Christmas play tonight at 7:30

Bethany Steen and Lexee Jones shine as Herdman sisters Imogene and Gladys in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.

None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale - the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating - has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year's pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.

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Starring an ensemble of high school and elementary students, the Troup Christmas play "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" officially premieres tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students.

Members of the Rotary Club and residents of Westwood got an early preview Tuesday at a free afternoon performance. Other performances are scheduled 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 9 a.m. Dec. 7 and 8. The morning shows are for the elementary and middle school/high school campuses, respectively.

Jaclyn Bender plays Beth Bradley and also serves as the narrator.

The play is based on the classic children's book by Barbara Robinson. High school theater instructor Melissa Freeman and elementary music indstructor Cherisa Comer are co-directing the production, which blends irreverent humor and holiday sentiment.

Members of the cast include Sarah Mendolia, B.J. Rambo, Jaclyn Bender, Hank Freeman, Ethan Huckaby, Lexee Jones, Raymond Wavrusa, Landon Kidd, Kelby L yon, Bethany Steen, Rebecca Garcia, Kayla Bright, Ashton Howard, Chelsea Hartman and Cidni Stewart.

Brent Stenberg is stage manager, and Robert Berger is tech manager.