Parents and Kids Work Together in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!
By Liv Wilson
This winter, Cadence presents a fun-filled, intergenerational holiday musical with professional actors and local children at the Dominion Energy Center. Coincidentally, several kids in the cast have parents involved in the production. This truly is a family affair!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical follows the Herdmans, the unruly kids known as the worst in the world, as they turn the small town upside down when they crash Sunday school and demand roles in the Christmas pageant. With biting humor and unexpected twists, they rewrite the classic Christmas story in their own unique way. As the town panics and calls for the pageant's cancellation, reluctant director Grace Bradley and the Reverend must find a way to help the community see the true meaning of Christmas through the eyes of the Herdmans.
When auditions rolled around for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical and Pearl and June Barry decided they would audition, their mother Lauren Barry dusted off her acting resume and dove in as well.
Lauren holds a degree in musical theatre and had been itching to get back onstage. Watching her daughters fall in love with the performing arts kept her connected to the theatre world, but this musical seemed like the perfect chance to jump back in head first. Lauren says, “It was nerve-wracking to put myself out there after taking so many years off, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get to perform with my kids! Who knows if and when we will be lucky enough to do it again?! I feel so blessed to get to experience this with them.”
Pearl Barry already knew about her mother’s theatre background, but had never witnessed it firsthand. For Pearl, theatre is where she really found herself and built her confidence. She says, “It’s awesome to be able to share a special thing with your family, [...] to experience that with someone you love.” Over the course of rehearsals, June Barry says she’s learned that her mom could be EXTRA fun up there onstage, seeing a new side of her while performing.
Choreographer Courtney Vollmer is also working with her daughter, Emalea, who is playing Elmer in the cast. Courtney has loved watching Emalea grow and blossom among the other, older students in the cast, learning the ropes as a young actor. Emalea finds it inspiring to watch her mother dance and engage in her passion through this musical.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical is contagious and the good times don’t always stay in rehearsal. Involved families have been singing the tracks in the car and doing choreography in their kitchens, preparing to invite audiences to this family-friendly holiday event. We hope you and your family will join us in the fun!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical
Book and Lyrics by Jahnna Beecham
Music and Lyrics by Malcolm Hillgartner
Based on the Play by Barbara Robinson
Runs December 13-22 at the Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse.
Tickets are on sale now! Visit below to see casting information and show details!
