CCT presents New Musical Adaptation of THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER

It's a perfect time in a perfect little town, until the Herdmans show up and demand to be in the annual Christmas Pageant. Join Columbia Children's Theatre (CCT)-the Midlands' only professional theatre for families and young audiences-as they present the South Carolina premier of this delightful musical adaptation of everyone's favorite holiday stage play The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical, December 2 -10.

The production's run opens on Saturday, December 2 with a special Breakfast with Santa at 9:00 a.m. followed by the show at 10:30 a.m. Tickets for the breakfast and show package are 15.00 for children and adults. Regular show times are December 2 at 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, December 3 at 3:00 p.m.; Friday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, December 9 at 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, December 10 at 3:00 p.m.at All performances are held at Columbia Children's Theatre's new performance space on the 1st level of Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive next to Barnes and Noble. Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday performances are $10.00 for children three years of age through adult. The 7:00 p.m. performances on Saturday evenings will have a special ticket price of $5.00 for everyone. Advance tickets can be purchased securely online at columbiachildrenstheatre.com. For more information contact CCT at 803-691-4548.

Saturday, December 2 at 9:00 a.m. is the return of the popular Breakfast with Santa, a partnership with the Richland County Recreation Commission. $15.00 admission includes breakfast, a visit and photo with Santa himself, other holiday activities and crafts, and admission to a performance of Cinderella at 10:30 a.m. The breakfast will take place on the second level of Richland Mall, just above Barnes & Noble. Advance tickets for the breakfast/show package are required and are available at columbichildrenstheatre.com.

Based on Barbara Robinson's popular 1972 book and the subsequent television and live theatre adaptations, this musical, with book music and lyrics by Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner is a delightful and faithful musicalization of the original source material. When the Herdman children, (arguably the worst kids in the history of the world) discover that you can get free snacks at something called "Sunday School," they waste no time in getting themselves not only to Sunday school, but also landing the lead roles in the church's annual Christmas pageant.

??This production features many of your favorite CCT Mainstage performers such as Kendrick Marion as Bob Bradley, Courtney Reasoner as Grace Bradley, Paul Lindley and Joshua Diveley as Reverend Hopkins, Jordan Harper and Karly Shorter as Helen Armstrong, and Julian Deleon as Ralph Herdman and Roxanne Rich as Immogene Herdman,?and Toni Moore, Jillian Peltzman and Carol Beis as The Church Ladies. For the first time ever, CCT's Mainstage will welcome an ensemble of student actors from their YouTheare company to portray the kids in the show. They are: Sarah Krawczyk, Rebecca-Ryan Young, Cameron Vipperman, Sadie Stanley, Henry Melkomian, Will Varner, Courtney Hope Diveley, Adele Fuller, Dorothy Weaver, Marjorie Weaver, Fionn O'Connor, Luke Schrader, Cort Stevenson, Walker Weaver, Riley Triggs, Malana Hokaj, Anna Shull, Londyn James. The show is directed by CCT Artistic Director, Jerry Stevenson with musical direction by Paul Lindley and choreography by Lisa Sendler.

Columbia Children's Theatre is a professional resident not-for-profit theatre dedicated to providing quality live theatre experiences for families and young audiences. CCT's current season is sponsored by The Braddock Group and Columbia Mom's Blog. CCT is also supported in part by the City of Forest Acres, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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