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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical

Grades PreK-12

Get Tickets | Register Grades PreK-12

Students in Grades PreK through 12 this school year: Join us for our Youth Theatre Jr. Companies, Companies, and Jr. Troupe Winter 2025 Musical: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical!

The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world–so when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Christmas pageant, the whole town panics. There’s not supposed to be biting or cigar-smoking in Bethlehem, and while these kids have never even heard the Christmas story, they definitely have rewrites! Soon, everyone is calling for reluctant director Grace Bradley to cancel the whole thing. It’s up to the Bradleys and the Reverend to help their community see the Christmas story and the Herdman kids through new eyes in this buoyant musical adaptation of the funny and touching holiday classic.

There are three ways for students to participate onstage in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical:

  • Jr. Companies – All students in grades PreK-K and 1-2, performing in a couple of scenes in the main play as Jr. Ensemble, as well as a pre-show holiday song and dance routine! No audition required. Monday rehearsals only until tech.
  • Companies – Students in grades 3-5 and 6-12, playing various Ensemble and Featured roles. Auditions are encouraged but not required; everyone is welcome! Monday rehearsals only until tech.
  • Jr. Troupe – Selected students in grades 3-12, playing Supporting and Lead roles (Character descriptions and the script will be provided in advance.) Auditions required; everyone will be cast in either the Companies or Jr. Troupe! Rehearsals throughout the week as called.

Register Here!

 

Important Dates & Times

How to Prepare for Auditions (Optional, Grades 3-12 only)

  • Fill out your student’s Registration Form.
  • Headshots and resumes are encouraged (but not required) and can be emailed to theatre@cfcarts.com at least 48 hours prior to your audition in PDF, JPG, or PNG format. If emailed late or in a different format, we may not be able to access your resume. Please do not bring hard copies to your audition.
  • All auditioners will participate in cold readings from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical. The script will be made available before auditions. Students do not need to memorize any part of the script or prepare a monologue.
  • Prepare and memorize a 16 to 32-bar selection from a musical theatre song. Please do not sing selections from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Please bring sheet music with full piano accompaniment, three-hole-punched, double-sided, and in a three-ring binder (please do not put music in page protectors.) An accompanist will be provided. Tracks may not be used. Students may not sing a cappella (without accompaniment.) If you need assistance locating appropriate sheet music, please contact us at theatre@cfcarts.com at least 48 hours before your audition (but preferably sooner!) and we will help you.
  • Please bring a water bottle. Food and gum is not permitted.
  • Dance or athletic shoes required. No restrictive attire, open-toed shoes, flip-flops/sandals, heels, or skirts/dresses without leggings or shorts beneath.
  • Auditions, as well as rehearsals, are closed to parents and other visitors. For safety reasons, only students and approved staff/volunteers are permitted.
  • Students may choose to attend our Audition Prep Workshop on Wednesday, October 8, 5:30-7:30 PM at our audition and rehearsal location of First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park FL 32789.). Students will gain familiarity with the shows and characters, have the opportunity to participate in a mock acting audition and receive feedback, and participate in a Q&A session with casting staff. You can register your student for the Audition Prep Workshop on their Registration Form and use the links below to pay. We offer a sibling discount for this workshop! Payment links will be made available closer to the auditions.
    • 1 student - $20
    • 2 siblings - $35
    • 3 siblings - $50

Oct 8 | Audition Prep Workshop (Optional, Grades 3-12 only)

Want to audition for the Jr. Troupe - Supporting and Lead roles? Students in grades 3-12 may choose to attend our Audition Prep Workshop, Wednesday, October 8 from 5:30-7:30 PM at our rehearsal location of First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park FL 32789.). Students will gain familiarity with the shows and characters, have the opportunity to participate in a mock acting audition and receive feedback, and participate in a Q&A session with casting staff. We offer a sibling discount for this workshop! Select the Workshop on your Registration Form to attend, or to register later, email theatre@cfcarts.com.

  • 1 student - $20
  • 2 siblings - $35
  • 3 siblings - $50

Oct 10 - 11 | Auditions (Optional, Grades 3-12 only)

Auditions will take place on October 10 and 11 (callbacks for selected students October 12) the show location of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Winter Park (1600 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) and are fully optional for Grades 3-12. (Students in Grades PreK-2 may not audition in advance.) These auditions will determine the lead and supporting roles for our Jr. Troupe as well as featured roles for our Companies. Auditions are for placement only - there’s a role for all actors in this production!

