Fxmas pageantHickory – The Hickory Community Theatre is presenting two public performances of the hysterical Christmas comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, based on her popular novel. The first performance of the play is this Saturday, December 9th at 2:30pm in the Jeffers Mainstage Theatre.

This timeless tale, a popular favorite since it was first published in 1972, focuses on the trials of a mother of two young children who is unwillingly drafted into directing her church’s annual Christmas pageant. Everything goes terribly wrong when the most unruly children in town, “the Horrible Herdmans” discover that there are free snacks at Sunday school and show up on the day the pageant is cast.

The horrible Herdmans are the meanest kids around. They lie, steal, cuss, and smoke cigars—even the girls. The last place anyone expected to see them is in church. So when the Herdmans storm Sunday school and take over the annual Christmas pageant, everyone braces for the worst. But no one is prepared for what really happens when the rottenest kids in the world take over the greatest story ever told. It’s a pageant full of surprises for everyone–including the Herdmans themselves.

There are two performances, December 9th and 16th at 2:30pm. Tickets are $10 each with reserved seating. The box office is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12-5. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.hickorytheatre.org.

Photo: The “horrible Herdmans from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever are played by (back row) Jordan Smith, Henry Kihneman, Christian Endsjo, (front row) Tess Perrin, Kathryn Whalen and Byron Phillips. The holiday comedy plays Dec 9 & 16 at 2:30pm. Click www.hickorytheatre.org or call (828) 328-2283 for more information. Photo by Ashleigh Walker.