alphabetical author index

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world -- so when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics.

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy, Christmas/Holiday
  • 70 minutes

  • Time Period: Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Orchestra Size: Small/Combo

  • Performance Group:
  • High School/Secondary, College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world -- so when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics. There's not supposed to be biting or cigar-smoking in Bethlehem, and while these kids have never even heard the Christmas story, they definitely have rewrites! Soon everyone is calling for reluctant director Grace Bradley to cancel the whole thing.

It's up to the Bradleys and the Reverend to help their community see the Christmas story and the Herdman kids through new eyes in this buoyant musical adaptation of the funny and touching holiday classic. 

REVIEWS:

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical is the PERFECT way to get you into the holiday spirit. It's a musical the entire family can enjoy."

 Jenni Strazulla, Charlotte Smarty Pants

  • Casting: 9M, 10F
  • Casting Attributes: Non-Traditional casting, Roles for Children

  • RALPH - Male - 13 - The oldest and coolest. He's the enforcer.
    IMOGENE - Female - 12 - Leader of the Herdmans. She's loud, bossy, and crafty.
    LEROY - Male - 11 - Ralph's backup. Very confident in the muscle department.
    CLAUDE - Male - 10 - Scrappy and smart.
    OLLIE - Male - 9 - A bit of a naïve urchin who follows the older boys' leads.
    GLADYS - Female - 8 - Little but fierce. Nothing scares Gladys.
    GRACE - Female - 35-40 - Sweet, good-humored, slightly frazzled mom.
    BOB - Male - 35-40 - Easygoing dad, wry sense of humor.
    CHARLIE - Male - 10 - Typical kid brother, says what he thinks.
    BETH - Female - 11 - Charlie's older and wiser sister. She's honest and kind.
    HELEN ARMSTRONG - Female - 40-50 - Organized steamroller. She's always in charge.
    REVEREND HOPKINS - Male - 40-50 - Occasionally befuddled, always well-meaning.
    LUANNE - Female - 35-40 - Sassy, tells it like it is.
    BETTY - Female - 30-40 - Sweet southerner, calls everything 'honey'.
    CONNIE - Female - 30-40 - Direct, no-nonsense type.
    ALICE WENDLEKEN - Female - 11 - Know-it-all. She thinks she's perfect.
    ELMER HOPKINS - Male - 10 - Preacher's kid, which means he needs to behave and be nice.
    TEDDY SHOEMAKER - Male - 9 - Wimpy kid with glasses, asks too many questions.
    IVY REED - Female - 11 - Beth's earnest friend who is sometimes a goody-goody.
  • Name Price
    Digital Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Libretto/Vocal Book

    $10.00
    Pre-Production Pack Shipped upon receipt of a signed License Agreement and full payment of all invoices. This is optional.

    1 x Cast/Vocal Script
    1 x Director's Script
    1 x Piano/Conductor's Score

    $75.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    19 x Cast Script/Vocal Books: A combination of the show's full script and the full vocal book. All dialogue within each song is printed in the score to prevent flipping back and forth during rehearsals.

    2 x Director's Scripts: A single-sided script designed with plenty of space for the director to take notes and add blocking during the rehearsal process.

    2 x Piano/Conductor Scores: A keyboard score that is a key part of the show's actual orchestration. This score contains both vocal parts and a cue staff, which guides the conductor through the full orchestration by informing them when instruments enter the song, as well as providing specific part lines when necessary.

    1 x Stage Manager's Script: A single-sided script that can be inserted into a binder. 

    $550.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano/Conductor (Keyboard)
    1 x Reed (Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax)
    1 x Guitar (Acoustic, Electric)
    1 x Bass (Electric)
    1 x Drums

    $300.00 +$135.00/pm