author: Chris Pence
Revenge at Bethlehem: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at St. Gabriel Miracle Players
Good lord, another Christmas show. Who does a Christmas show in November? I mean, really! At least wait until AFTER Thanksgiving! Yeah, I get it, there are tons of cute kids, and holiday cheer and whatnot, but still!
Do you know someone who feels like this? Can’t seem to get them into the Christmas spirit until about December 23rd? Then ho-ho-hold on to your Santa hats, because St. Gabriel’s Miracle Players are about to jingle bell rock your world! The Miracle Plyers present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a family-friendly romp through the Christmas season, with uproarious consequences.
Based on Barbara Robinson’s 1972 children’s novel, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever tells the story of a small town as they get ready for their annual Christmas pageant at the local church. Very few of the children are interested, nor are many of the parents, because the show is always the same: the same nativity story, the same actors, the same director. However, fate has a way of mixing things up, as the usual director has fallen ill, and leaves the show in the hands of Mrs. Grace Bradley, who insists that she’ll bring the magic back to the performance. What Grace doesn’t see coming is the Herdmans, a group of rowdy misbehaving siblings who only join the church in search of sugary snacks. The siblings hijack Grace’s show, replacing all the regular actors for the lead roles, and looking to create a little holiday hullabaloo of their own. Will Grace be able to pull it off, and bring Christmas spirit back to the little town? Or will the Herdmans commit a Grinch-sized performance theft? The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was first adapted for the stage in December 1981, before moving to a professional children’s theatre in November 1982. A TV movie, starring Loretta Swit of M*A*S*H fame, came to fruition in 1983, and a full-length feature film was released by Lionsgate in 2024.
Producer Kacy Conley and Director Ann Marie Field welcome the audience with various concessions, including a dinner theatre option if the performance is on a Saturday night. At each audience table is an adorable piece of children’s artwork, a nativity scene created from toilet paper rolls and fabric, signaling from the start that it’s going to be a cute night. Field’s production aims not for Broadway, but for simplicity. A few neatly painted backdrops, some basic props, and minimal costumes get the job done as needed. Field’s goal isn’t to recreate a professional production, but to let the children of the cast shine, and shine they do, like the Star of Bethlehem that served as the Three Wise Men’s GPS (Godly Positioning System) on that fateful night. In a cast of what seems like hundreds, the children make up the vast majority, both in number and in stage presence (no, not “presents,” presence!). Feild brings small town charm to the stage through the children, giving parent the chance to cheer for their little ones as the children show off their stage prowess. The audience is completely immersed in the charm of the show, as actors frequently travel through the auditorium, and the audience is encouraged to sing along during the pageant itself. During the curtain call, the cast blissfully sings “Joy To The World,” ushering in a new Christmas season, and a new hope for peace in these troubled times. The only misstep in this production comes in the form of sound. There was a great deal of microphone chatter, both from children and adults, during the show, which was a bit distracting, both to actors and audience members. Aside from this, Feild’s production is not one to be missed.
Leading off the show is Willow Palewicz as Beth Bradley, the teenaged narrator and town gossip, telling the story of the Herdman family, whose numerous children are known as troublemakers. Palewicz does well to set the scene for the audience, as well as portray the eldest child of the Bradley family. Beth’s brother, Charlie (Kamden Boyd) gives the audience the typical kid’s view of the town, declaring that he doesn’t want to be in pageant, both because of its repetition, and because of the Herdmans’ involvement. Charlie has been hardened by their bullying, and resents having to play a shepherd again for the nth time. Palewicz and Boyd are great as brother and sister, sometimes having each other’s backs, while sometimes getting on each other’s nerves, as any real siblings would.
As the matriarch of the Bradley family, Grace (Terri DePaola) is an endlessly optimistic leader who goes from the chestnut roasting pan into the fire when Mrs. Helen Armstrong (Ann Baden), the town’s usual pageant director takes ill, leaving the pageant in Grace’s hands. Baden’s short but fulfilling performance as the bossy old Armstrong is hysterical, barking orders at Grace about how her show is to be run, right down to details like the choir girls not being able to wear lipstick. Funny enough, Grace has already hung up, leaving Armstrong to chatter on, unaware that she’s talking to no one. DePaola’s Grace is an exercise in kindness, empathy, and control. During the first rehearsal, it’s a wonder DePaola didn’t break out into laughter as the kids inform her that the stage expression “There are no small parts, only small actors” means only that the small kids have to stand in the front, so nobody blocks them. DePaola brings warmth and tenderness to Grace when, during another rehearsal, she reads to the unknowing children the story of the First Christmas, with the kids chiming in with naïve and uproarious commentary.
