Actress returns to holiday play as adult

Off Stage Productions information

A local actress has more or less grown up with The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The play, currently being produced by Off Stage Productions, stars Amber Evans in the lead role of Grace Bradley, a mother who gets roped into directing the annual church Christmas pageant.

It’s the second time Evans has been in the play — the first time was when she was 15 and played Grace’s daughter, Beth, in the 1986 production of the play by Van Wert Civic Theatre. That production marked her acting debut and came when a substitute English teacher who directed the VWCT version heard her read in class and suggested she audition for the play.

The storyline of the play has personally affected Evans’ life, and it is her hope that it influences the lives of others. She has learned that there is more to a person than the side they choose to show the world.

“And sometimes, with a little patience and guidance, that inner person is able to reveal itself and touch someone else’s heart,” Evans said, with compassion. “It reinforces the old adage ‘do not judge a book by its cover’. It also shows the changes that can happen to a person when the Lord touches your heart.”

The play’s storyline is simple: Grace Bradley is talked into directing the annual church Christmas pageant, but little does she expect that her son will get all six Herdman children involved in the production.

The Herdman children are the worst children in the history of the world and normally just go around terrorizing the town; but now, somehow, they’ve also managed to hijack the Christmas pageant. As Grace, Evans portrays a very caring person who rises to the occasion whenever a challenge is presented to her — even when the occasion is corralling six ornery children.

Though she is not formally trained, Evans has held many rewarding and challenging roles in the history of her acting career through a variety of entertainment venues and under the direction of many seasoned actors and directors.

Her first show as an adult was with Stage Left Productions (known as Stagecoach Dinner Theatre) when she played Cassie Cooper in Rumors, while she has also had starring roles with Off Stage Productions and Van Wert Civic Theatre, and most recently was cast in the VWCT production of Wrong Window.

What brings Evans back to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the “bond” that develops through interaction with actors, stagehands, technical crew and directors — all of which make up a second family in theatre.

She is comfortable under the lights and attributes that feeling to the director and the professional acting advice offered to all involved

“It’s amazing how quickly everyone learns their lines and their blocking with so few rehearsals and although there are times when things get a little rowdy, we have been able to accomplish so much in a very short amount time and have fun doing it,” she said.

The show promises to delight every audience member, from the opening act to the unexpected heartwarming conclusion, but it also holds an unexpected bonus for Evans, who is excited to be working with her own son, Nathan, who (naturally) plays her son, Charlie Bradley, in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

“I really enjoy working with him as he has a very creative mind and this experience has added a whole new level in our relationship,” Evans said.

Fulfill a holiday experience with 49 cast members and a supporting crew of volunteers that have worked hard to make this production possible. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has an everlasting message that is sure to touch people’s hearts while tickling their funny bones at the same time.

Reserve tickets now for a timelessly themed production that is sure to pull at one’s heartstrings. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is written by Barbara Robinson and directed by Dan Bulau. Performances are set for Friday and Saturday, November 30, and December 1, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 2, at 2 p.m., at the Marsh Foundation Auditorium, 1229 Lincoln Highway in Van Wert.

Tickets are priced at $3 for children 12 and under, while adults’ tickets are $7. All tickets are on sale at 211 S. Walnut St. between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets will also be sold at the door, but, depending on demand, may not be available.

For more information, email info@offstagetheatre.com or call 419.605.6708.