For first time in 40 years, new director takes on Wichita Children’s Theatre’s ‘Pageant’
In the script for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” a novice takes over directing the production after its longtime director is unavailable.
Life is somewhat imitating art for Wichita Children’s Theatre & Dance Center, although Monica Flynn’s successor, Kelly Wonsetler, is hardly a newcomer to the production.
Flynn, the executive director of WCTDC, who marked her 40th anniversary directing the heartwarming family production last year, has stepped down and is succeeded by Wonsetler, who has been involved with the production since 1986 and has played the mother/pageant director for 12 years.
“I think she knows it’s in good hands, because I know how important it is to her,” Wonsetler said of Flynn, who is concentrating on spending the holidays with her family. “It’s near and dear to her heart.”
“Christmas Pageant” has six performances for school groups late next week, and two public performances next weekend. For younger children, WCTDC is staging a show for ages 2 and older, “The Runaway Snowman,” with performances continuing at 10 a.m. and noon Friday and Saturday.
Wonsetler will continue her on-stage “Pageant” role along with Kyle Vespestad, who has played the father for 10 years.
There will be no big changes with Wonsetler as director, she said.
“It’s just easier not making any huge changes,” she said.
In a 2023 interview with the Eagle, Flynn said WCTDC has staged “Pageant” longer than nearly any other theater company in the country, if not the longest.
In “Pageant,” a small town’s long-running church Christmas production is upended by a family of crude, impoverished and bullying siblings, the Herdmans, who only know of the church as a place to get treats.
When it comes time to cast the production, the Herdmans elbow their way into the roles of Mary and Joseph, the Wise Men and the angel.
“Those are pretty popular roles,” Wonsetler said of Wichita kids’ preferences. “Definitely the Herdmans are the coveted roles.”
Wonsetler said she and other veterans of the production have endeared themselves to “Pageant” because of its perspective.
“It’s such a heartwarming story,” she said. “It portrays life in a pretty realistic way when you think about it.
“There’s this event at the church and no one exactly knows what they’re doing, they’re just trying to do the best they can to put on a program. And here come these kids who have never been to church before much less heard the Christmas story,” Wonsetler continued.
“I think it helps everyone reimagine the Christmas story that maybe they take for granted, since they’ve heard it since birth. You think maybe there are people in our community who are clueless about all of it, and it’s the opportunity to share it with them. It’s inspiring for them and has deep, deep meaning. That’s eye-opening for everyone who’s taken it for granted.”
There’s been more interest in “Christmas Pageant” this year, Wonsetler said, and is uncertain whether a movie version of the story, released this fall, may have piqued interest.
“We had a ton of people audition,” she said. “I feel like it was the biggest group we’ve had in some time.”
Wonsetler, who hasn’t seen the film yet but promises to after the WCTDC production has concluded, said the double-cast show involves about 90 young people.
She said she’s glad it has remained a tradition for Wichita and for the children’s theater.
“It still works, just like the first time I saw it in 1986,” she said. “It’s still very relevant.”
‘THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER’
When: 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, and 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
Where: Performance hall, De Mattias Fine Arts Center, Newman University
Tickets: $9, by calling WCTDC at 316-262-2282
This story was originally published December 7, 2024 at 4:39 AM.