KITTY HAWK - Theatre of Dare is bringing a sleigh full of family friendly holiday mischief to
the Outer Banks this December, as it brings a beloved holiday classic to life on its stage in Kitty Hawk.
 

Featuring young performers from across the Outer Banks, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a hilarious and heartwarming story adapted from the best-selling Young Adult novel of the same name.
 

“I’ve always loved this play”, says director Leah Cribb. “I performed in it as a child, and I'm
excited as an adult to be able to direct it and give the same opportunity to local children. There is so much young stage talent in our community!”

The play follows a woman named Grace Bradley (Joie White) who is tasked with putting on her church’s annual Christmas pageant—only to discover that the notoriously mischievous Herdman children have taken over the cast. The six siblings, led by the cigar-smoking eldest sister Imogene, are outsiders in their community, characterized as foul-mouthed bullies from the poor side of town. At one point, the youngest and meanest Herdman vows to rename the pageant “Revenge at Bethlehem”, and three of the brothers volunteer to be Wise Men so they can beat up on Herod.

But as the chaos and comedy unfold, the congregation learns important lessons about the
inclusion and acceptance at the heart of the Nativity story, and the true spirit of Christmas
shines through in unexpected ways.
 

“Kids in the audience will love the mischief, and the adults will enjoy the gentle humor and seeing so many kids in the show,” says Cribb. “Hopefully a lot of those kids will get bit by the acting bug and be back on our stage soon.”
 

Theatre of Dare’s production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will be performed at 7 p.m. on December 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20, with 2 p.m. matinees on December 14 and 21. Tickets are available online. Some tickets will be available at the door on performance days, subject to availability. This show is rated ‘G’ and is appropriate for all ages.