The Herdmans are the worst kids in the world. They lie, cheat, steal and smoke cigars. Then they invade the church Christmas pageant and bully their way into the lead roles. Will this be the best Christmas pageant ever, or just the most memorable?

That’s the premise of the Des Moines Playhouse’s holiday staple by Barbara Robinson, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

“For us, it’s what ‘The Nutcracker’ is to Stephens Auditorium,” says Lee Ann Bakros, public relations director for the Playhouse. “It’s really a holiday tradition for us here.”

This will be the 14th year the show has been performed at the Playhouse.

“Every year, we see some Iowa State students come down to take a break from finals,” she says. “Many of them remember reading the book when they were kids.”

Melissa Kellar is directing the play for the second year and will lead a cast of 70 — 61 of whom are children.

“We couldn’t do it without the parents,” Bakros says. “We call them ‘the child wranglers.'”

Bakros says the rehearsal schedule — five nights a week for five weeks — means many of the children do their homework at the theater.

“We have a study room and a playroom to keep them occupied when they’re not on stage,” she says. “The parents run those in addition to getting the kids where they need to be.”

“A lot of the kids come back year after year and graduate through the roles as they grow up,” Bakros says.

What: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

Where: Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd St., Des Moines

When: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday; Dec. 10-Dec. 19

Cost: $12, $14