In Southside Theatre Guild’s production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Grace Bradley, played by Missy Gossett, learns how difficult it is to produce her church’s annual Christmas pageant. Her task is even harder when the Herdmans, a group of loud, messy and rude brothers and sisters, join the cast. Of course, as anyone who has ever been in a play before, the show does come together and the children not only get a look at the magic of theater but also witness the magic of Christmas itself.

The production at Southside Theatre Guild features a large cast of energetic and eager young actors from Fayette, Coweta, Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton counties and more. Gossett is joined by Boone Smith, Destinee Muller and John Roberts as the rest of the Bradley family, while Caleb Roberts, Laura Roberts, Joshua Roberts, Katrina Towne, Kennedy Kemp and Annie Copeland play the Herdmans.

The show is directed by Marian Johnson and features a solid and experienced crew handling the lights, costumes, props and wrangling a gaggle of shepherds and baby angels.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” opens tomorrow night and runs Thursdays-Sundays through Dec. 16. Performance times are 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets for the first weekend are $14 in advance and $15 at the door for adults and are $16 in advance and $17 at the door for the second weekend. Tickets for children (ages 12 and under) are always $8. Visit www.stgplays.com to reserve your tickets today or phone 770-969-0956.