Bad boys -- and girls
By MICHAEL SMITH World Scene Writer
12/7/2003

Clark Theater lifts curtain on 'Best Christmas Pageant Ever'

"The Herdmans were the worst kids in school. They lied, they stole, they cussed their teachers, they took the name of the Lord in vain."

The opening of Barbara Robinson's beloved book, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," offers a vivid description of the Herdmans.

They are children who terrorize the neighborhood, set fires for fun and smoke cigars.

Genie Reiman is happy to report that she's found no real-life Herdmans in her first directorial effort for Clark Theater, a troupe of middle- and high-school performers who will present the play based on Robinson's book in a production that raises its curtain Thursday.

"I've found a group of really great kids with very supportive parents. They're hardworking, very bright and enthusiastic about doing theater," she said.

"But they're actors, so they haven't had a lot of trouble in portraying bad kids," she continued with a chuckle.

"I think maybe they look forward to doing some things that they wouldn't normally ever do."

It's the 17th season for Clark Theater to present this play, and this year's cast ranges in age from 7 to 17, said Reiman, who has worked with the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa for 23 years providing in-school arts.

For the young people who have worked with Clark for years, participating in the play is as much a holiday tradition as opening presents.

"A lot of them are cute in the way that they feel about the show, the way they will tell me, 'I've been this, and I've been that. This year I get to be the mother. Last year I was the third angel from the left,' " Reiman said.

"It's funny how they all seem to know each other's lines. It really is like a church pageant in that way."

In the play, the Herdmans threaten other boys and girls and take the lead roles in the annual holiday pageant at church.

It's their first contact with a religious institution, and they have no real interest in its divine purpose, but they've heard they can get the best snacks and refreshments there if they just show up.

The Herdman kids don't know the story of Christ's birth and its significance, but their onstage interpretation of the events in Bethlehem opens the eyes of those in attendance to possibly some new, deeper meaning of the traditional Christmas story.

"These kids make everyone in the play look at the pageant differently," Reiman said.

"They see these two scruffy kids playing Mary and Joseph, and they look at them, and they realize that maybe Mary and Joseph were more like that than the angelic, clean, perfect characters they're used to seeing in the pageant.

"I think there's a really good message there."

The cast includes Rebecca Blackmore, Sam Higgins, Brandon Beaver, Audra Miller, Martin Blackmore, Hannah Dotson, Will Presley, Hanna McCafferty, David Dotson, Tabitha Littlefield, Alex McConnell, Kelsey Novotnak, Carly Godwin, Vincent Iannazzo, Alex Genay, Stephanie Wenker, Deanna Mancino, Katie Iannazzo, Kelly Roark, Courtney Page, Lisa Tober, Leah Clark, Megan Godwin, Roxanne Dominick, Chloe Genay, Erin Roark and Mollie Roark.

Clark Theater's production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" has scheduled performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at its theater, 11440 E. Admiral Place.

Tickets are $5-$7 and may be reserved by calling 669-6455.

Play

"Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

When
7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Dec. 14

Where
Clark Theater, 11440 E. Admiral Place

Tickets
$5-$7, 669-6455

Michael Smith 581-8334
michael.smith@tulsaworld.com