Open Auditions for
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
and
Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant
This holiday season, double the pageants, double the fun! We’re presenting two Christmas shows in repertory - same sets, shared themes, but two very different shows!
One is a family friendly classic - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
One is an irreverent comedy meant for the grown-up crowd - Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant
General information for both shows
There are two audition dates for each show. You don't need to be present at all of them. You are absolutely welcome to, and if there is time you could have a chance to read more, but please be aware that if there are a lot of people present, new comers will have priority.
We will be reading scenes from the shows for auditions.
These are open auditions; no need to sign up for a slot. Please arrive at least fifteen minutes before the audition start times so you can get your audition form filled out and turned into the audition team.
When you arrive, please make sure you bring a list of conflicts you may have from October 12 through to December 4 when performances start. This is important.
We'll create our rehearsal schedule around this. We typically rehearse three times a week in the evenings.
All auditions are held at The Bingen Theater at 210 N Oak St. Bingen, WA 98605
THE Best Christmas pageant ever
Written by Barbara Robinson
Directed by Jen Harty
Saturday, October 3
Theater will be open at 9:00am | Auditions start at 10:00am and will end promptly at 12:00pm
Monday, October 5
Theater will be open at 6:00pm | Auditions start at 7:00pm and go until 9:00pm
This show is completely family friendly and has a wide age range needed, adults included!
Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant
From John Irving's Novel A Prayer for Owen Meany
Adapted by Jane Jones and Myra Platt
Directed by Kathleen Morrow
Saturday, October 3
Theater will be open at 12:00pm | Auditions start at 1:00pm and will end promptly at 3:00pm
Tuesday, October 6
Theater will be open at 6:00pm | Auditions start at 7:00pm and go until 9:00pm
All characters in this show are meant to be played by adults, even if the characters are children.
Click below and scroll down to December to see the dates and times for each production.
Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Synopsis and characters
In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids - probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem - and the fun - when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas.
This delightful show is adapted from the bestselling Young Adult book, and has become a holiday staple for groups across the United States. The crowd-pleasing comedy features plenty of great roles for children and adults, a few favorite Christmas Carols, and lots of laughs.
CAST OF characters
CHILDREN (Age Range 10 - 15)
Beth Bradley - The narrator, strong voice and presence
Charlie Bradley - Traditional kid brother
Ralph Herdman - Ragged, scroungy, slouching manner, touch of adolescent cool
Imogene Herdman - Loud, bossy, crafty
Leroy Herdman - Tough, sure of himself
Claude Herdman - Tough, combative
Ollie Herdman - Looking for trouble, Claude's usual partner in crime
Gladys Herdman - Small, wiry, fiesty
Alice Wendleken - Prim, proper, pain in the neck
Maxine
Elmer Hopkins
Hobie
David
Beverly
Shirley
Juanita
Doris
ADULTS -
Mother (Grace Bradley) - Reluctant pageant director - Practical, increasingly exasperated, but ultimately the one who lets the Herdmans stay involved.
Father (Bob Bradley) - Solid family man, good natured
Mrs. Armstrong - Large presence, managerial in voice and manner
Mrs. Slocum - Pleasant, motherly woman
Mrs. Clark
Mrs. Clausing
Mrs. McCarthy - A younger, less imperious version of Mrs. Armstrong
Fireman
Reverend Hopkins
Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant
Synopsis and characters
Eleven year old Owen Meany, tiny, strange voiced, and utterly sure of his own destiny, is sick of playing an angel in his church's annual Christmas pageant and sets out to land the role of the Baby Jesus instead. His campaign turns the pageant into a small disaster, as the adults in charge, led by the formidable Barb and Rev. Dudley Wiggin, try to keep a cast of unruly kids (played by grown actors, for comic effect) in line through the chaos that Owen creates. Funny and chaotic on the surface, the story carries Owen's genuine, unshakable belief that he's meant for something bigger, and that belief quietly gets under everyone's skin. This is a darkly comic, irreverent show and it doesn't shy away from that, with adult language and mature content, best suited for audiences 12 and up.
CAST OF characters
All characters in this show will be played by adults
Johnny Wheelwright (Child) - Narrator, Owen's best friend
Owen Meany (Child) - Tiny boy with "wrecked" voice, stubbornly sure of his divine destiny
Dan Needham (Adult) Johnny’s adoptive father
Rev. Dudley Wiggin (Adult) Rector of Christ Church
Barb Wiggin (Adult) The rector's wife, pageant director, former stewardess
Mary Beth Baird (Child) Cast as the Virgin Mary, and very protective of the role
Harold Crosby (Child) Reluctant, terrified Angel - this actor needs to be willing to be actually hoisted in a harness above the stage
Mr. Fish (Adult) Neighbor
Ensemble/chorus roles: outfielders, umpire, kings, shepherds, donkeys (front and hind parts), cows, turtledoves, choir captain, and general “ALL” ensemble lines.
General Information about Our Auditions
Big Britches Productions is always looking for new people to come play! Whether you've "tread the boards" for years or are new to the stage, we want to encourage everyone to audition. All of our auditions are open, and unless otherwise noted, there is no pre-casting. Please also note that we are a volunteer-based organization, and all acting roles are unpaid positions.
What you should know
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Audition requirements vary by show and director; you may be asked to read scenes, prepare a monologue, or perform a song for musicals. Check this page for details on each upcoming production.
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We know that it can be disappointing not to get a part. (We've been there!) Don't take it personally. You may have auditioned really well, but if we have more people audition than roles available, directors have to weigh several factors when choosing a cast. We encourage you to come and audition often. Just because you weren't right for one role doesn't mean that you won't be perfect for another.
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Useful tip - If asked to read for a part you don't want, don't tank it on purpose; every time you're on stage is a chance to show the audition team your range. Which just means demonstrating your ability to adapt. Try a different accent, shift your energy from quiet and reserved to bold and commanding, play the emotion of the scene straight rather than for laughs (or vice versa), or simply commit fully to a character that isn't 'you.' You don't have to be a seasoned actor to show range; you just have to be willing to try something different and commit to it. That willingness is exactly what directors are looking for.
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We also love to encourage performers to get involved on the production side of shows. Helping backstage, with props, in the booth, or as a stage manager is a great way to get involved with the theatre.
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It's a good idea to come prepared with your calendar so you can note any conflicts you may have with the proposed rehearsal schedule. We know people have lives outside the theater and do our best to accommodate everyone's conflicts.