The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Family Weekend Performance Dates: November 25 & December 2-3, 2023
School Matinee Performance Dates: November 27 – December 4, 2023
- Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!
- A Christmas Story
- Miracle on 34th Street
Ages 6+
≈1 hour
Performed at The Lexington Opera House
Prices: $25/Adult, $20/Child, $10/Members
Adapted by Barbara Robinson
The Bradley family’s church Christmas Pageant is always the same, year after year – until the Herdmans show up! With “the worst kids in the world” taking the lead roles, this year’s Pageant will be a total disaster. But it might just be the year when the rambunctious, rag-tag Herdmans help their community see Christmas in a whole new way, and prove that even “the worst kids in the world” can change it for the better.
*Pay What You Will tickets cannot be purchased online, but can be reserved ahead of time by calling our Box Office at 859.254.4546 x245. Learn more on our Pay What You Will page.
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For Educators:
School Matinee Performances
Our School Matinee Performances allow you to bring your students to the theatre for an unforgettable field trip!
Recommended for Grades 1st-8th
Curricular Connections: Holiday Traditions, Social Inclusion, Adaptation
Monday, November 27 – 10:00am & 12:00pm
Tuesday, November 28 – 10:00am & 12:00pm
Wednesday, November 29 – 10:00am & 12:00pm
Thursday, November 30 – 10:00am & 12:00pm
Friday, December 1 – 10:00am & 12:00pm
Monday, December 4 – 10:00am & 12:00pm
School Group Rate: $8 per seat with every 10th seat FREE!
Individual Rate: $15 per seat
Things to Know Before the Show
Emotional Intensity
Action/Stage Combat
Language
Sound & Lighting
The Herdman children are not the nicest kids on the block. You will hear them say unkind things, like ‘You are stupid.” Before they understand the meaning behind the Christmas Pageant, they also poke fun at the story of Jesus sleeping in the manger and not in a nice hotel. Unlike in the book, there are no curse words used in the play.
Our Herdman family starts out a little rough around the edges, but they eventually learn how to treat others with a little more kindness and respect. During the show, you may see them pick on their fellow pageant members, steal their lunch, and even...smoke a cigar (THE HORROR)! Stories like these are a great conversation starter for you and your young person on how to best treat our friends.
During the final dress rehearsal, the characters believe that there is a fire in the bathroom and panic. The characters yell and run out of the Church basement, and there will be pulsing lights and fog. There are firemen who come and try and put out a fire before being knocked over by the Herdmans, and the whole scene ends with a character being accidentally sprayed with a fire extinguisher.
This story is a great way to start conversations about... kindness and trying new things. The Herdmans are known around town...and not for any good reasons. The whole community is concerned that they will ruin their perfect Christmas traditions and are hesitant to even give them a chance. Mrs. Bradley, however, is not going to give up on them. With the help of the Bradley family, we come to understand why the Herdmans behave the way they do and see that they can grow and change if given the chance. We are left with the reminder that in life, everyone deserves a chance and people can surprise you.
We love this story because... it is a timeless holiday story with characters we can all relate to or know in our real lives. Traditions, especially those around the holidays, are so important for a community, and being inclusive can open a whole new world for people who may not feel welcome. We also love seeing the growth of Herdman family, especially Imogene Herdman, who plays Mary in the Christmas Pageant.