Details
Union:
Union
Area of media:
Feature Film
Network:
Paid?:
Yes
Rates:
Actra + 135%
Deadline:
Oct 13, 2023
Auditions:
Dates to be confirmed
Shooting starts:
Dec 4, 2023 Early December, 2023
Shooting finishes:
Jan 24, 2024 Late January, 2024
Shooting locations:
Winnipeg and Area
Cities for response:
Winnipeg
Storyline
LOGLINE: The Herdmans were the worst kids in the world. The Best Christmas Pageant ever is the story of the outrageous shenanigans of those six misfit children who take over the annual Christmas Pageant and end up teaching the town the true meaning of Christmas.
Roles
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | IMOGENE | Female 11 - 14 Years old |
Description IMOGENE HERDMAN: to play 11yrs, Imogene is the unchallenged leader of the Herdman kids, all ofwhom were born with a mean streak and a talent for trouble. She will lie, cheat, steal, fight, andcuss to get what she wants. Imogene loves intimidating her peers. She hijacks the pageant byscaring all the other kids away from participating so that she and her family can be cast in the mainroles. Imogene takes on the role of Mary and sees acting as a way to escape her hard life andbecome someone new. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | BETH | Female 11 - 13 Years old |
Description BETH: to play 11yrs old, Beth is the type of kid who tries to fade into the background, follows therules and avoids trouble. Although terrified of the Herdman family, Beth begrudgingly helps them prepare for the pageant. She has to face her fears and step out of the background so that her mother doesn’t fail as pageant director. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting Lead | ALICE | Female 11 - 13 Years old |
Description Prim and proper, ALICE has played Mary in the Christmas Pageant for the last 3 years. But with Mrs. Armstrong not directing this year, and the Herdmans joining the show, Alice may find that she’s not the shoo in that she expects to be. CAUCASIAN | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | REVEREND HOPKINS | Male 40 - 52 Years old |
Description Kind and mild mannered, REVEREND HOPKINS is the head of the local church When the Herdman’s come to the church looking for sweets, Reverend Hopkins welcomes them with open arms, even if he is surprised to see them there. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | CHARLIE | Male 7 - 9 Years old |
Description CHARLIE: to play 7yrs, Beth’s younger brother, terrified of the Herdman family and the object of Leroy Herdman’s bullying. The Herdmans taking part in the Christmas pageant is his nightmare. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | RALPH | Male 12 - 14 Years old |
Description RALPH HERDMAN: to play 12yrs, gangly, adept at shoplifting, Ralph is the type of kid who will steal your lunch and then punch you for not having candy. Hearing that the church gives out free snacks, Ralph decides to check it out. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | LEROY | Male 9 - 11 Years old |
Description LEROY HERDMAN: to play 7 yrs, scruffy, scrappy and tough, fond of headlocks. Leroy never pays attention to teachers, parents, or the police. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | MRS. ARMSTRONG | Female 30 - 50 Years old |
Description MRS. ARMSTRONG has always been the go to when directing the Christmas Pageant. When she breaks both of her legs, she convinces Grace to take over directing duties. But Mrs. Armstrong’s shadow looms large and her ideas of “tradition” will put Grace’s convictions to the test. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | MISS GRAEBNER | Female 65 - 75 Years old |
Description The local librarian, MISS GRAEBNER, cannot believe her eyes when she sees all the Herdman kids standing in line before her desk. She is even more shocked to find out that they actually want library cards! OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | MRS. WENDLEKEN | Female 30 - 50 Years old |
Description Alice’s mother, MRS. WENDELKEN is a strict, firm, controlling, quick to judge woman who does not like the Herdman Children being a part of the pageant. Especially since the role of Mary (that her daughter had played for years), was recast to put the oldest Herdman child, Imogene, in her place. She has lost faith in Grace to be able to direct the pageant in a way worthy of the church. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | MRS. HOPKINS | Female 30 - 50 Years old |
Description Upon seeing the Herdman Children heading towards the church, MRS. HOPKINS freezes, but does her best to put on an optimistic smile. With her husband, Reverend Hopkins, she does her best to welcome the delinquent children into the church. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | CLAUDE | Male 9 - 11 Years old |
Description CLAUDE HERDMAN: to play 9yrs, bespectacled, likes to get in trouble with the rest of the Herdman family, especially Leroy, and known for “cussing out” his teachers (language not heard). He is very inquisitive when learning about his role and the meaning behind the pageant and most excited to get a “book license!” | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | OLLIE | Male 6 - 8 Years old |
