Center Players ready to perform holiday classic ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’

If you need a last-minute gift for the family at Christmas, then purchase your tickets to enjoy “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” onstage in Madison Dec. 21-23.

This production by the Center Players Community Theatre is a funny and heart-warming tale that will remind everyone of the joy and true meaning of Christmas as performed by a talented young cast from age 4 through high school seniors. 

“I hope that everyone in the audience comes to the same realization as Beth, our narrator, that it’s not what you have but what you can give at Christmas,” said Bradley Davis, who is directing his first production for the Center Players. “It shows how anyone can be blessed by the Spirit.”

The play is adapted from the popular children’s book of the same name by Barbara Robinson. Tickets to “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” can be purchased online at www.thecenterplayers.org or at Madison Square Center for the Arts, 2103 Main Street, before the curtain rises for each show. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

“It’s such a good message in the show. It shows that no matter your circumstances, you can always get the spirit of Christmas,” said Elizabeth Yeager, a sophomore at Madison Central High who portrays Imogene Herdman. 

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is a holiday tradition for the Center Players, which produced the show in 2015 and 2021. “It’s an honor to continue the tradition,” Davis said, “and I appreciate the opportunity. We have such a quality cast.”

The show tells the hilarious story of a town’s annual Christmas Nativity pageant that is shaken up by the outrageous shenanigans of the rowdy Herdman siblings, better known as “the worst kids in the history of the world.”

“This show is so very obviously a laugh-in-your-face comedy,” Davis said.

The six children, who show up for the snacks at Sunday School only to hear about the upcoming Christmas pageant, strong-arm their way into the leading roles. Chaos follows the Herdmans, but Grace Bradley, the mom drafted into serving as pageant director, assures everyone that the show will go on. With the unruly Herdmans adding their own special touches, the pageant becomes its very best version of the Christmas story.

Madison Central High senior Katy Mayhan is a veteran of the play, making her third appearance in the production since 2015 when she played Gladys, the wildest of the Herdmans. This year she portrays Grace Bradley, like she did in the 2021 show.

“Being in this show three times means that this show will always hold a special place in my heart,” Mayhan said.  “Also, this is a such of fun group of people to work with because of Bradley and Wyatt.

Davis, who has served as a choreographer for Center Players and for the city’s Summer Arts Camp, and his assistant director Wyatt Wilson, a summer camp counselor and actor with Center Players, are long-time friends. “Wyatt and I have been working together since we both attended Madison Middle School. That makes it feel like home.”

Campbell Haindel, an eighth-grader at Madison-Ridgeland Academy, is appearing in her first show for Center Players portraying the narrator, Beth Bradley. “It’s really exciting,” she said.

The production is a family affair. Two families each have their four children in the cast.

As special treat, Santa and Mrs. Claus, who are volunteers from the Salvation Army, will be available before the three evening shows for free photos with children. Donations to the Salvation Army are welcome. In addition to the regular concessions, there will be a hot chocolate bar available.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will be performed Dec. 21, 22 and 23 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 23 (Saturday) at 2:30 p.m. 

The cast includes:  Campbell Haindel as Beth Bradley; Katy Mayhan as Grace Bradley; Parker Montgomery as Bob Bradley; Judah Britt as Charlie Bradley; Conner Quin as Ralph Herdman; Elizabeth Yeager as Imogene Herdman; Scott Thomas Murphy as Leroy Herdman; Adelaide Kirk as Claude Herdman;  Gray Jones as Ollie Herdman;  Sloane Montgomery as Gladys Herdman; Emily Kay Kirk as Alice Wendelken; Peyton Anderson as Maxine; Miles Agent as Elmer Hopkins;  Amy Page as Mrs. Armstrong;  Hope Cuevas as Mrs. McCarthy; Ruthie Largen as Irma Slocum; Morgan Trusty as Mrs. Clark; Lizzie Bumgarner as Mrs. Clausing; Isaac Kelly as Reverend Hopkins; Cannon Kirk and JP Murphy as firefighters; James Pickle as Hobie Clark; Cohen Mader as David; Greta Etheridge as Doris; Benna Britt as Beverly; Madeleine Wylie as Shirley;  Cosette Anderson as Juanita;  Olivia Heeren and Ainsley Karlson as Head Angels; Mason Quinn as a Shepherd; Avery Heeren, Emerson Heeren, Savannah Kettler, Clara Kirk, Abigail Pickle and Berit Warren as Baby Angels;  Miles Agent, Peyton Anderson, Olivia Heeren, Ainsley Karlson, Emily Kay Kirk, Ruthie Largen, Ava Ledford, Cohen Mader, Amy Page, Ava Sullivan and Morgan Trusty as Carolers; and Sadie Bramlett, Emma Carlisle, Gracyn Dilley, Evey Harrison, Ashlyn Heeren, Ava Ledford, Emmy Ledford, Hallie Grace Murphy, Caroline Pickle, Mary Aiden Ratcliff, Elsie Sligh, Ava Sullivan and Isabella Will as the Angel Choir. Cameo appearances are by Benton Donahue, Omari Daniels and Corey Daniels.