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Best Christmas Pageant Ever Remains Audience Favorite at Mississippi College


Directed by professor Sandra Grayson, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" remains a favorite for audiences at MC as the holiday season nears.

It’s hard to believe, but the rotten Herdman kids return to the stage at Mississippi College in a wonderful production telling the Christmas story.

Make a date for lots of laughs and serious moments, too, as “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is back on the Clinton campus. Performances for the MC Communication Department student production are set for November 29 through December 2 at Swor Auditorium.

MC Communication professor Sandra Grayson returns (by popular demand) to serve as the show’s director.

The hilarious production is based upon the family-friendly book by author Barbara Robinson in 1971. Her book was made into a Hollywood movie starring Loretta Swit in 1983.

The Herdman kids are pretty bad. Some say they are the world’s worst kids. They lie, cheat, smoke cigars and hit other children, among other things.

Robinson’s story spins the tale of the Herdman family taking over the yearly Christmas pageant at their small church. Things get rather chaotic at times for Ralph Herdman, Leroy Herdman and other members of this outlaw family. In the end, the Herdman kids somehow discover the true meaning of Christmas.

Helen Ashley, a teacher at Sherman Avenue Elementary in Vicksburg, enjoyed traveling with her second and third graders to see the production at Mississippi College last year. “They loved it,” she said. “It’s funny.”

A Mississippi College graduate, Ashley plans to bring another group of youngsters from her Vicksburg school to see this year’s version on the Clinton campus. “We read the book, watch the play and I show them the movie.”

Helen also brings members of her family to see the play at her alma mater.

MC student Crislyn Cole, 19, was part of the cast in last year’s production. A biochemistry major, she really relates to the chemistry of the characters and what the “Best Christmas Pageant Ever” brings to audiences, young and old alike.

“Jesus is not only for the people who dress nicely and go to church every Sunday,” Cole said. “He is meant for everyone.”

Times for the show are 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday November 29. The time will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday November 30. Audiences on December 1 will arrive for shows at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. The show closes at Mississippi College on Friday December 2 at 10 a.m.

Ticket costs are $7 for students, and $10 for adults. For groups of 20 or more, the cost per ticket is $4. Each chaperone who accompanies 10 students will be admitted for free.

For more information, contact Vicki Williams of the MC Communication Department at 601-925-3229 or vwilliam@mc.edu or director Sandra Grayson at Grayson@mc.edu