Come meet the cast of the Oswego Players’ final production of 2025! The 28 enthusiastic actors range in age from 5 to 60+ and will perform “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at the Frances Marion Brown Theater in Oswego. Performance times and dates are 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, December 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th, and 2pm Sundays, December 7th and 14th.
“This was an exceptionally challenging casting process,” Director Jennifer Hitchcock said. “All those who attended gave excellent auditions, and it was difficult to choose any one individual over another. Now that job is complete, we have an outstanding cast to bring out the fun of the play and the joy of the Christmas spirit to Oswego audiences.”
The story centers on the interactions of two families – the Bradleys and the Herdmans. Grace Bradley, played by Alyssa Clavelli, struggles to put on a church Christmas pageant as she is faced with prospect of casting the Herdmans – probably the most inventively awful kids in history. Grace is supported by her husband Bob (Josh DeLorenzo) and her two children Beth and Charlie, played by Parker Nesbitt and Este Bareto respectively. However, her best efforts are challenged by the demonic behavior of the Herdman kids played by Alex Wallace (Ralph), Meg Adelman (Imogene), Mallory Gordon (Leroy), Helen McDonald (Claude), Abby Adelman (Ollie) and Catelyn Adelman (Gladys).
The riotous situation is equally supported and undermined by Annilea Murphy (Alice), Christina Burnswick (Mrs Armstrong), Sarah Adelman (Mrs Slocum), Kaleigh Hartle (Mrs Clark and Beverly), Jill Sawyer (Mrs Clausing and Fireman 1), Chloë Hill (Mrs McCarthy), Brook Samson (Maxine), Charlie Thompson (Elmer), Charlotte Gilkey (Hobie), Averyanna Wilson (David), Rachel Gordon (Janet), Ella King (Roberta), Gene Stone (Fireman 2), Jemma Sawyer (Shirley), Reuben Wheat (Juanita), Abraham Patrick (Doris), Charlotte Hitchcock (Baby Angel Charlotte) and Troy Pepper (Reverend Hopkins).
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc www.concordtheatricals.com
This project is made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.
For more information and ticket sales please go to https://oswegoplayers.org/ or for phone reservations please call the Box Office at 315-343-5138.
Pictured are some of the cast members in the Oswego Players’ forthcoming production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. Front (l-r): Reuben Wheat, Charlotte Gilkey, Jemma Sawyer, Mallory Gordon, Ella King, Catelyn Adelman, Abraham Patrick, Kaleigh Hartle; Center (l-r): Jill Sawyer, Parker Nesbitt, Rachael Gordon, Alex Wallace, Abby Adelman, Helen McDonald; Back (l-r): Gene Stone, Chloë Hill, Christina Burnswick, Brook Samson, Annilea Murphy, Meg Adelman, Troy Pepper