Crystal Cathedral Play Is Expecting : Pageant: The annual ‘Glory of Christmas’ production celebrates a birth by featuring many newborn animal actors. It’s all part of the plan.

Although the traditional story remains the same, the “Glory of Christmas” performance at the Crystal Cathedral each year includes some four-legged newcomers, to the stage and to the world.

As the show premiered for its 14th year Friday, its producers said audiences will see more newborn animals than ever, including camels, lambs, kids, calves and a 2-week-old donkey named Glory.

An extraordinary number of pregnant animals on the set promised that more offspring will arrive before the curtain falls on yet another Christmas season.

The timing of the births is no accident, said John Vint, handler of the approximately 30 animals who are helping to re-enact the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

“We want newborns on the stage,” Voit said. “The animals are bred so they will pop at this time.” Between shows the animals are stabled next to the church parking lot, in an area that becomes a children’s petting zoo.

“Children can come and see the animals from now until Dec. 30,” said Cindi Palomarez, spokeswoman for the show.

Animals, both the young just getting accustomed to the lights and noise and the seasoned veterans, are vital to the show that is expected to attract up to 170,000 spectators this year.

Horses carry the Roman soldiers, camels transport the Three Wise Men, a donkey carries Mary into Bethlehem and a veritable menagerie of animals appears in a market scene.

Paul David Dunn, who has produced and directed “The Glory of Christmas” for the last decade, said the cost of renting and maintaining the animals, which come from a ranch in Riverside, accounts for $100,000 of the show’s $2-million annual budget.

The animals pose a unique challenge to some of the actors.

“Until four years ago I had never ridden a camel,” said Eric King, a 56-year-old accountant from Anaheim who for the fifth year has volunteered to play the role of a wise man.

King rides a dromedary down the length of the cathedral. He said he soon got the hang of it, learning to brace himself to avoid taking a nosedive when the animal kneels to lower itself to the ground.

“After the show it is amazing the response I get from the children and adults,” King said. “I have to sign autographs.”

Bobbie Candler, a 34-year-old professional actress from Encino, said she is “thrilled” to be playing the part of Mary.

In the role, Candler rides a gray donkey named Hercules.

“I ride horses, but this is sidesaddle, she said, with balancing made more difficult by the pillow tucked under her costume to give the illusion of pregnancy. “Poor donkey,” she said, “I hold onto the scruff of its mane.”

Candler said it is her first year in the role and it helps that Hercules has played his role for the last seven Christmases and knows where to go. “The donkey knows the cues better than I do,” she said with a laugh.