About the Play:

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a comedy by Barbara Robinson. This hilarious classic tells the zany story of the Herdman children (the worst kids in the whole history of the world) and what happens when they take all the main roles in their local church's Christmas Pageant! Children and adults will laugh at the hilarity that ensues as the story unfolds and watch how the characters discover the true meaning of Christmas. Especially recommended for school and contest use.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a delightful family story about the true meaning of Christmas. What do you get when you combine the family considered the worst family in town with a Sunday School Christmas play? In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas Pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – better known as the "worst kids in the world." Unfortunately for the "good" kids, the Herdmans hear that free snacks are offered at the local Sunday School and they show up for the auditions for the Christmas pageant. After visiting church for the first time, and, much to the dismay of the other church members, the children are given roles in the Sunday School's Christmas play. Your audience won't believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdmans collide head on with the Christmas story and proceed to tell it in their own, unconventional fashion. Adapted from the author's best selling book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has become a holiday staple for theatre groups across North America.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was first performed in 1982 by the Seattle Children's Theatre. The play is regularly performed in regional repertory, middle school, high school, college, and community theatre productions.

Cast: 6 women and 4 men, plus 8 boys and 9 girls.

What people say:

"An American classic." — McCall's Magazine

"One of the best Christmas stories ever — and certainly one of the funniest." — The Seattle Times

"Interesting, absorbing and moving." — New York Post

"Magnificent theatre." — New York Daily Mirror

"One of the best Christmas stories ever — and certainly one of the funniest." — New York Daily Mirror

About the Playwright:

Barbara Robinson (1927-2013) was an American author best known for her many popular books for children, including The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (titled "The Worst Kids in the World" in Australia, New Zealand and the UK), and the only story ever to run twice in McCall's Magazine. She also adapted the screenplay when The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was also filmed as a television movie.