Touchstone Theater is taking a victory lap for “Christmas City Follies XXV.”

A well-deserved run it is as the annual Christmas sketch comedy show with music notes its 25th year at the Southside Bethlehem venue where “Christmas City Follies XXV” continues through Dec. 22. The Dec. 5 opening night show was seen for this theater review.

The colorful patchwork quilt that rises to reveal the talented and innovative cast is like a comfort blanket to snuggle up with for holiday season entertainment.

The 2024 “Follies” opens with the entire cast on stage, including Touchstone Theatre Managing Director Lisa Jordan. With a bit of history, the story of Touchstone and the “Follies” is told and unfolds.

The opening number summarizes the pride the Touchstone Ensemble deservedly has for its annual Christmas gift to Lehigh Valley theater-goers.

Although it’s titled “Follies,” it’s not all fun and games with the Touchstone Ensemble, which creates and performs the sketches that are directed by Jp Jordan, Touchstone Theatre Artistic Director, who with No. 25 seems to especially encourage the actors to take time for moments tender and contemplative.

“Christmas City Follies XXV” has a cozy feeling. The familiar and favorite characters: the giant Panda, The Old Guy (Bill George), Little Red (Mary Wright), and, in several memorable roles, Samantha Beedle, make the show merry and bright.

Also in the mix are Dylan Gombos and Matt Prideaux, the latter whom is a good skate in a scaled-down “Shopping Cart Ballet” sketch.

“Christmas City Follies XXV” seems to be more musical than in some previous years.

Amber Charest, who has terrific comedic timing, and is in lovely voice, is in the Moravian-Touchstone MFA program.

Abbie-Jean Litman, a Moravian-Touchstone MFA program graduate, has a powerful and beautiful voice that could reach to the rafters in Touchstone Theatre if there were rafters. She sure could reach out front to Fourth Street.

The new production is staged on two levels with Jason E.R. Hedrington at the keyboards on the upper level, which is utilized for some of the sketches. A small screen, which goes from 1 to 25, symbolizes an Advent Calendar.

Costumes and Properties are by Lisa Jordan and Matt Prideaux. Production Design is by Jp Jordan and Christopher Shorr.

I am not certain that I have seen every one of the 25 “Christmas City Follies,” but I have seen nearly all of them. Each is different, with a different take on the holiday season, with a different cast, with new or reworked sketches and characters and with an altogether original approach.

New and newer actors, courtesy of the Moravian University and Touchstone Theatre MFA Performance Creation program, bring fresh perspectives and talents to “Christmas City Follies.” I wonder if some of them were even born when the first “Follies” was presented.

The approximate 70-minute show (with no intermission) concludes appropriately enough with the pandemic release, ”The Keep Going On Song,” by The Bengsons (Abigail and Shaun Bengson). It’s a credible choice and a wise goal for “Christmas City Follies” and Touchstone Theatre.

“Christmas City Follies XXV” is charming, often laugh-out-loud funny and sure to make your holiday season bright.

It’s the kind of show that is a good introduction to theater for teens and youngsters. Senior citizens will derive much joy from the production’s overall nostalgic holiday season glow.

I have said it before and I will say it again: The holiday season in the Lehigh Valley begins with “Christmas City Follies” at Touchstone Theatre.

“Christmas City Follies XXV,” 8 p.m. Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20; 2 p.m. Dec. 8, 15, 22; 2, 7 p.m. Dec. 14, 21, Touchstone Theatre, 321 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem. 484-767-2456; http://www.touchstone.org/