A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  6w, 4m, 9girl(s), 8boy(s)

Barbara Robinson

This delightful comedy, adapted from the bestselling Young Adult book, features plenty of great roles for children and adults, a few favorite Christmas carols, and lots of laughs.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 4m, 9girl(s), 8boy(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Literature), Theatre for Young Audiences, Christmas/Holiday
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Details

Summary

In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas!

This delightful show is adapted from the bestselling Young Adult book, and has become a holiday staple for groups across the United States. The crowd-pleasing comedy features plenty of great roles for children and adults, a few favorite Christmas Carols, and lots of laughs.

History
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever made its professional premiere at Seattle Children's Theatre on November 26, 1982.
Keywords
Performing Groups
FATHER (Bob Bradley) – Solid family man, 35-38
MOTHER (Grace Bradley) – Trim, attractive, 35ish
BETH BRADLEY – The narrator, strong voice and presence, 10-11
CHARLIE BRADLEY – Traditional kid brother, 8-9
RALPH HERDMAN – Ragged, scroungy, slouching manner, touch of adolescent cool, 12-13
IMOGENE HERDMAN – Loud, bossy, crafty, 11-12
LEROY HERDMAN – Tough, sure of himself, 10-11
CLAUDE HERDMAN – Tough, combative, 9-10
OLLIE HERDMAN – Looking for trouble, Claude's usual partner in crime, 8-9
GLADYS HERDMAN – Small, wiry, fiesty, 7-8
ALICE WENDLEKEN – Prim, proper, pain in the neck, 10-11
MRS. ARMSTRONG – Largish woman, managerial in voice and manner, 50ish
MRS. SLOCUM – Pleasant, motherly woman, 35-60
MRS. CLARK – 35-60
MRS. CLAUSING – 35-60
MRS. MCCARTHY – A younger, less imperious version of Mrs. Armstrong, middle 40s
MAXINE – 10-11
ELMER HOPKINS – 12-13
HOBIE – 9-10
DAVID – 8-9
BEVERLY – 7-8
FIREMAN – 25-30
FIREMAN - 25-30
SHIRLEY – 5-6
JUANITA – 5-6
DORIS – 9-10
REVEREND HOPKINS – middle to late 40s
Extra angel choir members, baby angels, shepherds
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting A living room/dining room and a church.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No intermission, Physical Comedy, Play w/ Music
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“An American classic.” – McCall's Magazine

“One of the best Christmas stories ever – and certainly one of the funniest.” – The Seattle Times

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

Your Guide to Holiday Shows
September 7, 2022

Music

  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $130 per performance

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Barbara Robinson

Barbara Robinson
Barbara Robinson (1927-2013) wrote several popular books for children, including My Brother Louis Measures Worms, The Best School Year Ever, The Best Halloween Ever, and the enormously popular bestselling novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, first published in 1972, which w ...
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