DIRECTOR NOTES

Fourteen years I ago, I walked into The Theater Project (for the first time) to audition for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Then, I blinked, and now here I am directing. Where does time go?

This show has particular, personal meaning for me, being my first at The Theater Project. Having just moved to Brunswick from Arizona, I was a bit lost, but the Theater made me feel instantly welcome, comfortable, and at home. Directing it now brings back a whole flood of amazing memories and reminds me just how grateful I am for this place.

So that’s one reason I love this show. Another is because it is *hecking* hilarious. Every rehearsal I say “oh this is my favorite part”, or “this is definitely my favorite line”. And these actors. These actors! They are always coming up with new and creative and smart and funny things to do. I could watch them all day.

A third reason (not final - cause if I listed them all we’d be here all night) is that The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a poignant story. It reminds us about looking beyond surface impressions and about taking the time to include those who are so often, and so easily, discarded. It reminds us to open ourselves up to be changed by the experiences and questions of others. It challenges us to relook at the stories we tell ourselves and each other and about “how we always do things” to see if it even still makes sense.

As a story, Christmas highlights how sacred and world altering the birth of a single child can be. The divine comes to the world as an infant. Not as a king or dictator or president or CEO. As an infant. So how perfect that it’s the Herdmans, children and unexpected visitors (or, you know, intruders - they are the Herdmans), who help everyone hear past the same old stories and the same old carols to reconnect with the magic of this season - love.

We could all use - and give - more love. This story, and this cast and crew, have helped me with that each and every day. Thank you for that.

When we reach Silent Night in the pageant, we invite you to sing along with us.

Silent night, Holy night,

All is calm, All is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child.

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night,

Shepherds quake at the sight,

Glories stream from heaven afar,

Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;

Christ the Savior, is born!

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