BC Theatre to Present ‘Best Christmas Pageant Ever’

Bluefield Youth Theatre and the Bluefield College Theatre Department will present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical in Harman Auditorium on December 13-14 at 7:30 p.m., as well as Sunday, December 15 at 3 p.m.

“[It] is a wonderful, family Christmas event that tells not only the story of six juvenile delinquents being changed by the story of Christmas, (but) also the story of a relatively straight-laced, stuffy church being changed by learning to love six juvenile delinquents,” said Charles Reese, co-director of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical. “It’s funny, sweet, and moving.”

In 2007, Bluefield Youth Theatre presented its debut performance with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Now, 12 years later, Bluefield Youth Theatre and BC’s Theatre Department presents a new musical version of this Christmas family favorite.

“Four of the college students participating in this year’s production of the musical script were involved in that (original) production and have grown up participating with the Youth Theatre company,” Reese added.

The cast for the Bluefield College performance includes:

• Imogene Herdman, played by Isabela Deel
• Ralph Herdman, played by Connor Miller
• Leroy Herdman, played by Calvin Dowell
• Claude Herdman, played by Cannon Smith
• Ollie Herdman, played by Finn Smith
• Gladys Herdman, played by Joselyn Pruitt.

Other characters include:

• Grace Bradley, the hapless church member who is rooked into directing the pageant, played by Ashley Burton
• Helen Armstrong, longtime director and all-round church busy body, who slips on the ice breaking her leg and arm, played by Mary Jones 
• Bob Bradley, Grace’s long-suffering husband, played by Luke Saferight
• The Bradley children, Beth and Charlie, played by Rachel White and Elias Stout 
• Rev. Hopkins, played by Brian Fisher
• Holier-than-thou teenager Alice Wendelken (who always plays Mary), played by Alexis Leedy
• Ivy, the pageant narrator, played by Chloe Bowers.

“The story of the Herdmans might be nearly 50 years old this year,” Reese said, “but this new musical adaptation breathes new life into the story.”

The new musical version of the story, created by the husband and wife team of Jahnna Beacham and Malcolm Hillgartener, features 15 delightful new songs and all the hijinks of Barbara Robinson’s play. 

Public performance tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior adults. For more information about production dates and times, contact the Bluefield College Theatre Department at 276.326.4244 or creese@bluefield.edu.