WILMINGTON — Clinton County Kids & Company will open its 23rd season by presenting The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at 7 p.m. Friday, June 24 and 1 p.m. Saturday, June 25 at the Wilmington High School Auditoria.
This show features more than 38 local children, teens and adults. Admission is free and The Crave Candy and Nuts will be selling treats before and after the show. Snow cones will be sold after the show as well. Donations will be accepted at the door.
This adventure of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was written Barbara Robinson and is presented by special arrangement from Samuel French, Inc. Director is Ken Lydy, Associate Dean of Students at Wilmington College. Tara Lydy, Director of the Center for Service and Civic Engagement at Wilmington College, is designing the costumes for the show. Lois A. Hock, Professor of Theatre at Wilmington College and Managing Director of Kids & Company, is supervising the production and overseeing the sets and lighting.
In this hilarious Christmas classic, adapted from the best-selling Young Adult book, “a woman struggles to put on a church Christmas pageant. She 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 with the Christmas story head on!”
“The challenge this year is working with actors of all ages,” said Director Ken Lydy. “We have children as young as age five all the way up to adults. There are some returning actors to Kids & Company as well as many who will make their first appearance on stage. With a cast of 38, we will definitely fill the stage.”
The cast features the mother, Grace Bradley, played by Alana Walker and father Bob Bradley, played by Grant Peelle. Layna Tippet plays daughter Beth Bradley and Eli Peele is her brother, Charlie Bradley. The Herdman kids are Katie Murphy as Imogen, Josie Heyes as Gladys, Ben Eltman as Ralph, Jenna Early as Leroy, Ella Thomson as Claude and Ethan Picklesimer as Ollie.
Lily Collins plays Mrs. Armstrong, the hospitalized teacher and original director of the Christmas pageant, and Lindsey Lydy performs the role of Alice Wendleken. Linda Lakes plays Mrs. McCarthy, Sarah Wuelher plays Mrs. Slocum and Weslie Wilkin plays Mrs. Clark. Sydney McCord and Izabella Myburgh split the role of Maxine, the narrator of the Christmas pageant.
Reverend Hopkins is portrayed by Joshua Engel and Jocelyn Engel plays his daughter, Elmer Hopkins. Trey Reed plays David and Reagan Henry plays Beverly with Vanessa Calderone as Hobie. The angels are: Ella Picklesimer, Jillian Snarr, Marian Hamilton, Ivy Engel, and Veronica Calderone. The Angel choir includes: Madeline Lambs, Audrey McKay, Emma Riddle, and Emmie Picklesimer.
The Firemen are Avery Jackson and Kailyn Mason and the Shepherds are Griffin Snarr, Aiden Peelle, Parker Lakes, Wyatt Jackson. Emma Heys is the Stage Manager and Lighting Operator. Rehearsal assistants are Emma Ballein, Jordan Snarr and Molly Boatman.
For more information, see Kids & Company’s website at http://bit.ly/KidsandCompany or call Lois Hock at 937-382-6661 ext. 293 or 937-481-2293. To stay in touch with Kids & Company, download its free app at https://kidscompany2.appsme.com through the Appsme store.
About Kids & Company
Clinton County Kids & Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality arts experiences for the area children and youth. It is made possible through the generous support of these sponsors: Charles Fischer Trust Fund, Peoples Bank, LCNB National Bank, Wilmington College, Mrs. Barbara Bayless, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Matthews, Magnified Giving & the students at East Clinton High School, Phil and Vicki Snow, Rachel Boyd, Chuck Watts with Edward Jones Investments, Bill Marine Ford, Carole Erdman, Mary Kathryn Hilberg, Keith & Jeanette Gerritz, Brenda Shobe, Mrs. Ruth Stuckey, Waring Office Supplies, Tammy & Bill Kocher, Rhonda Wheasler, The Crave Candy & Nuts, Becky & Steven Haines, Wilmington AM Rotary, Wilmington Kiwanis Club, Wilmington Eagles Auxiliary, Ms. Judy Gano, Kevin & Tanya Snarr, Dick & Karen Williams, Jan Hiatt, Carolyn Williams, Neil & Ruth Snarr, David & Mary Ann Raizk, Teresa & Ron Rembert, Gail Al-Ghawi, Bennett Realty, Chad Mason, Terry Miller, Sandy and Danny Mongold, Shari Murphy, Shari Rolston, and Jim & Sue Reynolds.
