Chaos, comedy, and community collide as play preparations begin.
The stage lights are warming up, the scripts are worn from rehearsals, and the Bullitt East High School Drama Club is ready to take center stage with its latest production.
With its first-ever straight play, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Drama Club is showcasing what makes the group special: a community where students of all backgrounds and experience levels come together to create something unforgettable.
For many students, the Drama Club is more than just an extracurricular — it’s a community. The stage has become a space where friendships form, confidence grows, and creativity thrives.
“It gives you a chance to really, I mean, I think all the arts, especially like visual art and drama, just that self-expression, that place to find creatively who you are. But then also, I mean so many students spend 50 minutes, seven times a day, like in a desk, doing written work. And so, you know, drama education gives you a chance to learn in a different way,” choir teacher Carrie Gary said.
Drama Club is like a second home for a lot of students. Whether you’re building sets, running lights, or performing on stage, everyone’s contribution matters.
“I was always excited about drama club since elementary school,” Reece Caswell, junior drama club member, said. “It’s helped me work on my stage fright and my social awkwardness. I like being able to be myself and being surrounded by accepting people. It’s just always so fun.”
That sense of belonging extends to every student, whether they’re a lead actor, a tech assistant, or someone trying theater for the first time.
“I’m anxious to see how it comes together, because it is a very you’ve got freshmen, you’ve got seniors, you’ve got people. That’s the other good thing about after-school drama club. So my people that are in music theater, a lot of them have been together at least one year, because everybody’s done it for one year or two years or so. But when you have this after-school group, they come together, and you’ve got people from all across the whole school, like different friend groups, different grades, different everything, and they just come together to creatively make a piece,” Ms. Gary said.
“It’s extremely accepting,” Caswell said. “No matter how talented you are or if you’ve never touched a script in your life, we want you here. It’s not as small of a community as people think.”
That sense of community is now fueling excitement for the club’s upcoming fall production, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”, the first straight play the group has ever performed.
The play tells the story of a small-town church trying to put on its annual Christmas pageant — but things quickly spiral into chaos when the town’s most notorious troublemakers, the Herdmans, decide they want starring roles.
The result is a hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt tale about kindness, acceptance, and doing what’s right.
Rehearsals for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever began this week, and cast members say excitement is already building.
“I am really excited about the Christmas play, honestly. It’s the first time our club has done a straight play. If you don’t know what a straight play is, it’s a play that isn’t a musical, so no songs or dance numbers. Just acting!” Junior in drama club, Reece Caswell said.
Students are already diving into their characters and exploring the story’s humor and heart. From practicing timing to perfecting reactions, every rehearsal is a mix of laughter, learning, and problem-solving as the cast brings the Herdmans’ antics to life.
As opening night approaches, the Drama Club isn’t just ready to perform — they’re ready to remind the school what makes theater so special: a space where everyone can shine, be accepted, and create something together.
