Fall Play Information

The Show
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Comedy by Barbara Robinson
Directed by Stephanie Tinberg
Contact: stephanie.tinberg@japioneers.org
Audition Dates and Times
Auditions for the fall play will be held on Wednesday, September 14 and Thursday,
September 15 after school in room 229 (Tinbergs), unless otherwise posted. If you are unable
to attend on that date, please inform Ms. Tinberg and other arrangements will be made.
Callbacks and make-up auditions will be held on Friday, September 16th, if needed.
Auditions
Please complete an audition form before auditions begin. If you are unable to make the audition,
let Ms. Tinberg know and we will make arrangements. Auditions will be cold readings done from
the script. Portions of the script are available online if you would like to preview the play to
prepare.
Callbacks
IF NEEDED, call backs will be held on Friday, September 16th. The callback list will be posted
outside Ms. Tinbergs room and an announcement will be made at school. Everyone on the call
back list should plan to stay after school and read for specific parts. If there is no list and no
announcement, call backs are not necessary.
Tech and Crew Members
Those interested in tech or crew positions must submit a completed tech/crew form to Ms.
Tinberg by Friday, September 16th. Invite all of your friends to be a part of the crew! The more,
the merrier. Tech and crew lists will be posted on Monday, September 19th outside of Ms.
Tinbergs room.
Stage Manager
If you are interested in being the Stage Manager, please contact Ms. Tinberg as soon as possible!
Cast List
The cast list will be posted on Monday, September 19th outside of Ms. Tinbergs room. Make sure
you check the cast list for the date and time of the first rehearsal. If you have any questions,
please contact Ms. Tinberg.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are tentatively scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4:30-6:30pm
and Wednesdays from 3:00-5:00pm. Not all cast members will be needed every day. Please plan
to be available for tech week (the week before the play opens) and the Saturday before tech
week. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals, except when noted otherwise on the
rehearsal schedule or the conflict section on their audition form.

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Performances
Students must attend all performances to be cast in the show.

Performance Dates:
Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th at 7:30pm
Sunday, November 20th at 1:00pm
Monday, November 21st during school
A more specific call time for performances will be noted at a later date.
Students are expected to help with set up and strike before and after the show, no matter what!

PLOT SUMMARY
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the whole history of the world. They lie and steal and smoke
cigars (even the girls) and talk dirty and cuss their teachers and take the name of the Lord in
vain. And they are going to be in the Christmas Pageant...and the woman who's always directed
the show just broke her leg and can't do it. So someone else steps in to take charge of the entire
production...and of the Herdmans!
Adult Roles:
*Father/Bob Bradley (35-45) - in a handful of scenes in the beginning and end of the show
-Happy go Lucky, laid back family guy that gets sucked into helping with this years Christmas
Pageant when he doesnt even want to go
Reverend Hopkins (30-45) one scene character, limited lines, Reverend Hopkins must address
Grace Bradley after an incident at the church, he is not happy with what happened and he is
beside himself about what do to do with The Herdmans
Piano Player - play piano (simple Christmas songs) during the Pageant
*Mother/ Grace Bradley (35-45) major role, Typical housewife (1950s), June Cleaver Type,
strives to be a good mother to her children and help others. The Herdmans are an unexpected
part of this years show and she needs to figure out a way to deal with them after she finds
herself directing this years pageant when the woman that runs everything is laid up in the
hospital right before the planning meeting for this years show
Mrs. Armstrong (50-ish) supporting character role, Mrs. Armstrong runs EVERYTHING at the
church until she finds herself with a broken leg and has to take a back seat to this years
Christmas Pageant but she is still there to give Grace all her direction on how things should be
done
THE CHURCH LADIES:
Mrs. McCarthy (35-45) - supporting role, Mrs. McCarthy wants to be Mrs. Armstrong, strong
willed and nosey, she is always looking for the next best gossip
Mrs. Slocum (35-60) - supporting role, Happy to share juicy gossip with everyone, shes the
Herdmans neighbors and knows all about the no good they bring

Mrs. Clark (35-60) - Cameo role (1 line) part of the gossip chain and too busy to help with the
pageant
Mrs. Clausing (35-60) - Cameo role (1 line) part of the gossip chain
**Church ladies may be cast in additional scenes as a non speaking part and or mentoring
younger actors**
CHILDREN/TEEN ROLES:
*Beth Bradley (female, 10-13) - Major role, Narrator Beth goes back in time to tell the story of
The Worst Christmas Pageant Ever
*Charlie Bradley (male, 8-10) Beths Bother, younger than Beth, he is a victim of the
Herdmans
*Alice Wendleken (female, 10-13) The Snob Alice knows everything and when its not done
right she ventures to let people know either by correcting them or writing it down in her book to
report to her mother
Maxine (female, 10-13) Alice and Beths Friend. She also narrates the Christmas story in the
Pageant
Elmer Hopkins (male, 12-13) -- the Reverend's son and more than happy to hand over the role
of Joseph to Ralph Herdman. He plays a shepherd in the Pageant.
Hobie (male, 8-11) - He plays a shepherd in the Pageant.
David (male, 8-11) - He plays a shepherd in the Pageant.
Baby Angel Shirley (female, 6-7)
Baby Angel Juanita (female, 6-7)
*Imogene (female, 11-12) Oldest Girl, has a pivotal moment on stage when things about the
Christmas story click for her and she finally gets it, before that she is mean and bossy and the
Herdmans leader, has to cry on stage
*Gladys (female, 7-8) Youngest of the Herdmans she is small but mighty, and likes to bite, her
heroThe Black Knight
Ralph (male, 12-13) Oldest of the Herdmans and a bully of anyone smaller than him
Leroy (male, 10-11) Steals lunches on the playground at lunch time
Claude (male, 9-10) Wants to take King Herrod out with a machine gun, causes chaos during
Pageant rehearsals
Ollie (male, 8-9) youngest Boy, likes to cause chaos