By Taylor Long, Contributing Writer
Get ready to get into the Christmas spirit with the Hilltop Players’ production of “Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson, beginning on Nov. 30 through Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and running again Dec. 7-9 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee showing on Dec. 10 at 3 p.m.
This fun play is based on the popular children’s book. It’s all about a church’s Christmas pageant that is overrun by the worst kids in the history of the world.
Like some previous productions, there are two casts for this play, “Cast Christmas” and “Cast Pageant.”
Cast Christmas includes Ingrid Young as Grace Bradley, Hayden Heiserman as Bob Bradley, Sarah Lemley as Beth Bradley, Alex Fabrizio as Charlie Bradley, Gory Dami as Alice Wendleken, Mary Horzempa as Imogene Herdman, Anthony Hood as Ralph Herdman, Amanda Tamplen as Mrs. Armstrong, Maggie Storms as Mrs. Slocum, Josie Jarrett as Mrs. Clark, Colleen Hoselton as Mrs. McCarthy, Audrey Orecchio as Maxine, Liam Gerney as Elmer Hopkins, Chad Clutter as Reverend Hopkins, Daniel White as Leroy Herdman, Sara Impellicceiri as Claudia Herdman, Jayden Clutter as Ollie Herdman, Ruari Stoll as Gladys Herdman, Zach Larance as Hobie, Jackson Clutter as David and Taylor Miller as Beverly.
Cast Pageant includes Alex Burdick as Grace Bradley, Alex Gordon as Bob Bradley, Eliza Aulick as Beth Bradley, Aiden Mills as Charlie Bradley, Baylei Mills as Alice Wedleken, Callie Carroll as Imogene Herdman, Ben Moore as Raplh Herdman, Amber Parsons as Mrs. Armstrong, Michelle Russell as Mrs. Slocum, Samantha Moore as Mrs. Clark, Lexy Glover as Mrs. McCarthy, Carly Balog as Maxine, Andrew Mehler as Reverend Hopkins, Zach Ziolkowski as Leroy Herdman, Autumn Carver as Claudia Herdman, Allison Bryant as Ollie Herdman, Shia Conway as Gladys Herdman, Brian Gonzalez as Hobie, Tristian Gonzalez as David and Lydia Mehl as Beverly.
Cast also includes Raelin Stoll as Baby Angel, Abbigail Bryant as Baby Angel, and Hunter Norris and Jacob Walker as Firemen.
Some of the students that are a part of the crew are Alex Franke as the assistant director, Grant VanCamp as stage manager, and Hunter Helms as assistant stage manager. Assistant Professor of Theatre Meta Lasch will serve as the technical director.
Associate Professor of Theatre and director of the production, Michael Aulick said, “It is a madhouse. Trying to have two different casts of 30 people is a scheduling nightmare, but people are dealing with the added stress well. We do it so we can give as many people as we can an opportunity to be involved.”
Opening weekend is at the end of dead week, so take a study break and go enjoy a show. The curtain opens at 7:30 p.m., so don’t be late!
Photo credit: West Liberty U Twitter