Description OLLIE HERDMAN: to play 6 yrs, Ollie is a fearless troublemaker who never sits still and terrorizes teachers. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Supporting | GLADYS | Female 5 - 7 Years old |
Description GLADYS HERDMAN: to play 5 yrs old with wild red hair, the youngest of the Herdman family is fearless, tough, somewhat feral and can scare boys twice her size. Gladys plays the Angel of the Lord in the Christmas pageant and surprises everyone. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Large Principal | MRS. SLOCUM | Female 30 - 50 Years old |
Description One of the more nosy church ladies in town, MRS. SLOCUM is a member of the tribunal council of women; she participates in the the pageant inquisition. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Large Principal | PERMED WOMAN | Female 35 - 55 Years old |
Description This PERMED WOMAN is in shock that the Herdman children not only showed up to the church to be a part of the pageant, but that they were cast in the roles that they think THEIR children deserved. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Principal | MRS. THOMAS | Female 28 - 35 Years old |
Description MRS. THOMAS urges her son Robby to volunteer for the pageant and is confused when he refuses. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Principal | DAVID | Male 6 - 7 Years old |
Description DAVID is quite concerned about the chance of someone getting sick and not being able to perform at the pageant. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Principal | ROBBY | Male 8 - 10 Years old |
Description ROBBY wanted to be a part of the pageant but with Gladys around, he’s too scared to volunteer and makes up an excuse why he can’t. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | NEIGHBOR | All 35 - 47 Years old |
Description This NEIGHBOUR is concerned about the fire at the church. When they find out the Herdman Children have been spending time in church, they aren’t surprised by the disaster that followed. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | FIRST GRADE TEACHER | Female 22 - 30 Years old |
Description This FIRST GRADE TEACHER is getting ready to do show and tell with the class. When Ollie Herdman offers to go first, she fears the worst and he delivers. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | PARENT 2 | Female 40 - 45 Years old |
Description This PARENT believes the worst about the Herdman children. They don’t want them anywhere near the church. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | PARENT | Male 40 - 45 Years old |
Description As the firemen are looking for the source of the smoke coming from the church, this PARENT shows their discomfort with having the Herdman children participating in the pageant. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | WOMAN | Female 35 - 54 Years old |
Description When smoke is seen coming out of the church, this WOMAN is quick to blame the Herdmans. She thinks very little of them. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | MS. WARREN | Female 21 - 25 Years old |
Description MS. WARREN teaches Sunday School at the church and asks the children to draw what they like about being at Sunday School. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | FIREMAN | Male 30 - 40 Years old |
Description Wherever there is a fire in town, you'll find these firemen and the Herdman children... This particular FIREMAN is there to help with the fire at the church. They, like most of the town, sees the Herdman children as little menaces. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | BECKY | Female 7 - 9 Years old |
Description When Ms. Warren asks the kids what they like best about Sunday School, BECKY gives a great answer. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | MR. ARMSTRONG | Female 55 - 60 Years old |
Description MR. ARMSTRONG sits beside his wife watching the pageant unfold. It's much different than the ones that she has put on and although he loved her version, he appreciates some of the honest quirks that the Herdman children are bringing out in the story. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | MINNIE | Female 6 - 7 Years old |
Description MINNIE has her front teeth missing, that is why she has a hard time pronouncing words.....so cute. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | NURSE | Female 28 - 33 Years old |
Description When Ollie comes into the school nurses office, this NURSE cant believe he has pussywillows growing out of his ear! OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | TICKET TAKER | All 16 - 17 Years old |
Description This TICKET TAKER at the local movie theatre is oblivious to the fact that the best performance of the day goes to The Herdman's. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | BABY ANGEL | All 5 - 6 Years old |
Description This BABY ANGEL gets poked in the eye by Shirley's wing - it's only the beginning of the backstage chaos! OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | BALD MAN | Male 37 - 59 Years old |
Description This BALD MAN makes some, what he believes to be clever, commentary on the Herdman boys playing The Wisemen. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Actor | FIRE CHIEF | Male 48 - 55 Years old |
Description The FIRE CHIEF arrives at the church and wants to know what started the fire. OPEN ETHNICITY | ||