From left, Kaitlin Yando, Eleanor Crowley and Madison Wilcox present a different take on the Nativity story. Crowley plays Imogene Herdman, a misunderstood child who makes a ruckus in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” (Photo provided by Pendragon Theatre)

SARANAC LAKE – Pendragon Theatre is taking a walk on the wild side this holiday season with its production of Barbara Robinson’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

First published in 1971 as a short story under the title of “The Christmas Pageant,” and later reworked into a now classic children’s book, television movie and stage play, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” follows the trials and tribulations of rehearsing and presenting a Christmas pageant. Characters include baby angels unsure of their cues, unwilling bath robe clad shepherds and the Herdmans. The Herdman children range in age from 13 to 7. They live in Any Town, USA and, according to Director Kent Streed, “They are that wild and rowdy family we’ve all been fearful of … and fascinated by. They are an unruly, thieving, cussing, cigar smoking, lunch stealing family and their participation in the traditional Christmas pageant means just one thing. The manger will never be the same.”

Pendragon regulars and many members from surrounding communities make up the cast of 25. Children in the cast are Logan Baker, Ashley Brewer, Kelsi Burth, Tyler Burth, Kasey Clark, Sam Clark, Summer Cranker, Eleanor Crowley, Sabine Denkenberger, Trey Myles Frantz, Emily Gay, Kalen Halasz, Oliver Halasz, Lindsay Macreadie, Morgan Olsen, Madison Wilcox and Kaitlyn Yando. Adults include Brandy Clark, Joy Cranker, Jessica Deeb, Josie Good, Sunita Halasz, Christopher Leifheit, Donna Moshek, Peggy Orman and Barry Ramsey.

Performances are scheduled for the following dates and times: Dec. 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 10 and 17 at 2 p.m.

Ticket prices: Everybody 18 years of age and older: $16, ages 6 to 17: $12 and kids under 6: $5. To purchase advance tickets, visit www.pendragontheatre.org or call 518-891-1854. Pendragon Theatre is located at 15 Brandy Brook Ave.