BY KAREN BOSSICK

The story is a familiar one—and a true one.

Amidst the combat on the Western Front in 1914 a German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht,” or “Silent Night.”

One by one Allied troops and German soldiers begin laying down their arms. They celebrate Christmas together, sharing food and drink, playing soccer and singing carols.

There is joy. There is humility. There are tears and there is laughter.

Opera Idaho is recreating this moment as it stages “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” in a collaboration with Boise Contemporary Theater. The musical will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 18 at Boise Contemporary Theater, aka Fulton Street Theater, in Boise.

Nine men, including the Wood River Valley’s Matt Musgrove, bring to life the astounding story of camaraderie and peace during a time of war through music and excerpts taken from the letters of the men who lived it.

Musgrove has performed with the Liberty Theatre Company and most recently took part in The Spot’s dramatic telling of “Pass Over.”

The moving Christmas story kicks off with a 7 p.m. preview Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 followed by an 8 p.m. preview on Dec. 2.

Opening night takes place at 8 p.m. Dec. followed by 7 and 8 p.m. shows on Dec. 7-10 and Dec. 14-17. There will be four 2 p.m. matinees on Dec. 10 and 11 and Dec. 17 and 18.

Tracy Sunderland is the stage director and C. Michael Porter, the music director.

The play is by Peter Rothstein with musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach. A reviewer for Theatermania called it “hands down, the most emotionally moving Christmas show I’ve ever seen.”

For tickets, visit https://operaidaho.org/tickets/.