A family legacy continues at SAAC with the announcement of Caroline Callaway as director of the holiday production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” A native of El Dorado, Callaway continues in the footsteps of three generations of the Callaway family as she takes the reins of this classic stage play. For the show, which is slated onstage December 2-7 and is sponsored by Southern Bancorp, Amercable, and The Call, Callaway will also be joined by SAAC staffer John Lowery as assistant director.

Callaway is well known as the Director of Events and Community Engagement at South Arkansas College, but she is also notable for her appearances on stage and behind the scenes at SAAC. She has been a lifelong fixture at the South Arkansas Arts Center, where her parents, grandparents, sisters, and extended family have all played key roles. Many of them even participated in the 2003 production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” in which Caroline appeared as Doris. In recent years she has served on the SAAC Board of Directors, taught ballet, and appeared onstage in “Nunsense.”

“I was in ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ as a child, right here on the SAAC stage, and the opportunity to be returning now in this new role feels both exciting and humbling,” said Callaway. “It’s an honor to bring this beloved story back to life and to share in the magic of theater with a new generation of performers and audience members.”

Joining Callaway as assistant director is John Lowery, who spends his days as SAAC’s assistant executive director. Though he can often be found managing SAAC’s membership efforts and balancing the books, he is an equally formidable force as a creative leader. He’s previously served as assistant director of “Nunsense,” “The Addams Family,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” as well as the producer of many summer musicals.

“Even though I spend most of my time now on the business side of SAAC, I still consider myself one of SAAC theatre’s biggest fans,” said Lowery. “I love the opportunity to work with Caroline to bring this incredible show to life.”
Based on the book of the same name, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” focuses on the antics of the Herdman family as they insert themselves into a church’s beloved annual event. It’s a classic holiday tale of growth and acceptance, and one that audiences have responded to with enthusiasm for decades.

Auditions are scheduled for September 30 and October 2. For more information or to download an audition form, visit the audition page.