Grace’s husband, Bob (Douglas Kotula), is much like Charlie, in an adult way. Bob is much like Howard Cunningham of “Happy Days” fame, in that he doesn’t want to go to the pageant, but is still supportive of his family and the cast when Grace gets involved. Kotula and DePaola’s chemistry as husband and wife is strong but realistic, with nothing too mushy, but an unspoken love and support that any couple would strive to have.
The Herdman family is much like the Bradley family, though both spend much of the show struggling to see it. Siblings Imogene, Ralph, Ollie (Peter Akchin), and Leroy (Siddharth Sharma), are seen throughout the town as less than worthy of being part of the community, but quickly help the town to learn to not judge a present by its wrapper. The de facto leader of the group is the oldest sister, Imogene (Madison Njoku). Madison is a gem in the role, demanding that she play Mary and her brother Ralph (William Lowrey) play Joseph. As the story progresses, the crowd learns that the family is of lesser means, and that the Herdmans have never attended church before. Madison takes advantage of this fact in order to bring both innocence and hilarity to Imogene Herdman. Imogene questions the name Jesus, as it’s not common in her world, and decides to rename the baby “Bill,” and swinging the baby doll representing Jesus by its leg, leading to guffaws from the audience. On the night of the performance, however, Imogene begins to understand the plight of the young mother, and finally appreciates the messages the church was trying to send.
The youngest of the Herdman children, Gladys, is played with ease by Rowan Palewicz. This six-year-old starlet is no stranger to the stage, and steals the spotlight in every scene. As Gladys, Rowan is like a rabid chihuahua, pouncing on every punchline thrown her way. Her hilarious antics and wannabe tough girl delivery leaves the audience cackling like Christmas geese. Taking the role of the Angel of the Lord in the pageant, Rowan’s Gladys is quick to harken back to her comic book knowledge, shouting “Shazam! I’m the Black Knight!” as she herds the shepherds into the scene like she was a bouncer in a crowded bar. Rowan even delivers an unexpected epilogue, as Gladys finishes out the show declaring to the audience that “A child is born in Bethlehem” in a manner that sounds almost more of a threat than a celebration. As a young actor, Rowan is a pleasure to watch, and the Miracle Players would be amiss if they missed an opportunity to cast Rowan as Molly the next time they do “Annie.”
As the children finally present the pageant, they each take their place as the many denizens of Bethlehem (Bethlehemites? Bethlehamians? Bethlehomies?). During the pageant, the children give off a Charlie Brown quality, clearly smarter than anyone would ever expect for their ages. Narrating the pageant is Maxine, played by Anne Akchin. Though only ten years old, Anne recites the Bible verses with unmatched reverence and expertise. Her dedication to the role, and to her faith, is evident in her reading, and it’s her recitation that grounds the performance and gives it the Biblical magic it’s searching for. If St. Gabriel’s is ever in need of a stand-in to deliver the Sunday sermon, Anne would be the person to talk to.
Supporting the pageant musically is the Angel Choir, performed by Bryan Dunn, Michelle Osuizugbo, Lyla Uwaoma, and Ugonna Uwaoma. During the performance, the choir chimes in with classic Christmas hymns such as “Silent Night,” “Away in a Manger,” and others. The choir sets the scene beautifully, expressing joy and faith, so much that the audience can’t help but join in. Along with the choir are the Baby Angels, performed by Sean Clark, Elliott Lowrey, and Sophia Conley. If your heart doesn’t grow three sizes when you see these sweet little tykes in their little robes and halos, you’re about the Scroogiest Scrooge whoever Scrooged.
Rounding out the pageant cast are Edmund Akchin (David), Margaret Akchin (Alice), Isaac Bell (Hobie), Zoe Boyd (Claudia), Sage Clark (Doris), Dillion Gaines (Elmer), and Fechi Uwaoma (Beverly). They serve as Wise Men, shepherds, and many of the other important guests at perhaps the greatest baby shower known to humankind. Together, all of the children, under Feild’s direction, create a charming, enchanting portrait of the First Christmas, with a professionalism no one would expect from children this young. Everyone in the production should be proud of themselves, especially all the Bethlehomies (yeah, that sounds about right), who really bring the spirit back to Christmas, and remind us that it’s not about all the gifts (though I am still a little miffed I never got that pony I asked for…), but about the community, the love, and the warmth that can only come at Christmastime.
An exceptional example of children’s theatre, Miracle Players’ The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a tour de force of young actors who have long, prosperous careers ahead of them, and of adults whose only goal is to foster the imagination and development of the leaders of tomorrow. “Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” I can’t say that we’re quite there yet, but, with this production, it’s safe to say we’re pretty close.
Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes with one intermission
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever plays through November 23rd 2025 with the St. Gabriel Miracle Players— 6946 Dogwood Road in the Milford Mill neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. Tickets can be purchased at the door, by calling the box office at (410) 747-5626 or by purchasing them online.