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2024 Holiday Show

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Production Team:
Director: Mark Carrignan
Producer: Patti Savoie

Asst Director: Jacob Sanner
Stage Manager: Kate Young

Techincal Director: Matthew Hochman

Cast: TBA
 

Acadia Community Theater will hold auditions for our holiday show, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on Tuesday, September 10th, and Thursday, September 12th at the Northeast Harbor Library from 6 to 8 pm. Fun roles for children and adults; children must be 8 years or older to audition.

BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, BARBARA ROBINSON, 1982

 

SYNOPSIS

In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas!

This delightful show is adapted from the bestselling Young Adult book by Barbara Robinson (1972), and has become a holiday staple for groups across the United States. The crowd-pleasing comedy features plenty of great roles for children and adults, a few favorite Christmas Carols, and lots of laughs.

 

LEAD ADULT ROLE

Mother (Grace Bradley) – Trim, Attractive, 35ish, director of christmas pageant

 

SUPPORTING ADULT ROLES

Father (Bob Bradley) – Solid Family Man, 35-38

Mrs. Armstrong – Largish Woman, Managerial In Voice And Manner, 50ish, pageants usual director, side-lined with a broken leg

Mrs. Mccarthy – A Younger, Less Imperious Version Of Mrs. Armstrong, Middle 40s

 

FEATURED ADULT ROLES

Reverend Hopkins – Middle To Late 40s, pageant helper

Mrs. Slocum – Pleasant, Motherly Woman, 35-60

Mrs. Clark – 35-60

Mrs. Clausing – 35-60

 

ENSEMBLE ADULT ROLES

Fireman #1 – 25-30

Fireman #2 – 25-30

 

LEAD CHILD ROLES

Beth Bradley  – Narrator, 10-11, daughter of pageant director

Imogene Herdman – Loud, Bossy, Crafty, 11-12, plays the role of Mary in the pageant

 

SUPPORTING CHILD ROLES

Ralph Herdman – Ragged, Scroungy, Slouching Manner, Touch Of Adolescent Cool, 12-13, plays the role of Joseph in the pageant

Leroy Herdman – Tough, Sure Of Himself, 10-11, plays the role of Wise Man in the pageant

Claude Herdman – Tough, Combative, 9-10, plays the role of Wise Man in the pageant

Ollie Herdman – Looking For Trouble, Claude's Usual Partner In Crime, 8-9, plays the role of Wise Man in the pageant

Gladys Herdman – Small, Wiry, Feisty, 7-8, plays the role of angel in the pageant

Alice Wendleken – Prim, Proper, Pain In The Neck, 10-11

Charlie Bradley – Traditional Kid Brother of Beth, 8-9, son of pageant director

 

FEATURED CHILD ROLES

Maxine – 10-11

Elmer Hopkins – 12-13

Hobie – 9-10

David – 8-9

 

ENSEMBLE CHILD ROLES

Beverly – 7-8

Shirley – 5-6

Juanita – 5-6

Doris – 9-10

Extra Angel Choir Members, Baby Angels, Shepherds

Please email acadiacommunitytheater@gmail with questions

Past Shows

SPRING MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS

 

  • Wizard of Oz (1995) – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Velveteen Rabbit (1996) – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Charlotte’s Web (1997) – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe (1998)- directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Anne of Green Gables (1999)- directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2000) – directed by Debbie Mountford (nee Hacket)

  • Alice in Wonderland (2001) - directed by Frank Bachman

  • James and the Giant Peach (2002) – directed by Heather Candon

  • Peter Pan (2003) – directed by Kate Cox

  • The Wizard of Oz (2004) – directed by Matt Haynes

  • Oliver! (2005) – Directed by Brian Shepard

  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (2006)- Directed by Brian Shepard

  • Annie! (2007) – directed by Tony St. Dennis

  • The Music Man (2008) – directed by Dan Mills

  • Seussical, the Musical (2009) – directed by Bob Bahr

  • Annie Get Your Gun (2010) – directed by Bob Bahr

  • Godspell (2011) – directed by Brian Shepard

  • Fiddler on the Roof (2012) – directed by Brian Shepard

  • Camelot (2013) – directed by Brian Shepard

  • Les Miserables (2014) – directed by Carlene Hirsch

  • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (2015) – directed by Carlene Hirsch

  • Willy Wonka (2016) - directed by Mike Perlman and Annie Leonardi-Merchant

  • Shrek, The Musical (2017) - directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Seussical, The Musical (2018) - directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Freaky Friday, A New Musical (2019) Directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022) Directed by Matt Cornish

  • Little Shop of Horrors (2023) Directed by Angel Hochman & Kate Young

  • Just So (2024) Directed by Matt Cornish

 

 

SUMMER PRODUCTIONS

  • Invisible Dragon (1994)- directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Cinderella (1995)- directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Harvey (2001)- directed by Mark Puglisi

  • War of the World’s (“radio” broadcast) – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • The Taffetas (2012)- directed by Brian Shepard

  • The 39 Steps (2018) - Directed by Angel Hochman

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream (2019) - Directed by Casey Rush

HOLIDAY PLAYS

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  • Scrooge (1999)- directed by Mark Puglisi

  • It’s a Wonderful Life (2000)  – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Miracle on 34th Street (2001) – directed by Annie Schwartz & Maryann Van Dorn

  • Best Christmas Ever (2002)- directed by Mark Puglisi

  • The Little Match Girl / Last Stop ’til Christmas / An Old Fashioned Christmas (2003) – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • The Christmas Carol (2005) – directed by Brian Shepard

  • The Silent Bells (2006) – directed by Dan Mills

  • The Spirit of Giving (2007) – directed by Maddie Shattow

  • The Clubhouse Christmas (2008) – directed by Wendy Littlefield

  • It’s a Wonderful Life (2009) – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Miracle on 34th Street (2010) – directed by Nicole Cardano

  • A Christmas Story (2011) – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Stocking Stuffers (2012) – directed by Jeremy Hyde

  • A Neverland Christmas Carol (2013) – directed by Carlene Hirsch

  • A Downeast Christmas Carol (2014) – directed by Mark Puglisi

  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2015) - directed by Mark Puglisi

  • Nutcracker (2016) - directed by Jacob Sanner

  • Christmas in the Land of Oz (2017) - directed by Angel Hochman

  • A Christmas Story (2018) - directed by Doug Van Gorder

  • Closed for the Holidays (2019) - directed by Matthew Hochman

  • A Christmas Chaos (2023) - directed by Doug Van Gorder

OTHER EVENTS

  • Mystery Dinner Theater

  • Ground Hog Day

  • I Do, I Do (2011) - with thanks to Danielle and Brian Shepard

  • Twelfth Night (2016) - Collaboration with Barn Arts Collective

  • The Tempest (2017) - Collaboration with Barn Arts Collective

  • Twelfth Night! (2018) - Collaboration with Barn Arts Collective

  • Downeast Christmas Carol Radio Drama (2020) - Directed by Matt Cornish

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