Berwyn, PA – November 2014 – Four members of the Wayne, Pa.-based Hillman family will be donning Christmas apparel, singing carols, and, yes, tripping the light fantastic when Footlighters presents the hilarious holiday tradition The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, playing December 5 through 20.
Abigail Hillman plays Grace Bradley, a likable mom whose limits are tested when she gets saddled with directing her church’s children’s Christmas pageant that has suddenly inherited six new cast members, the Herdman siblings. The Herdmans are, as dubbed by a young narrator, “the worst kids in the history of the world.”
Mark Hillman, real-life husband to Abigail, has the role of Bob Bradley, Grace’s husband and calming influence.
“My father read the book to me when I was a child,” says Abigail. “And then he read it to our kids. We all love the story.”
So when the Hillmans saw the audition notice in Main Line Neighbors, 10-year-old twins Reese and Emmett Hillman were anxious to try out. Reese got the role of Beverly, and Emmett plays a shepherd. Four-year-old Trenor opted out of this production.
“Mark and I auditioned as afterthoughts,” says Abigail. Although she spent much of her childhood on stage in the DC area, Mark spent a lot of time backstage at the community theater shows his parents produced in his hometown of Chicago. Outside of the theater, Abigail is a private tutor and writing coach. Mark works in thought leadership and content marketing for Accenture (formerly Procurian/ICG Commerce). Emmett performs with the Keystone State Boychoir, and Reese is a passionate musician who plays piano, viola, and clarinet and sings with the Pennsylvania Girlchoir.
All four cast members, who are recent transplants to the area from Boston, are thrilled to be in the show together. “We run lines at the dinner table,” points out Mark. And Abigail adds, “It’s great family time.”
This holiday season, check out this classic at Footlighters.
Tickets $16 for adults, $8 for youth.
Remaining Shows 8:00pm December 12, 13, 19 and 20
Matinee Shows 2:00pm December 13, 14 and 20
ABOUT FOOTLIGHTERS THEATER
Footlighters Theatre is the Main Line’s oldest community theater providing premier theater arts productions for the region. We produce a six show season of plays including two musicals in an intimate 110-seat historical converted church that dates back to 1888. We are committed to both producing outstanding productions and the education of our community in the theatrical arts. We are a 501c3 non-profit entity and welcome individual donations and corporate partnerships by those persons and companies that wish to promote arts in our community. Founded in 1929, we celebrate our 86th season in 2014-15.
PRESS CONTACTS
Carl Lotz, President (610) 203-9800 | carl@graphicartsimaging.com
Sue Scott, Publicity (610) 676-1753 / sscott@seic.com
Theater/Organization FOOTLIGHTERS THEATER
Theater/Organization Website: http://footlighterstheater.com
Theater/Organization Address: 58 Main Avenue Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312 (Map It)
Theater/Organization Phone: (610)296-9245
