FHS Theatre presents uproarious Christmas classic

“Shazaaaam!” When the Angel of the Lord speaks, people listen! Especially when that angel is Gladys Herdman, the youngest, meanest and bitey-est kid in the whole Herdman family.

Just in time for the holidays, Flathead High School Theatre will present the uproarious Christmas classic, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” 

This delightful play will be presented Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 at 6:27 p.m. in the David M. Hashley Theatre at FHS. In addition to the scheduled performances, a special fundraising performance will be sponsored by the Flathead Children's Advocacy Group benefiting Flathead CASA on Dec. 13 at 6:27 p.m. To purchase tickets for the fundraiser performance or more information, email fccacshow@gmail.com.

Advanced tickets for the show are available on GoFan, Flathead’s online ticketing service. Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for children, students and senior citizens. To access the ticketing service, go to gofan.co and search for Flathead High School. Each night of the production is listed for ticket purchase. Tickets are also available at the FHS Main Office and Photo Video Plus.

All is well at the church Christmas pageant until it is disrupted by the terrible Herdman kids. They steal, scream, fight, and smoke cigars (even the girls!). The Church Ladies are shocked and outraged but Grace Bradley, the pageant’s director, is determined to make it the best Christmas pageant ever. The festivities are turned upside down as the Herdman kids hijack all the major roles from Mary to the Shepherds and challenge everyone’s traditional notions of Christmas. But despite the interruptions in church, the fights — and even a small fire! — the spirit of the season comes alive in the Herdmans, making this the best Christmas pageant ever.

Based on Barbara Robinson's hilarious children's novel, this play shows how the Christmas spirit can transform even the rowdiest school kids and the most stalwart of adults into wide-eyed believers. 

This production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is presented by the FHS Acting 3 Class at Flathead High School. In Acting 3 IB, students practice a variety of theatre skills and begin to explore these skills in theatre direction and design. At the end of the semester, the students explore the process of bringing a script to life through a full-length production.

Students in Acting 3 IB spend much of their focus on developing solo theatre pieces. Students study a theatre theorist and create a solo performance based on his/her work. In contrast, this production provides the practice for process and ensemble work for the students along with the opportunity to share an important story about love and acceptance with a live audience. According to director and Acting 3 IB teacher, Wendy Putzler, the process is special for two reasons. 

“The first is the process,” Putzler said. “Several of the technicians are doubling as actors in this performance. The Acting 3 IB students welcomed, guided, and taught these fellow actors blocking, character ideas, and the message of this sweet story. Just as the Bradley family embraces the ‘cold, tired, hungry and messy’ Herdmans, these students share their kindness and compassion with their audience in this beautiful story.” 

This imaginative, heart-warming production comes to life through its talented and diverse cast including Ryan Kitzmiller, Fallon Maas, Isabelle Bennett, Benjamin Moore, Collin Olson, Jax Stebbins-Han, Lily Amundson, Tovar Rodriguez, Gracyne Johnson, Hadley Dennison, Siarah Holden, Myla Johnson, Adina Lockwood, Alison Putzler and Luke Banks.

The FHS Choral-Aires add a touch of magic as the Angel Choir. Members of the Choral-Aires include London Loveless, Salem Enos, Madde Mahlen, Savanna Shelton, Rae Lynn Wehr, Shannon Shae, Sophia Bennett, Olivia Wagoner, Cadence Denney, Nate Wilhelm, Peyton Bicha, Cole Knutson, Mario Zavala and Ryker Parkman.

Behind the scenes are Olive Lyngholm, Axel Jones, Simon Ort and Iris Bruce make up the stage, lighting, and sound crews.