The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2024
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson
Directed by Stephen Buse, assisted by Vaughn Hardman
Audition Dates: September 30 & October 1, 6:30 pm
Performance Dates: December 7, 8, 13, 14, 15
10 Adults, 16 Kids
ADULT ROLES
GRACE BRADLEY (MOTHER). 30+. Mother to Beth and Charlie; wife to Bob. She takes over the annual Christmas pageant
BOB BRADLEY (FATHER). 30+. Husband to Grace and father to Beth and Charlie. A solid family man.
MRS. ARMSTRONG. 50s+. Managerial, in voice and manner; largish, bossy, impatient.
MRS. SLOCUM. 35-60+. Pleasant, motherly woman
MRS. CLARK. 35-60+. Pleasant, motherly woman
MRS. CLAUSING. 35-60+. Pleasant, motherly woman
MRS. McCARTHY. 40s, 50s. A younger, less imperious version of Mrs. Armstrong
REVEREND HOPKINS. 40s+. A nervous-about-most-everything pastor
FIREFIGHTER 1. Ready for any fire
FIREFIGHTER 2. Ready for any fire
CHILD ROLES
BETH BRADLEY. 10-12ish. She is the show’s narrator. Grace/Bob’s daughter. Beth needs a strong voice and stage presence; is in most scenes dealing with a range of moods and situations.
CHARLIE BRADLEY. 8-9; Beth’s brother - the typical kid brother.
THE HERDMANS — “the worst kids in the history of the world.”
RALPH. 12-13. The oldest; ragged, scrungy, slouching manner, touch of adolescent cool.
IMOGENE. 11-12 Loud, bossy, tough, crafty. The Herdman leader.
LEROY. 10-11. Tough, very sure of himself.
CLAUDE. 8-9. Tough, combative. A crime buddy to Ollie.
OLLIE. 8-9. Boy or girl. Always looking for trouble. Claude’s usual partner in crime.
GLADYS. 7-8. Small, wiry, feisty. Often funny; sometimes means it.
ALICE WENDLEKEN. 10-11. Prim, proper, pain in the neck
MAXINE: 10-11. Beth’s church Sunday school classmate.
ELMER. 12-13. The minister’s son; dislikes church; not fond of the Herdmans.
HOBIE, DAVID, BEVERLY, JUANITA, DORIS. Various ages, 7-10.