Dec. 24, 2013:  This evening, Tuesday, December 24, at 5:30 pm, the 99th Bronxville Village Christmas Pageant will take place on the hillside in front of The Reformed Church of Bronxville. 

Following a long-established custom, adult representatives and youth from local churches and civic organizations will fill the roles of the Holy Family, angels, and shepherds. 

Glenn Bellitto, Eastchester town councilman, will play the role of Joseph this year. The three wise men will be played by Dave Ruby, Tim McGrath, and Bill Gay. Mary will be played by Lily O’Neill, a high school senior. Mary will ride a live donkey to the crèche. The manger angel will be Sophie Pingel.

Stoddart Platt, lead shepherd, will lead the group of shepherds to Bethlehem. Henry Palermo and Stephen Shoemaker will be shepherd boys who will point to the crèche and wave to the crowd to behold the sight. The shepherds are Dan Johnson, Joseph Godfrey, Tom Romo, Daniel Romo, Spencer Pingel, Rory Pingel, and Murdoch McBride.

Angels will be played by Hilary Rizzo, Kate Ferone, and Bridget Reilly from St. Joseph's Church, Peyton Elder, Kathleen Conaton, Charlotte Reynolds, and Lucy Whitney from Christ Church, Neyomie Alberto from GoldenSword International Fellowship Church, and Gretchen Richter, Zoe Klimley, Celia Haims, Sabina Richter, and Grace Winant from The Reformed Church of Bronxville.

The following ministers from seven local churches will give readings:  The Reverend Lamont S. Granby, First Baptist Church; The Reverend Ken Ruge, The Reformed Church of Bronxville; The Reverend Cari Pattison, The Reformed Church of Bronxville; The Reverend John M. Barrett, West Center Congregational Church; The Reverend Michael A. Bird, Christ Church Bronxville; Bishop Derek Owens, GoldenSword International Fellowship Church; The Reverend Peter McGeory, St. Joseph's Church; and Vicar Morris Mayer, Village Lutheran Church.

Maryann Palermo will again lead the Invisible Choir, which will sing "Gloria in Excelsis Deo." In addition to the music of the Invisible Choir, there will also be a brass quartet led by Wyn Walshe, and carols will be sung under the leadership of Dale Walker. Lighting and technical assistance will be provided by Jeff Kastenbaum and Rick Everett. The Christmas trees will come from Danny's Trees in Eastchester. 

The original pageant was the creation of William Chauncy Langdon, a well-known international pageanteer. At the turn of the twentieth century, pageants were a popular form of entertainment throughout Europe. Mr. Langdon, who was American, lived and worked abroad for many years. At the outset of World War I, many Belgians were displaced. Though the United States had not yet entered the war at the time the play was written, sympathy existed for the Belgian refugees, and the play was presented at Christ Church Bronxville to raise funds for the benefit of the Belgians. The original version was called The Bronxville Christmas Mystery. It was presented on a triple stage, the three levels corresponding to the local (Bronxville), the worldwide (Belgium), and the universal (Bethlehem). The production was a huge success and has continued to be performed in an adapted form.

The pageant is supported by donations from the local community. If you are interested in contributing, please send your contribution to Bronxville Village Christmas Pageant, PO Box 397, Bronxville, NY 10708. If you wish to volunteer, please contact the pageant at 914-337-0581. 

The pageant committee is looking forward to its centennial celebration in 2014. In anticipation of the centennial, we are collecting stories, memories, and photographs from the community of past pageants. We are interested in hearing from those who acted in the pageant itself as well as from those who attended.  Many Bronxvillians have fond Christmas memories of the event. If you have a story to share, please send it to the address in the previous paragraph. 

Pictured here:  Students performing as angels during a past Bronxville Village Christmas Pageant.

Photo by Melinda Burge