By Sarah Normand and Ruth Walter, Co-Chairs, Bronxville Christmas Pageant Committee

Dec. 23, 2015:  On Christmas Eve at 5:30 pm, the annual Bronxville Christmas Pageant will take place on the hillside in front of The Reformed Church of Bronxville on Pondfield Road. Last year was the pageant's 100th anniversary.

Stable animals, angels, and actors for Mary and Joseph will be among the pageant performers. Seven churches in Bronxville will come together, as they do every year, to celebrate, sing carols, and watch the living nativity unfold. The manger animals will once again include a camel for the Wise Men to lead.

This year, the pageant is co-chaired by Ruth Walter and Sarah Normand, succeeding Susanne Shoemaker, who served as chair for twenty years. The pageant is a large undertaking that includes more than 30 performers and involves many dedicated volunteers from the community.

The Virgin Mary will be played by Celia Haims, and Joseph will be Robby Martin. The manger angel will be played by Bella Rodriguez. The three Wise Men will be played by Tom Nichols, Paul Shoemaker, and Tim McGrath. The McGrath family has attended and participated in the pageant for over 85 years.

Adult shepherds are provided by the Saturday Morning Men's Group of The Reformed Church, led by Dan Johnson. The shepherd boys will be played by Liam Sands and Peter McSherry.

The angels will be Eva Cagliostro, Kathleen Conaton, Megan Ferrone, Ansley Jones, Hilary Rizzo, Lucy Rizzo, Grace Randall, Sabina Richter, Caroline Spitz, Emily Spitz, and Grace Stephens.

Dale Walker will, once again, serve as song leader. Sisters Grace and Sarah Winant, who led the singing last year, will participate in the invisible choir, which is led by Maryann Palermo.

This year's brass accompaniment will be provided by the Westchester Brass Quartet, led by Howard Levy, and will also include Ed Seldin and Jack Binder on trumpet and Howard Levy and Art Triggs on trombone.

Joanne Daddario will ring the tower bells. Scouts are provided by Troops 1 and 2, under the direction of Bill Chilson.

Charlie Diserens will bring his theater talents as stage manager. Lighting and sound are provided by Jeffrey Kastenbaum and Rick Everett.

The pageant began as a benefit to raise funds for Belgian refugees displaced during World War I. William Chauncy Langdon, a resident of Bronxville and a well-known international pageanteer, conceived an original work, The Bronxville Christmas Mystery 1914. The pageant as we know it today was originally held on the hillside of the Gramatan Hotel facing the train station; it was moved to the hillside of The Reformed Church in 1940.        

The pageant is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Bronxville community, which contributes 100% of the funding.

A special thanks to Betty Hewitt, who organized this year's solicitation. Many others have contributed to the pageant in many ways. We are very grateful to all for your support.  

Warm weather and a full moon should make this year's pageant especially beautiful. Come sing and enjoy the pageant!

Pictured here:  The pageant nativity scene in a previous year.

Photo courtesy Sarah Normand