The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Musical Auditions
Show Dates: Auditions: Wednesday, May 22nd at 6 PM
Tickets:
Email: operahouse@alpinecom.net or tickets@icsbbs.com
Phone: (563) 873-2378
In-Person: at Elkader Floral (563-245-2241)
View Seating Map
NEW DATE: Auditions will be Wednesday, May 22nd at 6 PM at the Elkader Opera House. Please come in on the parking lot side of the building, up the steps into backstage. No need to bring anything but known conflicts from August-December 2024. The auditions will consist of singing a few short parts of songs from the show and reading short scenes from the script.
The entire script can be found here to read in advance.
Audition Scenes can be found here.
Audition Music can be found here. (We will all learn it together at the audition)
All ages/genders are recommendations and can be altered. Rehearsals will run Sunday-Thursday in October/November. (1-4 days a week, depending on your role) Performances are December 6, 7, 13 & 14 at 7 PM and December 8 & 15 at 2 PM. (Here is a sample schedule)
PLOT:
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world–so when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics. There’s not supposed to be fighting or cigar-smoking in Bethlehem, and while these kids have never even heard the Christmas story, they definitely have rewrites! Soon everyone from the terrified pint-sized shepherds to the furious church ladies are calling for first-time director Grace to cancel the whole thing. But it’s up to her and the Reverend to help their community see the Christmas story and the Herdman kids through new eyes in this buoyant musical adaptation of the funny and touching holiday classic. Silent night? Not a chance. But sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas.
CHARACTERS
Ralph Herdmann
Male – 13-17
The oldest and coolest. He’s the enforcer.
Imogene Herdmann
Female – 12-17
Leader of the Herdmans. She’s loud, bossy, and crafty.
Leroy Herdmann
Male – 11ish
Ralph’s backup. Very confident in the muscle department.
Claude Herdmann
Male – 10ish
Scrappy and smart.
Ollie Herdmann
Male – 9ish
A bit of a naïve urchin who follows the older boys’ leads.
Gladys Herdmann
Female – 8ish
Little but fierce. Nothing scares Gladys.
Grace
Female – 30-55ish
Sweet, good-humored, slightly frazzled mom.
Bob
Male – 30-55ish
Easygoing dad, wry sense of humor.
Charlie
Male – 8-15
Typical kid brother, says what he thinks.
Beth
Female – 11-16
Charlie’s older and wiser sister. She’s honest and kind.
Helen Armstrong
Female – 40-70ish
Organized steamroller. She’s always in charge.
Reverend Hopkins
Male – 40-70ish
Occasionally befuddled, always well-meaning.
Luanne
Female – 35-70ish
Sassy, tells it like it is.
Betty
Female – 30–70ish
Sweet southerner, calls everyone “honey.”
Connie
Female – 30-70ish
Direct, no-nonsense type.
Alice Wendleken
Female – 11-15
Know-it-all. She thinks she’s perfect.
Elmer Hopkins
Male – 10-15
Preacher’s kid, which means he needs to behave and be nice.
Teddy Shoemaker
Male – 9-15
Wimpy kid with glasses, asks too many questions.
Ivy Reed
Female – 11-15
Beth’s earnest friend who is sometimes a goody-goody.
Cast Vocal Ranges:
