Jeff Casey, director of Hammond's Towle Community Theater's "A Fabulous '50s Christmas," suggests to those who wish to see next year's musical performance to strike early.

Real early.

"We've had people who attend our annual season preview in January come out and make reservations then," he said.

"They've literally made reservations that early."

Playing nine sold-out shows today through Dec. 9, "Fabulous" takes its audience back five decades for a musical tribute to Perry Como and Andy Williams-type small-screen holiday specials that were seen by millions of baby boomers.

Towle brought its first "Fabulous" musical to the stage in 2003 and, according to Casey, it was an immediate hit with nostalgic holiday revelers as well as younger generations of theatergoers.

Originally a six-show run, Towle eventually upped "Fabulous'" run to nine shows to meet demand.

The annual tradition, Casey said, has filled the theater's 130 seats each night since it began five years ago. And in addition to its nine public performances, the nine performers will continue to be "Fabulous" for three private functions before the holiday season is over.

"Now that we've been doing the show for five years, we've had people call us for tickets and let us know that this is their fifth year for the show as well," Casey said.

"And that's exactly what we wanted. We wanted to create a little tradition here (for theatergoers) in Northwest Indiana that people can enjoy."

While the Towle powers-that-be have considered increasing its public run even longer over the last few years, Casey said they are hesitant to do so despite the demand.

"All of our actors are volunteers, and they begin rehearsing for the show in September, and another weekend is, obviously, another whole weekend closer to the holidays," he said.

"(The performers) are already giving so much of their time away from their families for the show. I don't want to take advantage of people's generosity and giving of their time"

For those without tickets this year who still want to try their luck, Casey noted there have been rare last-minute cancellations for the musical. He suggested that hopeful theatergoers call the Towle box office an hour before each show to see if tickets have been been made available for that evening's show.

"A Fabulous 50s Christmas" is running at Towle Community Theater at 8 p.m. today, Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec, 1, 7 and 9, and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 2 and 9.