NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifePre-K to 8ServiceFine Arts
Second graders appear in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
Dec 6, 2004 8:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
With “The Cheese Stands Alone” under their belts, second graders Elizabeth Blackhall and Nicholas Shealy were ready to star in their second performance of the year, the Pumphouse Players’ production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
“Nicholas and Elizabeth are best friends … [Elizabeth] wanted to try out for this production, and, inspired by her enthusiasm, Nicholas decided to audition as well,” said his mother, Maureen Shealy.
The well-known comedy by Barbara Robinson explores the true meaning of Christmas as the Herdman children are cast in Woodrow Wilson School’s annual Christmas Pageant. As Robinson writes in her opening lines, “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.” Everyone thinks the production is sure to be a disaster, but it turns out to be truly the best Christmas pageant ever.
Robinson is the author of about 50 short stories and several children’s books, including “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” for which she won the Georgia Children’s Book Award, the Young Hoosier Award and was named Pennsylvania’s Writer of the Year. She also wrote the play and film script for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
Nicholas played “David,” one of the shepherds who is afraid of the Herdman children.
“He loved it. He had several comedic lines, and always got a laugh from the crowd,” said Mrs. Shealy. “For example, David offers up his brother to play Baby Jesus. His brother isn’t a baby – ‘he is four years old, but he is double-jointed and could probably scrunch up.’”
Although Nicholas has appeared in several Lower School productions, this was his first performance with the Pumphouse Players.
“Nicholas enjoyed working with the older children and adults and was fascinated with the entire process. When asked what he likes best about acting, he said, ‘It is just fun, and I like to make people laugh,’” said Mrs. Shealy. “I credit Darlington for the exposure and experience that Nicholas has had with acting, learning lines and speaking on stage … His only initial apprehension when practices began was that Mrs. Lumpkin wasn’t going to be directing and he didn’t know if he could do it without her!”
Elizabeth played “Doris,” another pageant cast member who is afraid of the Herdmans. While Elizabeth was also making her debut with the Pumphouse Players, she spent three weeks this summer at a theater camp in Canada, where she had a part in a musical production at the University of Guelph.
Nicholas and Elizabeth are both from Cartersville, Ga.
The show opened the weekend of Dec. 3 at The Legion Theatre on Main Street in Cartersville. Click here for information, or call 770-387-2610.
“Nicholas and Elizabeth are best friends … [Elizabeth] wanted to try out for this production, and, inspired by her enthusiasm, Nicholas decided to audition as well,” said his mother, Maureen Shealy.
The well-known comedy by Barbara Robinson explores the true meaning of Christmas as the Herdman children are cast in Woodrow Wilson School’s annual Christmas Pageant. As Robinson writes in her opening lines, “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.” Everyone thinks the production is sure to be a disaster, but it turns out to be truly the best Christmas pageant ever.
Robinson is the author of about 50 short stories and several children’s books, including “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” for which she won the Georgia Children’s Book Award, the Young Hoosier Award and was named Pennsylvania’s Writer of the Year. She also wrote the play and film script for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
Nicholas played “David,” one of the shepherds who is afraid of the Herdman children.
“He loved it. He had several comedic lines, and always got a laugh from the crowd,” said Mrs. Shealy. “For example, David offers up his brother to play Baby Jesus. His brother isn’t a baby – ‘he is four years old, but he is double-jointed and could probably scrunch up.’”
Although Nicholas has appeared in several Lower School productions, this was his first performance with the Pumphouse Players.
“Nicholas enjoyed working with the older children and adults and was fascinated with the entire process. When asked what he likes best about acting, he said, ‘It is just fun, and I like to make people laugh,’” said Mrs. Shealy. “I credit Darlington for the exposure and experience that Nicholas has had with acting, learning lines and speaking on stage … His only initial apprehension when practices began was that Mrs. Lumpkin wasn’t going to be directing and he didn’t know if he could do it without her!”
Elizabeth played “Doris,” another pageant cast member who is afraid of the Herdmans. While Elizabeth was also making her debut with the Pumphouse Players, she spent three weeks this summer at a theater camp in Canada, where she had a part in a musical production at the University of Guelph.
Nicholas and Elizabeth are both from Cartersville, Ga.
The show opened the weekend of Dec. 3 at The Legion Theatre on Main Street in Cartersville. Click here for information, or call 770-387-2610.
