playbill vip

In December of 1983 I was just shy of 9 years old and at the TOP of my Christmas special game. There was truly nothing better than a night when they would air one of the classics; like Charlie Brown, Frosty or Rudolph. Then there were the NEW specials coming out; Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit, Emmett Otter’s jug-band, and Ralphie in the ridiculous bunny suit. But on Dec. 5th at 7:00pm, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever aired on ABC, and forever changed my list of favorites. 

Based on the novel by Barbara Robinson, my family and I watched the story of The Herdmans, widely regarded as “the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain.” To top it all off, they showed up at church for the free snacks and ended up taking over the annual Christmas pageant!?! Now, I gotta tell ya’…for an almost 9-year-old minister’s daughter with a flair for the dramatic, I could not have been more riveted.  I would have killed to scream, “HEY, EVERYBODY! UNTO YOU A CHILD IS BORN! WANNA SEE ‘IM?!” from a pulpit. 

Forty-two years later, as I’ve directed this stage adaptation, I now understand why I’ve always been so fascinated with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and why it has fallen back into my lap. It's not about the shock value or the cigars, although those are a lot of fun, but rather about finding love and light in unexpected places and people. It strips away all of the glitz and glamour and unveils reality, as tarnished as it may be. To learn this ancient story through the Herdman’s eyes just might be the entire point of Christmas after all.  As Barbara Robinson writes, “This was just the way it must have been for the real holy family, stuck away in a barn by people who didn’t much care what happened to them. They couldn’t have been very neat and tidy either, but more like this Mary and Joseph.” This kind of insight makes my director's heart so happy. Forget the frills, forget how everyone else has told it or done it, and forget about trying to make it pretty…what do you think really happened? THAT’s what we wanna see.

This cast has worked tirelessly to develop these colorful, beautiful characters, and I couldn’t be more proud. So, hang onto your halos and enjoy the show. SHA-ZAM!!!

(This one’s for YOU, Doc.)

Love, Aly