By Marieke Andronache

Special to The Press

The thing was, the Herdmans didn’t know anything about the Christmas story.

They knew Christmas was Jesus’ birthday, but everything else was news to them - the shepherds, the Wise Men, the star, the stable and the crowded inn.

This is one of the most famous passages from Barbara Robinson’s 1971 children’s novel “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

The story focuses on the Herdman children, viewed by many as being nothing more than juvenile delinquents due to their unruly behavior and vices.

One day, the six siblings decide to attend Sunday School, primarily because of the snacks available to all participants.

To everyone’s dismay, the siblings decide to try out for all the key roles in the Christmas play.

What would happen next was an awakening not only to the Herdman children, but for the other play participants, as well as the audience.

Lauren Cella of Emmaus portrays Imogene Herdman for Cast 2.

“The Herdmans hearing the Christmas story for the first time is my personal favorite scene in the play, partly because I am acting in the scene and the ability it gives me to view the story differently, but mostly because it highlights how we as a Christian community sometimes struggle to extend grace to those who are different from us,” she said.

Cella is one of 54 young actors taking part in this year’s production of the “Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” under the production of Players of the Stage, 330 Schantz Road, Lower Macungie Township.

The production is split into two casts.

Over the last 22 years, POTS has developed a reputation that goes beyond being a simple youth theater group.

Founded and guided by the principals of God’s teachings, every production is carefully chosen to reflect those deep values that are the core of POTS.

Artistic Director is Sharon Barshinger Noel.

“With every production we hope our actors will grow in glorifying God in all that they do, doing their very best, all while having a blast doing it.

“This is accomplished through developing values and skills such as: empathy and connection, humility, using their gifts to bless others.”

Noel added their desire is for the audience to ask greater questions about life which will lead them to the Creator of life, The Lord Jesus Christ.

What the audience takes away from the show is also of importance to one of the young actresses in this year’s production.

Jenna Dobrowolski of Allentown portrays Imogene Herdman for Cast 1.

“The main thing people should take from the show is that God can change people in ways that make them see the whole world differently.

“Imogene, the character I play, was used to fending for herself and doing whatever she wanted to do no matter what it costs anyone else.

“But then she gets pulled into this story about a God who gave everything away to save her when she never deserved it.

“Like it says in the play, ‘For her, the Christmas pageant turned out to be all wonder and mystery, as if she just caught on to what Christmas was all about.’”

POTS is also known for giving back to a number of local charities within the Lehigh Valley community, more than $243,600 to date.

The proceeds for this production will go to Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Centers, Allentown and Easton, which help women facing unplanned pregnancies by providing both emotional and medical care.

According to POTS founder Elisabeth Barshinger, Bright Hope does important work, most notably providing key support for pregnant women who did not expected to find themselves with child. This is why they were chosen as the benefactors of this upcoming production.

“We are a youth theater that wants any child to know they are welcome to participate in our theater,” Barshinger said. “We want them to use their God-given talents to share with the audience the beauty of the theatrical arts.

“We also want to teach them to use their talents to bless our community. With this upcoming show, because of our actors and the generous audiences, we will have raised over a quarter of a million dollars for charity.

“In lieu of a ticket charge, we ask our audiences to give as generously as they can to the designated charity for that show.

“The largest amount we have raised in two weekends (10 shows) was over $17,000.

“Our goal for ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ is $15,000.”

The production opens Dec. 1 and runs through Dec. 10.

Show times are 7 p.m. Dec. 1-3, and 8-10; and 2 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10.

Free tickets can be reserved at playersofthestage.org.

All the donations will go to Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Centers.

“We put a lot of work into this show,” Dobrowolski said. “Everybody has sacrificed so much for this and it means a lot when people come to see what we’ve done.

“The show is really funny as well as communicating how God can change people.”

“Director Lindsay McClure said the play “speaks volumes of showing compassion toward those whom we may not understand.

“I hope audience members can walk away from the show feeling that pull of showing love to our neighbors, even the ones who may be hard to live next to,” McClure said.