2024 Holiday Show
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
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Wizard of Oz (1995) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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Velveteen Rabbit (1996) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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Charlotte’s Web (1997) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe (1998)- directed by Mark Puglisi
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Anne of Green Gables (1999)- directed by Mark Puglisi
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2000) – directed by Debbie Mountford (nee Hacket)
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Alice in Wonderland (2001) - directed by Frank Bachman
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James and the Giant Peach (2002) – directed by Heather Candon
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Peter Pan (2003) – directed by Kate Cox
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The Wizard of Oz (2004) – directed by Matt Haynes
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Oliver! (2005) – Directed by Brian Shepard
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (2006)- Directed by Brian Shepard
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Annie! (2007) – directed by Tony St. Dennis
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The Music Man (2008) – directed by Dan Mills
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Seussical, the Musical (2009) – directed by Bob Bahr
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Annie Get Your Gun (2010) – directed by Bob Bahr
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Godspell (2011) – directed by Brian Shepard
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Fiddler on the Roof (2012) – directed by Brian Shepard
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Camelot (2013) – directed by Brian Shepard
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Les Miserables (2014) – directed by Carlene Hirsch
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (2015) – directed by Carlene Hirsch
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Willy Wonka (2016) - directed by Mike Perlman and Annie Leonardi-Merchant
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Shrek, The Musical (2017) - directed by Mark Puglisi
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Seussical, The Musical (2018) - directed by Mark Puglisi
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Freaky Friday, A New Musical (2019) Directed by Mark Puglisi
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Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022) Directed by Matt Cornish
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Little Shop of Horrors (2023) Directed by Angel Hochman & Kate Young
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Just So (2024) Directed by Matt Cornish
SUMMER PRODUCTIONS
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Invisible Dragon (1994)- directed by Mark Puglisi
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Cinderella (1995)- directed by Mark Puglisi
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Harvey (2001)- directed by Mark Puglisi
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War of the World’s (“radio” broadcast) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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The Taffetas (2012)- directed by Brian Shepard
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The 39 Steps (2018) - Directed by Angel Hochman
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (2019) - Directed by Casey Rush
HOLIDAY PLAYS
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Scrooge (1999)- directed by Mark Puglisi
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It’s a Wonderful Life (2000) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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Miracle on 34th Street (2001) – directed by Annie Schwartz & Maryann Van Dorn
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Best Christmas Ever (2002)- directed by Mark Puglisi
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The Little Match Girl / Last Stop ’til Christmas / An Old Fashioned Christmas (2003) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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The Christmas Carol (2005) – directed by Brian Shepard
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The Silent Bells (2006) – directed by Dan Mills
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The Spirit of Giving (2007) – directed by Maddie Shattow
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The Clubhouse Christmas (2008) – directed by Wendy Littlefield
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It’s a Wonderful Life (2009) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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Miracle on 34th Street (2010) – directed by Nicole Cardano
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A Christmas Story (2011) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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Stocking Stuffers (2012) – directed by Jeremy Hyde
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A Neverland Christmas Carol (2013) – directed by Carlene Hirsch
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A Downeast Christmas Carol (2014) – directed by Mark Puglisi
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2015) - directed by Mark Puglisi
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Nutcracker (2016) - directed by Jacob Sanner
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Christmas in the Land of Oz (2017) - directed by Angel Hochman
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A Christmas Story (2018) - directed by Doug Van Gorder
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Closed for the Holidays (2019) - directed by Matthew Hochman
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A Christmas Chaos (2023) - directed by Doug Van Gorder
OTHER EVENTS
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Mystery Dinner Theater
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Ground Hog Day
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I Do, I Do (2011) - with thanks to Danielle and Brian Shepard
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Twelfth Night (2016) - Collaboration with Barn Arts Collective
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The Tempest (2017) - Collaboration with Barn Arts Collective
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Twelfth Night! (2018) - Collaboration with Barn Arts Collective
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Downeast Christmas Carol Radio Drama (2020) - Directed by Matt Cornish