For those tired of hearing the same old story every December, Brat presented a whole new story for the ages--the Philadelphia premiere of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant. This light-hearted look at America’s favorite celebrity religion featured a cast of 9 children portraying L. Ron Hubbard, TomKat, John Travolta, and the evil alien Xenu, among others.

Very Merry is much like a traditional Christmas pageant, only the baby is born in a manger in Nebraska and goes on to become a teacher, author, explorer, atomic physicist, choreographer, and finally head of an organization based around positive thought. While the musical elaborates on some of L. Ron Hubbard’s more fanciful endeavors, such as his science fiction writings and unusual beliefs, “Pageant” is primarily a tongue-in-cheek presentation, by a cast of dancing and singing kids, of Hubbard's life story and how he formed the Church of Scientology around a theory of embracing the “analytical mind” and rejecting the “reactive mind.”

Written by Kyle Jarrow and directed by Lee Ann Etzold, with a space-age kiddie rock score produced by Andrew Lipke.

"The production emerges triumphant, retaining its innocent sense of inquiry and buoyant good humor while making some pretty serious philosophical points." - Inquirer