If your young actor wishes to participate without auditioning, that is completely fine! You will be able to note that preference on your student’s registration. We are happy to find a place in this production for your young performer, even if they are audition-shy!

Audition blocks:

Audition blocks are listed below, and you can select which one your student will attend on your student’s registration form. Students must stay for the duration of their audition block.

  • Block A - Friday, October 10, 5:30-8 PM
  • Block B - Saturday, October 11, 9:30 AM-12 PM
  • Block C - Saturday, October 11, 1-3:30 PM
  • Block D - Saturday, October 11, 4-6:30 PM
  • Callbacks will be held for selected students on Sunday, October 12, sometime between 4-7 PM. Students will be informed of their callback status and exact call time by email no later than 10 PM on Saturday, October 11.

Oct 12 | Callbacks (Audition Follow-Up)

Callbacks will be held for selected students on Sunday, October 12, sometime between 4-7 PM. Students will be informed of their callback status and exact call time by email no later than 10 PM on Saturday, October 11.

Oct 20 - Dec 1 | Rehearsals (Required)

All students will rehearse on Mondays at First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) from October 20 through December 1 (No rehearsal November 24 due to Thanksgiving break.) Rehearsals will take place at the following times:

  • Jr. Company (Grades PreK-2): 6-7:15 PM (check-in from 5:45-6 PM, 1.25 hours of rehearsal)
  • Company and Jr. Troupe (Grades 3-12): 5:30-7:30 PM (check-in from 5:15-5:30 PM, 2 hours of rehearsal)
  • Jr. Troupe students may be asked to stay as late as 8 PM some Mondays.

Jr. Troupe students will also rehearse on an as-called basis on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays at First Congregational Church of Winter Park (225 S Interlachen Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) from October 14 through December 5 anytime between 5:30-8 PM. Important things to note for Jr. Troupe rehearsals:

  • Not every Jr. Troupe student will be called to every rehearsal! A full rehearsal schedule will be released after auditions by Wednesday, October 15. The number of rehearsals required will depend on the size of your student’s role.
  • All Jr. Troupe students should plan to attend a read-through rehearsal on Tuesday, October 14.
  • All Jr. Troupe students should plan to attend every Monday rehearsal as listed above and of course, all tech and dress rehearsals as listed below.

Dec 8 - 11 | Tech & Dress Rehearsals (Required)

Tech and dress rehearsals will take place at the following days and times at St. John Lutheran Church - Winter Park, 1600 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789.

  • Jr. Company (Grades PreK-2):
    • Monday, December 8, 5:30-7:30 PM
    • Thursday, December 11, 5:30-8:30 PM
  • Companies and Jr. Troupe (Grades 3-12):
    • Monday, December 8, 5:30-8:30 PM
    • Tuesday, December 9, 5:30-9 PM
    • Wednesday, December 10, 5:30-9 PM
    • Thursday, December 11, 5:30-9 PM

All cast must attend all their scheduled tech and dress rehearsals and performances or they will not be able to perform.

Dec 12 - 13 | Performances (Required)

Performances will take place on Friday, December 12 at 7 PM, and Saturday, December 13 at 11 AM (change from usual schedule) and 7 PM at St. John Lutheran Church - Winter Park, 1600 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789. See below for show day schedules:

  • Friday, December 12, 5:30 PM call time, 7 PM performance, estimated end time around 9 PM (Jr. Companies students stay through intermission for Act 2!)
  • Saturday, December 13, 9:30 AM call time, 11 AM performance, estimated end time and lunch break start around 1 PM - All students must be checked out by a parent/guardian or adult on their approved check-out list at the conclusion of the show! (This is a change from the usual schedule.) Students may not stay through the lunch break as there will be another production performing in the space.
  • Saturday, December 13, 5:30 PM call time, 7 PM performance, estimated end time around 9 PM
    • All Jr. Troupe and Companies students in grades 6-12 must stay for strike until latest 10 PM
    • All Jr. Companies, Companies, and Jr. Troupe students in grades PreK-5 are released following the performance end time as soon as their personal costumes are neatly hung and dressing rooms are clean

Audience members may purchase in-person tickets on the event page.

All cast must attend all their scheduled tech and dress rehearsals and performances or they will not be able to perform.

