show’s inception. The sponsors are part of the “family.” They come year after year.

“These sponsors support the show because they love it, they believe in it. They see the good works we do. They have seen the money accumulate to over a half million dollars to bene踀t our community. They just love it. They have a sense of ownership of it,” said Stevens.

She added that many in the community have watched the children grow up in the cast and see them as part of their extended family. The cast returns year after year until they age out, and the audience has enjoyed watching the cast members develop and their talents grow.

“For me, this is truly a community project. This project makes Fayetteville feel connected and small townish – even though we are not a small town,” she said.

She said the constancy of the sponsors and the agencies that benefit from the performance, make the show unique.

“When you dig into this community and pour out yourself, you find connections and how wonderful the people in this city are,” said Stevens. “It is important to dig in and give and make a difference. That is truly something all of the cast members are learning. They know the cost of time, energy and focus. But they see what the act of sel谀essness does for other people.”

While the show is glitzy, the reason behind the show is its ability to help the agencies that deal with children who are sick or abused.

“When we started 15 years ago, people gave us about three or four years,” she said. “But we have continued to thrive and grow, and I believe that it is because God is at the center of it and because of the tremendous support of the community, the cast and their families. I am so grateful for that.”

Stevens said the second half of the show has become a tradition and cannot be changed very much. She explained that the community does not want to see that portion of the show changed because the audience is inspired by it, which includes the nativity scene, the huge choir number and the dances. She said that for many, it puts them in the spirit of Christmas.

The first half of the show is light hearted with fun songs and dances, while the second half is more serious and speaks to the heart of the season.

“I have tried to bring the most Christmasy song, look, sound, and visual that you can ever imagine,” said Stevens. “You can look at the stage and just know that this is Christmas. There are some new songs this year that are just phenomenal.”

She added that the show is far-reaching and that its impact cannot be found only in the money that is given, but in the impact that it has on the lives of those who see it.

Ticket sales are brisk, and Stevens encourages those interested in attending to purchase tickets early.

“When it gets to the week of the show, it sometimes comes down that a family of four cannot sit together,” said Stevens.

Tickets for the show are $12 in advance and $18 at the door. Group tickets are available for groups of 15 or more, and are $10. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday with a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. For more information, visit the website at www.heartofchristmasshow.com.

Photos: The group, which is made up of young ladies, are the backbone of the show, but Stevens brings together a dynamic cast of 26 singers and dancers to make it a spectacular show that can compete with similar shows seen at theaters in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Branson, Mo.