
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Audition Notice — Chaos, Comedy, and Christmas Spirit Wanted
Auditions for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson, will be held Saturday, August 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, August 9, 1 to 4 p.m., with callbacks on Tuesday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Merrill Arts Center, 380 Rivertown Drive, Suite 200, Woodbury, MN.
Come ready to read from the script, show off your timing, and possibly embrace a little festive mayhem. If you have a flair for comedy, heart, or beautifully controlled holiday chaos, we want to see you.
Synopsis: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” concerns the efforts of Grace Bradley and her husband to put on the annual church Christmas pageant despite having to cast the Herdman children - “probably the meanest, nastiest, most inventively awful kids in the history of the world!” Ultimately, these children come to understand the Christmas story and help everyone else rediscover its meaning.
“One of the best Christmas stories ever - and certainly one of the funniest,” according to the Seattle Times.
Setting: A small town, Christmas 1972
Characters:
All roles are open to actors of any ethnicity. The age range and gender listed are for the character, not necessarily the actor portraying them. Roles are listed in order of appearance in the script and not necessarily by the size of the role.
THE CHILDREN:
BETH BRADLEY – (female, age 11-13) A lead role who narrates the show. Sister to Charlie and daughter to Grace and Bob. She’s an average kid, but with more insight than many.
CHARLIE BRADLEY – (male, age 8‐9) Younger brother to Beth, and son of Grace and Bob; typical “little brother” character, but an all‐around good kid. An average kid just trying to avoid getting beat up by a Herdman.
RALPH HERDMAN – (male, age 12‐13) Ragged, scroungy, slouching manner, with a touch of adolescent cool. Definitely the perpetrator of minor crimes. Plays Joseph in the pageant.
IMOGENE HERDMAN – (female, age 11-12) Loud, bossy, and crafty. One tough cookie. Imogene shows an array of emotions from sassy to sadness in this play. Plays Mary in the pageant.
LEROY HERDMAN – (male, age 10‐11) Tough, sure of himself. Regularly steals Charlie’s lunch.
CLAUDE HERDMAN – (male, age 9-10) Tough, combative.
OLLIE HERDMAN – (male, age 8-9) Looking for trouble. Claude’s usual partner in crime.
GLADYS HERDMAN – (female, age 7‐8) Small, wiry, feisty.
ALICE WENDLEKEN – (female, age 11-12) Prim, proper, and a pain in the neck. She is one of Beth’s Sunday School classmates. A goody two shoes and very prissy.
MAXINE – (female, Age 11-12) The narrator of the Christmas pageant within the play. She is one of Beth’s Sunday School classmates.
ELMER HOPKINS – (male, age 12-13) The minister’s son. He is a little nerdy, but still sweet. Friends with Charlie Bradley and not a fan of the Herdmans.
Other Roles:
HOBIE (male, age 9-10)
DAVID (male, age 8-9)
BEVERLY (female, age 7-8)
SHIRLEY (female, age 5-6)
JUANITA (female, age 5-6)
DORIS (female, age 9-10)
Angel choir members, baby angels, shepherds, etc.
THE ADULTS:
GRACE BRADLEY (MOTHER) – (female, age 35-40) She exudes warmth, humor, compassion, grit, and determination.
BOB BRADLEY (FATHER) – (male, age 35-40) A solid family man. Husband to Grace and father to Beth and Charlie. He is not a fan of the pageant, but he is a big fan of his wife and supports her in her efforts.
MRS. HELEN ARMSTRONG – (female, 50s) Big personality and in charge.
MRS. IRMA SLOCUM – (female, any age) A church lady. A pleasant, motherly woman, but not a fan of the Herdmans.
MRS. EDNA MCCARTHY – (female, 40s) A church lady. A younger, less imperious version of Mrs. Armstrong.
REVEREND HOPKINS – (male, 40s) The minister of the church. Father of Elmer.
MRS. CLARK – (female, 30s-40s) A church lady.
MRS. CLAUSING – (female, any age) A church lady.
2 FIREMEN (20s-60s)