Opera House Players present ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical’

By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register

The magic of Christmas will makes its way to the Elkader Opera House the next two weekends, as the Opera House Players (OHP) bring to life Barbara Robinson’s classic story, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical.” 

It is another family-friendly production helmed by director Cheri Moser, and marks the second time she has directed the musical that follows the Herdmans, described as “the worst kids in the history of the world.” They have reputations for lying, stealing and bullying, and leave a trail of chaos and panic after they “stumble into Sunday school” in search of free snacks and take over the annual Christmas pageant. 

Soon, chaos and panic give way to the importance of compassion, community and redemption—all relatable sentiments. Behind the problematic Herdman children might just be the true meaning of Christmas. 

“The heartwarming message of the story really resonates—it’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. When the opportunity came up to direct it again, I jumped at the chance,” Moser said. “It’s full of laughter, but it also has a message that stays with you long after the curtain closes.”

Bringing that message to the stage is a mostly kid cast with 21 students and just four adults from across the region, including Elkader, McGregor, Monona, Marquette, Waukon, Guttenberg, West Union and Edgewood in Iowa, as well as Prairie du Chien and Boscobel, Wis. It’s also a cast that includes eight students from MFL MarMac, five Strawberry Point residents and one student from Clayton Ridge. 

Assembling a cast spread throughout the county is an extraordinary achievement, and though Moser admittedly doesn’t know how it happened, the fact it did makes her happy.

“Whether it’s word of mouth, friends inviting friends or parents joining in, it’s amazing to see such a mix of people coming together. I hope they have such a great experience that they’ll keep coming back. I drive 25 minutes one way to get to rehearsal each night, but it’s one of my favorite places to be. Hopefully others feel the same,” Moser said. 

The uniqueness of the cast is the youth, which comes with its own challenges, like working around school schedules and other commitments to get the full cast together for a rehearsal. That only happened about a week ago for rehearsals that started in October. 

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Moser said. 

Though scheduling has been tricky, it’s also been worth it.

“I love working with kids because I was one of them on this stage years ago. Growing up here gave me a lifelong love for the Elkader Opera House, and I want to pass that along,” Moser said.

One young face on the stage is Central fifth grader Ciera Gray, in her first big show. Gray’s previous experience was attending the weeklong theatre camp, “The Grunch,” in 2022, where she enjoyed being on stage, singing and just trying something new. 

When Gray auditioned for this musical, she just wanted to be in the play, auditioning for both a girl and boy part. She was selected to play Teddy Shoemaker, a wimpy kid with glasses who asks too many questions and gets bullied by the Herdmans. 

It’s a character Gray is “nervous,” but also “very excited” to play, while learning her lines and others and also listening to the music. 

“I can’t wait to play a girl sometime, but am happy being the shy, wimpy kid,” she said.

Gray also admitted, “I’m kind of dramatic at times, and when I’m on stage, that is my job: to play a role and be dramatic!”

Also making his debut on the OHP stage will be Clayton Ridge freshman Gavin Dettbarn, who auditioned out of a “love for acting,” as well as being inspired by his mom, who encouraged him to try out because it’s something he enjoys. But being a first timer comes with a side of nervousness and excitement, which Dettbarn manages by remaining calm and focused, taking deep breaths before going on stage. 

“Some of my biggest challenges as a first timer have been not fidgeting when I’m a bit nervous on stage and making sure I don’t turn away from the audience, but I’m working on it,” he said. 

Dettbarn plays Claude Herdman, a scrappy and smart 10-year old. It’s a role he wanted since it is “perfect” for him and a character he can bring to life by “acting tough and focusing on the attitude” of the character on stage. 

Dettbarn has enjoyed meeting new people and feeling the excitement of being on stage, which he said is “indescribable.” 

A returning performer, but making her debut in a lead role, is MFL MarMac sophomore Julia Grau. She started performing after watching her sister in OHP productions, which “struck a passion for the theater world.” 

A veteran of four previous shows, including the children’s theater production of  “Black Beards Pirate” (2016), “Matilda” (2021), “A Christmas Story” (2022), and “Peter Pan” (2023), she will take on a larger role in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” portraying Beth Bradley, an honest and kind 11 year-old daughter of Grace Bradley, the intrepid, yet reluctant, pageant director. 

“I am so excited for this next chapter in the opera house, but also a little nervous, as this is my first lead role. I knew that the time would be right when I would move up and take on a bigger part, but I’m just so thankful for Cheri Moser, who had chosen me to take on Beth Bradley,” Grau said. 

Then there is MFL MarMac senior Maria Stavroplus, who will perform in her 12th opera house show. She’s been involved since her mom signed her up for “Christmas Classics on Air” in 2013, and from that moment, she “fell in love with everything about the opera house.”

The show will mark Stavroplus’s last big OHP production, with just a smaller show left in the spring before she says goodbye to a place that has her heart. The kid heavy cast of the musical reminds her of when she was younger. Where they are was quite literally where she performed in the 2017 production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” 

“I know how important it is to be surrounded by compassionate individuals. I try my best to do exactly what they did for me,” Stavroplus said. 

On stage, Stavroplus will portray one of the church ladies, Betty, an older and sweet southerner who calls everyone “honey” and is “extremely judgmental” of the Herdmans and Bradleys. Though she didn’t specifically audition for the role, Stavroplus loves the part and is grateful for the opportunity because, “It is always fun to take on a character so unlike myself.”

As Stavroplus prepares to conclude her time on the OHP stage, she reflected on how “truly amazing” the people of the Opera House are and how hard it will be to say goodbye.

“I know my theatre journey doesn’t end here, but it will never be the same without these amazing people. It has played such a big role in my life,” she said. “If someone told me when I was five, auditioning for my first show, that the opera house would mean this much to me, I don’t think I would have believed them. Now, I can’t imagine my life without it.” 

“Above all, I will miss having Cheri as my director. I don’t think she’ll ever understand how much these years have meant to me,” she added.

Over 95 minutes, the cast, including a band made up of David Beck on piano, Craig Strutt on bass and Tom Chandler on woodwinds, will create a “dynamic and immersive” atmosphere. The audience will learn the true meaning of Christmas out of the chaos. 

To Gray, the meaning is “don’t judge a book by its cover,,” and for Dettbarn, it’s about “accepting others” and realizing “Christmas is a time to focus on giving and not getting. It’s a time for family.” 

Grau believes that, while Christmas is a magical time, sometimes you have to think of others and think about how you can make someone else’s day by just a simple gesture. “Even a kind ‘hello’ could impact one human life,” she said.

According to Stavroplus, “Good can come from the most unlikely places.” Like her castmates, she noted the importance of family at Christmas. “Christmas is such an important holiday to me. The holidays mean I get to spend time with my family all together.”

Moser echoed the sentiments of her young cast, stating, “It’s a story about acceptance, compassion and finding joy in unexpected places. I hope the audience leaves feeling uplifted and reminded of the true meaning of the holiday season—that love and kindness matter most.”

Performances of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical” will take place on Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and on Dec. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at elkaderoperahouse.com or at the door.