DIRECTOR’S NOTE
“The Herdmans were the worst kids in the whole history of the world. They lied and stole and vaped, even the girls, and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s old broken down tool house.”
The Herdmans also bite kids and beat them black and blue, and that’s just the beginning of their tyranny. As you’ll see, the Herdmans are just plain awful. No wonder every kid in school avoids them like the plague, and all the townspeople shiver when the Herdmans join the local Christmas Pageant! Eventually though, after weeks of sabotaging Pageant rehearsals and terrorizing other kids, the Herdman siblings are the ones who walk out the most changed. They walk into the Pageant one way and leave another because they encounter the transformative love of Christ through Grace Bradley and the Nativity story.
What I love about this play is how plain the message is: the real, tangible power of Christ is here, it’s ready, and it transforms like no other. God is willing and ready to take even the most broken and hurting people and restore them completely. In Mark 2:15-17, Jesus says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Even when we didn’t deserve it, like the Herdmans, Christ still died for us (see Romans 5:8). It takes the sleepy townsfolk some time to recognize that, and the catalyst is a ragtag group of siblings from the wrong side of the tracks.
This year, I pray that you can experience the Christmas story fresh and new, like the Herdmans when they experience it for the first time.
Sophia McCann, Director
If tonight’s performance moved you, find out more by scanning the QR code.
COSTUME DESIGN KATHY RISK
THE WORST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER best
by Barbara Robinson
November 7-9 | 6:00pm
SCENIC DESIGN & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR JUSTIN McPHERSON (’07)
STAGE MANAGER AIDEN TANNER
PROPERTIES MISTRESS & SET DRESSING BAILEY COFFEE*
STUDENT HOUSE MANAGER JACK GUNTER
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR KEATON MILLER (’17)
LIGHTING DESIGN SHASHVAT TYAGI
STAINED GLASS PAINTER WHITNEY PINTELLO
BACKSTAGE MANAGER SOPHIA MORAIS
LEAD USHER ALLISON ZHONG
RUNNING CREW LOGAN ABREAU CAMPEN, MALIA LIU*, CADEN MALINOWSKI, SOPHIA MORAIS, ISABELLA NGUYEN, ANJALI PRABHAKAR, JOSHUA PRABHAKAR*, TALIA SANTIZO*
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT & HOUSE MANAGER REBEKAH RISK (’18)
GRAPHIC DESIGN JILL CARLSON
DIRECTED BY SOPHIA MCCANN (’15)
SETTING
A local Presbyterian church in a small, humble Midwestern town, modern day. It’s Christmas time, and the community is busy preparing for the annual Christmas pageant.
BIOGRAPHY
Sophia proudly attended Valley Christian High School, class of 2015, and from there went on to attend Azusa Pacific University’s BFA for Acting Major. After hearing from the Lord it was time to move back to the Bay Area, Sophia transferred to San Jose State University, where she graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Arts, Magna Cum Laude. Sophia has long dreamed of becoming a theatre teacher. She feels fulfilled and thankful to be able to coach and support young actors to become better artists, get better acquainted with themselves, and, most of all, discover their Creator.
THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Sophia McCann Director
CAST
Bob Bradley .................................................................................... MICHAEL LYNCH
Grace Bradley ..................................................................... MIRA CHAKRAVARTHY
Beth Bradley .................................................................................... SARAH VINOTH
Charlie Bradley .........................................................................MATTHEW SIENICKI
Ralph Herdman ..................................................................................... ERIK WLOKA
Imogene Herdman .............................................................................. HILLARY KAO
Leanne Herdman ............................................................ GWENDOLYN GRIFFITHS
Claude Herdman .............................................................................. VEDUR VERMA
Ollie Herdman ................................................................................................. LUKE LI
Gladys Herdman ....................................................................... YIXIN (STELLA) LIU
Alice Wendleken ....................................................................... AUDREY BORDERS
Maxine ........................................................................................................... ANNI WU
Doris .................................................................................... JULIANNA ROBERTSON
Janet .......................................................................................................... HALEY SUE
Roberta....................................................................... CHARLOTTE VAN DER VEEN
Beverly..................................................................................................... YUNYI CHEN
Shirley .................................................................................................... YUNYING WU
Juanita ............................................................................................. ANNABELLE TSE
Hobie ....................................................................................................... SERENA WU
Elmer Hopkins .............................................................................. JOSIAH WILLSON
Dani ......................................................................................................VANESSA TOW
Mrs. Armstrong ................................................................................. ALAINA GUPTA
Mrs. Slocum/Pastor Hopkins ................................................... AVIANNA NAZZAL
Mrs. McCarthy .................................................................... OLIVIA NAGY-HORNOK
Mrs. Clark/Fireman 1 .................................................................... REET NEJHAVAN
Mrs. Clausing/Fireman 2 ...............................................................CHLOE NYBERG
AFFIRMING THE ARTS Fall 2024
Oct 17-19...................... 24-26 Clue: High School Edition - HS Theatre
Oct 24.......................... Fall Strings Concert - JH/HS Strings
Oct 29.......................... Fall Choral Concert - JH/HS Choirs
Oct 30.......................... Sounds of Autumn - JH/HS Bands
Nov 7-9........................ The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - JH Theatre
Nov 21-23.................... Emerge: What is Christmas? - HS Dance
Dec 13-14...................... Kidservatory Musical Production - EL Theatre
Dec 16-19..................... Christmas at the California - K-12 Conservatory
Monday, December 16 - K-3 EL Choirs
Tuesday, December 17 - JH Music
Wednesday, December 184/5 EL Music, HS Band and Percussion
Thursday, December 19 - Creator of the Stars of Night: A Conservatory Christmas Finale
WARRIOR FUND
Tuition funds operations. Philanthropy fuels vision. Every gift makes a difference, so please consider donating to the Warrior Fund today.
