Entertainment : ACT 1 plans performance of \'Best Christmas Pageant Ever\' at Bethlehem Lutheran

ACT I of Benton County is pleased to release new information about the next Main Stage production of the current season, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.  Based on the classic children’s novel about a family of misfit ruffians who discover the true meaning of Christmas while participating in a church Christmas pageant, the show will offer parts for all ages, including approximately 30 children of elementary, middle school, and high school age.  The show was first presented by ACT I in 1994 at the Old Creamery Theatre in Garrison, and it’s time for a new generation of young local actors to bring the story of the Herdman family to life.

As an interesting departure, rather than presenting the play at ACT I’s home venue, the Palace Theatre, the production will be staged at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Vinton.  According to director Steve Arnold, who also directed ACT I’s first production of the show, “since the show takes place in a church, I thought it would be an interesting twist to actually stage the show in a church.  Bethlehem Lutheran offers the perfect performance space for the production.  We’ll present the first part of the play in the fellowship hall before moving the audience en masse into the sanctuary for the show’s charming finale.  You can look for some surprises that we wouldn’t be able to do if the show were being staged at the Palace.”

Arnold has directed twenty past ACT I productions, including 13, The Miser, and The Music Man.  Assistant director and piano player for the production will be Ian Stuelke, a student at Center Point / Urbana High School, who played a major role in last season’s production of 13.

Auditions for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will be held at the end of September.  Additional information about these and other ACT I auditions will be announced this week.