BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Kicks Off Holiday Season at Cumberland County Playhouse

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever returns to Cumberland County Playhouse's Mainstage November 3 just in time to kick off the holiday season. 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is described as a "very funny and touching show [that] recounts a church Christmas pageant that threatens to be 'a disaster,' but turns out to reflect the true spirit of Christmas."

When the six delinquent Herdman kids join the church Christmas pageant to enjoy Sunday school desserts and snacks, the event is thrown into turmoil. The Herdmans' reputation as, "the worst kids in the entire history of the world," and their rowdy behavior creates chaos for new pageant director Grace Bradley and her Sunday schoolers. But even the Herdmans finally understand the spirit of the Christmas story, and help make it The Best Christmas Pageant, Ever.

Written by Barbara Robinson, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever originally was a short story in McCall's magazine, then a bestselling book, then a play, and an ABC television movie. 

Lindy Pendzick and husband Greg Pendzick take on the roles of Grace and her wisecracking spouse, with leading kids' roles played by Crossville's Mary Kemp, Ellie Burnett, Cory Clark, Phillip Hall, and Molly McKinney of Pikeville, plus Crossville's Katey Dailey, Chelsea Boelter, Aiden Morrison, Alli Crain, Perrianna Evans and Emery Smith, along with Andy Swafford of Bledsoe County, and Jacob Copeland of Jamestown.

Key roles are performed by Carol Irvin of CCP's resident company as bossy Mrs. Armstrong, with Skip Ritter of Fairfield Glade as the Pastor, Terri Ritter, Carol Skiles and Eleanor Aikin as parish busybodies.  Some families have several members in the cast, including mom and daughter teams Lisa and Katherine Harrison, Holly and Madison Lee Bynum, sibling groups Darbi, Isaiah, and Malachi Banegas of Crossville, and Lenny and Lindsey Lively of Bledsoe County. 

Forty kids and a dozen professional and volunteer adults comprise the cast, under direction of Weslie Webster.  

Currently at The Playhouse is Dearly Departed, through November 12,  Fiddler on the Roof, through December 18. Upcoming shows include A Sanders Family Christmas, opening November 18; and Christmas Blessings, playing December 15-17. 

You may purchase tickets for all Playhouse productions, plus selected concerts at Crossville's Palace Theater, performances by Cookeville Children's Theater and Southern Stars Symphonic Brass, online at www.ccplayhouse.com or by calling (931) 484-5000.  

PHOTO:  Alternating the role of "Gladys Herdman" is from back to front (L to R) Caroline Daughtry, Emily Graham, & Emery Smith