Calendar of Events

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. 

Family Weekend Performance Info 

Saturday, November 25 – 2:00pm 
Saturday, December 2 – 2:00pm 
Saturday, December 2 – 7:00pm* (Pay What You Will) 
Sunday, December 3 – 2:00pm 

*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

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.

UPDATE: Due to artist availability, this event is being postponed and will not take place on December 2nd. We will have more information later if we are able to reschedule it. In the meantime, we will still be accepting winter coat donations on behalf of Believing in Forever! New coats are accepted by the organization between now and Monday, December 4th.

Learn More about the Coat Drive

We invite you to join us for a coat drive benefitting the local non-profit Believing in Forever, which empowers children to become community game changers! As a thank you, Devine Carama of One Lexington is hosting an exciting concert before the Pay What You Will performance of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. This is a FREE event, and we welcome winter coat donations for all ages and sizes.

When: December 2nd
Where: Lexington Children's Theatre, 418 West Short Street, Lexington, KY 40507
Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Tickets: No tickets necessary for event. For the 7:00pm performance, call the Box Office at 859-254-4546 x245 to reserve your Pay What You Will tickets or purchase them at the door.

Learn more about The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by clicking on the image below.

Event presented by the PNC Foundation

Adapted for Lexington Children’s Theatre by Larry and Vivian Snipes 

Based on The Cow Who Wouldn’t Come Down, The Pig who Ran a Red Light, and The Goose Who Went Off in a Huff 

Written and illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson 

Between a flying cow, a driving pig, and a goose who wants to join the circus, there’s never a dull moment at Miss Rosemary’s farm! Head just up the holler a bit and join the story yourself in this interactive play based on three books by Kentucky author Paul Brett Johnson. 

Family Weekend Performance Info

This is a One Weekend Only Show! 

Saturday, February 10 – 2:30pm (Sensory Friendly)^ 

Saturday, February 10 – 7:00pm (Pay What You Will)* 

Sunday, February 11 – 2:00pm 

*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.

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 PreK-3rd  

Curricular Connections: Animals, Farm Life, Adaptation, Consequences 

Thursday, February 8 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Friday, February 9 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Tuesday, February 13 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Wednesday, February 14 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Thursday, February 15 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Friday, February 16 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

School Group Rate: $8 per seat with every 10th seat FREE! 

Individual Rate: $12 per seat 

In-School Touring Performances 

This show is also a Touring Production, which means it can travel to your school, library, or other venue and perform there. 

Touring Dates: January 20 – May 4, 2024

Things to Know Before the Show

Get ready to step back in time and immerse yourself in the life of one of America's most legendary figures - President Abraham Lincoln. This biographical play delves deep into the personal and political life of the 16th President of the United States, as told through his own words and the words of those who knew him best. But what's truly unique about this performance is that every actor takes on the role of Lincoln at some point during the play, showcasing how we all "keep" Mr. Lincoln alive by continuing to explore his story and the timeless ideals he embodied. This captivating and thought-provoking play is a must-see for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of one of America's greatest leaders.

Family Weekend Performance Info

This is a One Night Only Show! 

Saturday, February 17 – 2:00pm (Pay What You Will)* 

FREE Discover More Series Event

Start the Presidents Day fun early and help build a GIANT Lincoln Log Cabin while testing your Lincoln Family and Kentucky knowledge! LCT and the Mary Todd Lincoln House are teaming up on Saturday, February 17th for a FREE Discover More Series event immediately following the 2:00pm (PWYW) performance of Keeping Mr. Lincoln. Win door prizes, take selfies with a cut-out of Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln, and participate in a Lincoln Log building trivia competition, hosted by the Mary Todd Lincoln House team.Saturday, February 17 – 3:00pm 

*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.

Proudly sponsored by:

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 4th – 12th  

Curricular Connections: U.S. Civil War, History, Biography 

Monday, January 29 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Tuesday, January 30 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Wednesday, January 31 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Thursday, February 1 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Tuesday, February 6 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Wednesday, February 7 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

School Group Rate: $8 per seat with every 10th seat FREE! 

