SPRING VALLEY – With one weekend of performances under their belts, the cast of Spring Valley Stagehands’ “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” brings this Christmas classic to life with charismatic, hilarious and heartwarming performances.

Directed by Liz Erickson, this is the fourth time the Stagehands community theatre group has performed “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” It has been onstage in Spring Valley in 2014 and 2004, and once before, Erickson said.

“My goal was to have everyone that tried out to be on stage,” Erickson said in the program introduction. “Like Mrs. Armstrong says, ‘There are no small parts just small actors.’ This has been an adventure directing a play within a play.”

This Christmas classic tells the story of Grace Bradley, who is thrown under the bus by her fellow church ladies when they volunteer her to direct the church’s annual Christmas pageant. The usual director, Mrs. Armstrong, broke her leg and is hospitalized, so someone has to do it, much to Mrs. Armstrong’s and Grace’s dismay. And as if things couldn’t get any worse, the neighborhood bullies, the Herdmans, show up during auditions and snag the pageant’s lead roles when all they were looking for was refreshments.

Erickson has done an excellent job of wrangling many young actors into a cohesive, funny play within a play, much like the character of Grace. These young stars shine bright on the Spring Valley stage, with comedic abilities some adults can never master. Frankie Hudson, who plays Imogene Herdman/Mary, has mastered the art of menacing bully turned sentimental child. Eva Hudson, who plays Gladys Herdman, is a crowd favorite as the irrepressible and somewhat irreverent “Angel of the Lord.” Maci Mlynarczyk impresses as Beth Bradley, the narrator, with her quick wit and engaging portrayal. Some kids are playing the roles their parents played 10, 20 years ago. It’s becoming a beloved Stagehands’ tradition to bring this classic young adult novel to life every few years.

For families looking for an affordable, fun and memorable holiday outing, look no further. Plus it’s a great way to support a robust local theatre program that has brought life and joy to the historic Spring Valley Theatre. Their fundraising efforts in the past year or so have allowed them to replace the marquee out front and install a new sound system, bringing the vintage theatre into the modern age.

Remaining showtimes are 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 and 2 p.m. Dec. 21. You can purchase tickets at www.svstagehadns.org or at the door, though performances have been selling out.