By Marisa Dawson

The Herdmans, the “worst kids in the history of the world,” are crashing the annual Christmas pageant, and chaos, laughter and a whole lot of heart are about to take over St. John’s Lutheran Church (322 N Molley St). This witty, lighthearted, family-favorite story follows the rowdy Herdman kids as they accidentally teach the town (and the Bradley family) the real meaning of Christmas through patience, acceptance and a wildly unforgettable nativity.

For the first time, the Bennington Community Theatre is bringing a Christmas production to Bennington. Director Donna Dahlsten calls this show BCT’s “way of doing something nice for the community,” and after just a few weeks of rehearsal, her cast is ready to deliver big holiday joy.

Dahlsten can’t stop raving about her crew: “I have an outstanding group… The adults are all really good. The kids that have the main parts are excellent, and they learned their lines so quickly, and they’re a joy to work with… They just clicked.” She’s especially proud that in only BCT’s second full year, the theater is already bringing multi-generational shows like this to town. And yes, every single kid on that stage proves the old saying true: “There are no small parts, just small actors.”

Showtimes are this weekend- Friday is completely sold out, Saturday 2pm is sold out, and the final performance Saturday, Dec 6 at 7pm is the only one with tickets still available (grab them fast!). Bring the family and a donation for the Bennington Community Food Pantry. Stay tuned Saturday night for the full photo album and full recap (no spoilers here—we’re saving the best Herdman moments for those lucky enough to see it live)!

Photos By Marisa Dawson