Individual Rate: $12 per seat 

In-School Touring Performances 

This show is also a Touring Production, which means it can travel to your school, library, or other venue and perform there. 

Touring Dates: January 20 – May 4, 2024

Things to Know Before the Show

Based on the book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! 

By Mo Willems, Published by Hyperion Books for Children, Script by Mo Willems and Mr. Warburton, Lyrics by Mo Willems, Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, and Dramaturgy by Megan Alrutz 

Family Weekend Performance Info 

Sunday, March 10 – 2:00pm 

Saturday, March 16 – 2:30pm (Sensory Friendly)*
Saturday, March 16 – 7:00pm (Pay What You Will)* 
Sunday, March 17 – 2:00pm 

Saturday, March 23 – 2:00pm 
Sunday, March 24 – 2:00pm 

*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.

Whatever you do, don’t let the Pigeon star in a musical! When the bus driver has a small emergency, a very unlikely volunteer shows up to take the driver’s place – a pigeon! But should this small but tenacious bird really be allowed to take the wheel? What do YOU think? Based on Mo Willems’ Caldecott Honor award-winning book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping with its innovative mix of songs, silliness, and feathered friends. 

This production is part of One Picture Book, 1 Lexington! This exciting new initiative, a partnership between Lexington Children's Theatre, First 5 Lex, and the Lexington Public Library, is a shared reading experience where children across our community are invited to read the same book and participate in themed events and activities. Learn more at https://onepicturebooklex.com/

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 PreK-2nd  
Curricular Connections: Adaptation, Music, Saying No, Responsibility 

Tuesday-Friday, March 5-8 – 10:00am & 11:45am 
Tuesday-Friday, March 12-15 – 10:00am & 11:45am 
Tuesday-Friday, March 19-22 – 10:00am & 11:45am 
Tuesday-Friday, March 26-29 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

School Group Rate: $8 per seat with every 10th seat FREE! 
Individual Rate: $12 per seat 

Things to Know Before the Show

Get Ready For...

• A very fun musical with moments for both young and grown-up folks to enjoy!
• You might have to speak up and tell the Pigeon "NO" - after all, we can't let him drive the bus!

Sensory Moments

Towards the end of the show, there is an opportunity for audience call-and-response as we tell the Pigeon "NO!" repeatedly during the final song. This moment can get quite loud, depending on how many people are attending the performance and how excited everyone gets!

Some limited lighting cues move across the stage, but no flashes or strobe lighting are used in the show. Because this is a musical, the base sound level is a little louder than a play without music because of playing music tracks and amplifying the actors' voices with mics. While we will pull the sound levels back a bit for our Sensory Friendly performance, we still encourage audience members with sound sensitivities to bring their own noise-canceling headphones if you think you will need them! We will have a few available in our lobby for the Sensory Friendly show that can be borrowed as well.

When Circle and Square meet for the first time, they realize that they are very different from each other. Circle likes blowing bubbles, juggling balls, and twirling, while Square is happiest stacking blocks neatly and as tall as they will go. Will the two be able to find a way to play together, despite their differences? Discover the wonderful world of shapes through this interactive show! 

Family Weekend Performance Info 

Saturday, April 27 – 11:00am (Pay What You Will)* 

Saturday, April 27 – 2:00pm 

Sunday, April 28 – 2:00pm 

Sunday, May 5 – 2:00pm 

Sunday, May 5 – 4:30pm (Sensory Friendly)^ 

*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.

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 PreK-K 

Curricular Connections: Shapes, Play, Friendship, Tactile Learning 

Thursday, April 25 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Friday, April 26 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Tuesday, April 30 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Wednesday, May 1 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Thursday, May 2 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

Friday, May 3 – 10:00am & 11:45am 

School Group Rate: $8 per seat with every 10th seat FREE! 

Individual Rate: $12 per seat 

Things to Know Before the Show