The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Danielle Hoetmer

Lorelei Olivia Mote

A Shenandoah University graduate and her daughter are starring as a mother and daughter in the new movie “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” which opens in theaters November8th..

The 99-minute film is based on the 1970s children’s book by Barbara Robinson

“It is a really special movie with a great message, and I think it might be a new Christmas classic for a lot of people,” said Danielle Hoetmer, an SU Class of 2000 alumna who plays Mrs. Wendelken in the movie.

Set in a small town, the storyline follows preparations for a local church’s Christmas pageant. The children of the Herdman family, who are known as delinquents and misfits, quickly become the main focus when they get involved in the production, much to the dismay of longtime church-goers.

Hoetmer’s daughter, 11-year-old Lorelei Olivia Mote, plays Alice Wendelkin, daughter of Mrs. Wendelken. The Wendelkins frown upon families like the Herdmans.

“My character, she thinks she has the right point of view the whole time, but actually she is not having the nice point of view, not being open to change at all,” Mote said.

Hoetmer describes the movie’s message as heartwarming and revolving around “the true meaning of Christmas.”

The mother and daughter have been in other productions together and separately, but this marks their first time portraying a mother-daughter duo in a movie.

The two California residents were cast alongside Judy Greer, Pete Holmes and Lauren Graham, among others. It is a Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company movie that was directed by Dallas Jenkins, who is best known as the director of “The Chosen,” a Christian historical drama.

Hoetmer said they all had a great time on set, laughing and breaking character during rehearsals often.

“All the kids were immediate friends,” Hoetmer said. “Like, it was incredible how fast they became friends on set.”

Hoetmer and Mote were elated when they heard that Graham, who played Lorelai Gilmore in the TV series “Gilmore Girls,” was cast as the movie’s narrator. Though Graham was not there often, given that her role was primarily voice-over work, it was especially exciting to be in a movie with her, since Mote, whose first name is Lorelei, was named after the leading character in “Gilmore Girls.”

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” was filmed during the holiday season last year in Winnipeg, Canada, where it was chilly and snowy. Hoetmer said the producers didn’t want to fake the snow.

“That was my first time actually seeing snow fall,” Mote said.

Mote has lived in Los Angeles her whole life, and while she has yet to visit her mother’s college alma mater in Winchester, the whole family is planning a trip in the spring.

“I miss the Old Town,” said Hoetmer, who grew up in Northern Virginia. “It’s so cute there.”