The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Grace Bradley
Grace Bradley is hands down my favorite character - ever. She is loving, honorable, and determined. She is a woman of her word fulfilling the most challenging commitments with integrity and a touch of kindness. And her story parallels mine.
When we meet the Bradley family we learn that Grace’s children are campaigning to unburden themselves from the drudgery of performing in the town’s annual Christmas pageant. What they experience as torture Grace views as a sacred holiday tradition until the phone rings.
It is Edna McCarthy asking Grace to take over the direction of the Christmas Pageant because its director had been hospitalized. Much to the horror of her children Grace agrees and what ensues is the delightful story of a sleepy town’s mundane Christmas Pageant being magically transformed when it is invaded by a family of rag tag Herdmans. And what should have been the worst Christmas Pageant ever becomes “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. And it was all because Grace said, “Yes.”
In 1996 Bedford’s McKelvie School housed grades 5 - 8 including my oldest daughter Kate.
When she enrolled at the school I dutifully completed the volunteer form listing my directorial experience. Then one day my phone rang. It was McKelvie’s Volunteer Coordinator asking me if I would direct the school’s musical. The teacher who usually directed it was unable to fulfill his obligation that year and “If I did not do it the kids would not have a play.” And like my friend Grace Bradley I said “Yes.”
We performed “Bye Bye Birdie” with over 70 students to enthusiastic crowds. It was a whole lot of work, a whole lot of stress, and whole lot of kids (none of them Herdmans). I loved it. It rekindled my passion for working with children and for my love of theatre. The week after the curtain closed on “Bye Bye Birdie” I founded The Bedford Youth Performing Company - a place for kids - all kids to belong.
With one phone call both Grace Bradley and I made a life altering decision to honor a hometown tradition ensuring that it would continue motivated by our love of children - all children. And 23 years later I have dusted off those scripts once again to greet my ole friend Grace Bradley as we breathe life into her story of community and family, love and hope, acceptance and integrity, and tradition. Here’s to you Grace Bradley and to “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”.
Here are few words from one of my favorite actors, Stella Jaques, about portraying my favorite character - Grace Bradley.