UPCOMING EVENTS
uest Ball
presented by Extend the Gift
April 5, 2025
Join us for our annual Quest Ball dinner and auction. Enjoy a night to honor and celebrate the Warrior legacy and Extend the Gift for current and future Warriors. vcs.net/questball
May 12, 2025
We look forward to welcoming the VCS community for a round of golf and a day of fellowship at the annual Golf Classic. vcs.net/golfclassic
Wherever you may be, we’re always here to support our amazing alumni like you.
As you continue to make a positive difference in communities around the world, we want to stay connected! We currently have 29 ambassadors all over the country that have connected with fellow alums near them. This past year we have visited 11 cities across the US and look forward to hosting an alumni dinner near you soon. Simply scan the QR code and fill out our “Alumni Connect Form” to stay updated on news and events. Let us know about where you’ve been, where you’re headed and stay connected with us today!
Giving PLANNED
The Shechem Oak Society empowers our community to make an extraordinary impact on future generations. The society comprises all who generously bequeath legacy gifts to Valley Christian Schools.
God assured Abraham of keeping His promise to grant the land to Abraham’s descendants. Shechem holds a significant place in this narrative—it’s where Jacob excavated a well and erected an altar, where Joseph’s family laid his remains to rest, where Joshua delivered his parting words in service to the Lord, and where Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman at the well (Genesis 12:6, 33:18, Joshua 24:26, John 4:12). Shechem stands as a powerful symbol of God’s faithfulness across generations. We fervently pray that VCS, like Shechem, will serve as a reminder of God’s unwavering faithfulness in Silicon Valley and worldwide.
At a time when many American educational institutions are straying from biblical values, you can ensure that Valley Christian Schools continues its Quest for Excellence™ for future generations. Join us in providing high-quality Christ-centered education to our children and grandchildren by including VCS in your will.
VCS partners with Thompson & Associates to offer confidential and complimentary estate planning consultations to our board members, administrators, faculty, staff, and community. Join my wife, Kris, myself, and others in discovering the most tax-efficient means of transferring your estate to benefit your family and your passions.
As a trusted member of our VCS community, please accept our gift to you and arrange your estate planning consultation with Darren Penny of Thompson & Associates. You may email advancement@vcs.net or call my office at 408-513-2503. If you have already included VCS in your planned giving, kindly inform us so we may include you in our Shechem Oak Society.
Looking forward,
Clifford E. Daugherty, Ed.D. President
MISSION STATEMENT
Valley Christian Schools’ mission is to provide a nurturing environment o ering quality education supported by a strong foundation of Christian values in partnership with parents, equipping students to become leaders to serve God, to serve their families, and to positively impact their communities and the world.
VISION STATEMENT
A world where every student pursues their personal Quest for Excellence™
FOUNDING STATEMENT
Valley Christian Schools supports the homes and churches of students in providing an education that is grounded in the Judeo-Christian values of the Bible, as reflected in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Valley Christian Schools is committed to a Quest for Excellence™ in all of its educational programs, and provides a comprehensive kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum with a rigorous college preparatory program. Firmly founded on Christian values, Valley Christian Schools challenges youth to aspire toward lives of character, service, and influence while pursuing their individual Quests for Excellence
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