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The Best Nativity Musical Ever

 /  10w, 9m

The Best Nativity Musical Ever

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    10w, 9m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes

Details

Summary

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.

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, 35-40ish
Sweet, good-humored, slightly frazzled mom.

Bob - Male, 35-40ish
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, 40-50ish
Organized steamroller. She’s always in charge.

Reverend Hopkins - Male, 40-50ish
Occasionally befuddled, always well-meaning.

Luanne - Female, 35-40ish
Sassy, tells it like it is.

Betty - Female, 30–40ish
Sweet southerner, calls everyone “honey.”

Connie - Female, 30-40ish
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.

  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

”Did BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER really need to be a musical? Yes. THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL may be the first play written for kids that would inspire me to buy the original cast album, if there were one . . . The show would be vastly less interesting if music and lyrics by Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner were yanked and the source material went naked. That’s remarkable, as the show adapts strong source material indeed. - Charlotte Observer

“A lively show... full of upbeat tunes, this winning addition to the holiday canon manages to also touch the heart... the tunes make a swell addition.” - Orlando Sentinel

Videos

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    The Best Nativity Musical Ever

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Authors

Jahnna Beecham

Jahnna Beecham (playwright/lyricist) and composer Malcolm Hillgartner (composer/lyricist) have been commissioned to write musicals for Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Cleveland Playhouse, Hope Repertory Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Or ...

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Malcolm Hillgartner

Malcolm Hillgartner has written songs and lyrics for eleven musicals, including Chaps! and Dog Park: The Musical for Concord Theatricals, They Came From Way Out There, The Doll People and Holmes and Watson Save the Empire, which won an Ovation Award for Best Small-Cast Musica ...
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