Info

Tuition

There is a seasonal $35 registration fee per student, which covers all enrollments in Youth Theatre Programs from August through December 2025. Registration Fees are now a part of the overall tuition cost! If your student participates in more than one production with us in a season, you will be sent a special coupon code that will subtract the $35 registration fee from your student’s tuition payment - it’s a “thank you” from us!

Payment can be made on the Registration Form.

Tuition for all performers is as follows: (scholarships and payment plans available; see below.)

  • Jr. Companies (All Grades PreK-2): $210
  • Companies (Grades 3-12, Featured and Ensemble Roles): $235
  • Jr. Troupe (Grades 3-12, Lead and Supporting Roles): $260

There are four ways to cover tuition:

  • Complete the tuition payment in full via the Registration Form (Jr. Troupe will receive an email with instructions following auditions for those selected) or by bringing cash or a check (made out to CFCArts) to your student’s rehearsal (please email theatre@cfcarts.com to confirm that you will be bringing payment in person.) Payment is due no later than Monday, October 20, the first day of full-cast rehearsals.
  • Reach out to theatre@cfcarts.com to set up a tuition payment plan of two installments. Once a payment plan has been determined, you will be sent a payment link via email. The first installment will be due no later than Monday, October 20, the first day of full-cast rehearsals, the second installment no later than Monday, November 10, and the third and final installment no later than Monday, November 24, two weeks prior to tech rehearsals starting. Students must have tuition paid in full to perform in the production. Installment payments may be made via the payment form or by bringing cash or a check (made out to CFCArts) to your student’s rehearsal (please email theatre@cfcarts.com to confirm that you will be bringing payment in person.)
  • Complete the Financial Assistance Application as a part of your student’s Registration Form to be considered for a need-based scholarship for this program. Once a scholarship amount has been determined, you will be sent a payment link via email. Any remaining balance for your student’s tuition will be due no later than Monday, November 24, two weeks prior to tech rehearsals starting. Students must have their remaining tuition balance paid in full to perform in the production. Payment of the remaining balance may be made via the payment form or by bringing cash or a check (made out to CFCArts) to your student’s rehearsal (please email theatre@cfcarts.com to confirm that you will be bringing payment in person.)
  • CFCArts is a Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES, formerly Gardiner Scholarship) direct pay provider, and the FES can be used to cover program tuition. Simply include your student’s FES ID number on their Registration Form and we will begin the process.

      Financial Assistance

      There are two options for financial assistance:

      • Complete the Financial Assistance Application as a part of your student’s Registration Form to be considered for a need-based scholarship for this program. Once a scholarship amount has been determined, you will be sent a payment link via email. Any remaining balance for your student’s tuition will be due no later than Monday, November 24, two weeks prior to tech rehearsals starting. Students must have their remaining tuition balance paid in full to perform in the production. Payment of the remaining balance may be made via the payment form or by bringing cash or a check (made out to CFCArts) to your student’s rehearsal (please email theatre@cfcarts.com to confirm that you will be bringing payment in person.)
      • CFCArts is a Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES, formerly Gardiner Scholarship) direct pay provider, and the FES can be used to cover program tuition. Simply include your student’s FES ID number on their Registration Form and we will begin the process.

      Service Project

      Central Florida Community Arts exists to serve and build community through the arts. With our mission in mind, our Youth Theatre Program students for each production have the opportunity to participate in a service project to benefit another non-profit organization in Central Florida - and to build friendships and bond with their castmates! These service projects are carefully selected to align with the message of the story that our students are telling on stage.

      Like the Herdman family in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical, many in our community struggle with needs and resources throughout the year, with difficulties being felt most keenly, especially by families, at the holidays. The Mustard Seed of Central Florida is one of several organizations who work to fulfill these needs year-round. Representatives from our cast will visit their furniture and clothing bank on Thursday, November 20 from 1-4 PM to help sort and organize donations for families and individuals in Central Florida who are in need, and spread some holiday cheer!

      Casting Policies

      Please click here for a thorough review of our casting policies.

      Staff

      Click here to meet the The Best Christmas Pageant Ever staff! (coming soon)

      Registration

      Please follow these steps to register your student.

      • Please register for an audition, or to participate without auditioning, by filling out the Registration Form.
      • Make the $35 seasonal registration fee payment, and if applicable, payment for the Audition Prep Workshop via the Registration Form.

      Questions?

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