"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is a heartwarming and humorous play written by Barbara Robinson. The story revolves around the annual Christmas pageant of a small town, which is thrown into chaos when the notoriously misbehaved Herdman siblings decide to join in.

The Herdmans are known for their unruly behavior and their reputation precedes them. When they hear about the free snacks and refreshments offered at the church's Christmas pageant rehearsals, they show up in full force, surprising everyone with their interest. Despite protests from the other children and adults involved in the pageant, the Herdmans take over the lead roles, including Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, and even the angel.

Initially, chaos ensues as the Herdmans bring their unique and unorthodox approach to the production, causing disruptions and raising eyebrows among the more traditional participants. However, as rehearsals progress, the Herdmans' involvement begins to have a profound impact on everyone involved. Through their raw and unfiltered interpretation of the Christmas story, they manage to bring new life and meaning to the pageant, touching the hearts of those around them.

Ultimately, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is a story about the true spirit of Christmas, emphasizing the importance of acceptance, understanding, and compassion. It teaches that even the most unlikely individuals can contribute to the magic of the holiday season and reminds us that Christmas is about love, joy, and the unexpected moments of grace that can transform our lives.

Spawned by the efforts of Buckhannon-Upshur High School students and the high school’s vocal music teacher and choir director, James Knorr, BCT took to the stage for the first time in 1971 with the production that began as an effort to continue to have musical theater shows during the summer.. The effort was successful, as people of all ages and backgrounds became actors, singers, dancers, directors, stagehands, and costumers in order to put together a “Broadway-style” show for the community.

In 1972, Buckhannon Community Theatre was chartered as a non-profit organization, developed and adopted organizational by-laws, and held our first election of officers, including executive board members, from its general membership.

We have since expanded from summer-only productions to producing shows throughout the year.