Unicorn Children's Theatre Unveils Traditional Christmas Pageant with Twist

The Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University will conclude its 2010 fall season with Unicorn Children’s Theatre’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson Dec. 16-18, 2010 at the Caine Lyric Theatre in historic downtown Logan.  

Directed by Richie Call, a professor in the Department of Theatre at USU, this side-splitting Christmas tale finds a duo struggling to put together a traditional Christmas pageant when they are faced with including the town’s most awful children, the Herdmans, in the cast.

“It’s just not Christmas without the infamous Herdman family,” said Call. “These rambunctious children collide head-on with the Christmas story to create a riotous comedy for the entire family.”

The production follows the plight of the reluctant Bradleys, played by Lee Daily and Keri Larsen, as they are wheedled into directing their church’s Christmas pageant. However, when a rough and rowdy group of kids show up and want to participate in the play, the Bradley’s quaint plans are out the door and the true meaning of Christmas begins to unfold.

“It’s a fantastic, yet heartfelt story with a quirky twist of humor, but the moment of redemption is one that all people can appreciate and will remember long after the play is over,” said Call. “All the chaos on stage is something families can identify with during the busy holiday season.”  

Call’s grandmother Ruth Call founded Unicorn Children’s Theatre more than four decades ago. Call said his grandmother directed “Christmas Pageant” many times and it has become a mainstay in the community attracting young actors throughout the years to return to the annual production. 

“The audience won’t want to miss this holiday favorite,” Call said.

Curtains open at 7:30 p.m. daily, Dec. 16-18, 2010, with a 2 p.m. matinee Dec. 18 in the Caine Lyric Theatre, located at 28 W. Center Street in Logan.

General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for youth under 17. One child will be admitted free of charge with the purchase of two adult tickets.

The cast consists of 77 members, 62 of which are local children who auditioned for the play.  Miranda O’Very plays Beth Bradley and Max Cunningham plays Charlie Bradley.

The Herdmans will be played by Derick Darley, Jayden Todd, Riley Olsen, Timothy Stewart, Christian Robbins and Anika Isem. Kathy Batemen will play Mrs. Armstrong and the rest of the cast consists of Unicorn drama students.

Tickets can be purchased at the Caine College of the Arts Box Office in room 139-B of the Chase Fine Arts Center, open weekdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased online at arts.usu.edu.

Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu
Writer: Ty Mortensen, 435-760-9668, ty.mortensen@aggiemail.usu.edu