Description

An easily staged Christmas drama, with no spoken lines other than narration, shows how the first Christmas was much more then the birth of a baby, it was the delivery of salvation’s plan.
Uses narration, singing, dance and mime, with all actors moving into a nativity scene for the finale.
Includes music.

Cast: 20+
5 on-stage narrators (these are the only actors with speaking parts)
choir
(who sing)Mary
Joseph
Gabriel the angel
3 wise men
angels
shepherds

Set: Set is divided into sections by lighting
From right to left: 1) choir stage / 2) desert scene for wise men / 3) center nativity scene / 4) pasture scene for shepherds / 4) narrator stage
Appropriate backdrops for sets 2, 3 and 4 would be useful:
– desert scene backdrop would include camels, etc
– nativity scene would have a stable, bright star above, night coloration
– pasture scene would include sheep, a hill, with the town of Bethlehem above

Lighting: preferably three follow spots

Sound: standing mics with music stands for choir and narrators
IMPORTANT NOTE: ensure that there are adequate, and well-positioned mics for speakers and readers, and that the use of the mics are practiced in advance!
Song: “More Than a Child” *Words and Music by Lawrence Keith Holder. © 1997 Lawrence Keith Holder (Larry Holder Music, ASCAP)
http://songsofpraise.org/song.php?songid=343
* Additional verses added, written by DramaShare

Costumes: traditional costumes (shepherds, angels, wise men, etc.) for all except choir and narrators who would be dressed rather formally, as in white shirts/blouses and black slacks

Special Instructions:
We are suggesting that dancers be used to enhance the drama during the singing. This should NOT be overdone, simple “human video” type movements are best

Sample of script:

lights up on extreme stage right where choir are standing

Song: More Than a Child

More than a child, born in the hay,
Jesus, my Lord, on that first Christmas day.
More than the son of a carpenter man:
You carried the weight of the world in Your hand.

For You are the Hope of my soul,
All that I see, and all that I know.
In You there is peace in my life,
For one day You came, as angels proclaimed,
The Light of the world for us all.

More than a star shining that night,
More than the shepherds amazed by the sight,
More than three wise men with riches of gold,
You, the Messiah, the prophets foretold
Would come, bringing newness and life,
Freedom from sin, deliv'rance from strife.
In You there is peace evermore,
For one day You came, as angels proclaimed,
The Light of the world for us all.
Yes, one day You came, as angels proclaimed,
Redeemer and Lord of us all!

lights down on choir stage, up 25% on center stage
At center stage is the nativity scene acting location, at stage right is the pasture scene for the shepherds, at stage left is a desert scene for wise men
At extreme stage left is the 5 Narrators (N) who will have standing mics and music stands.
At extreme stage right is the choir who will have adequate music stands and mics

lights up slightly at center stage

N1: The birth of Jesus took place like this. . .

lights at center stage up a little more, Mary wanders onto center stage

N2: Mary, a young girl, probably only 12 years of age, was seemingly unprepared for the assignment God had in mind for her.

N3: But God knows not only the mind, but the heart of man.

Gabriel comes on stage, Mary is startled

N4: God sent the angel Gabriel to make a life changing announcement to Mary

Gabriel mimes speaking, Mary shows shock

N5: The announcement that Gabriel made to Mary was both shocking and frightening.

N1: Gabriel told Mary she would become pregnant and have a son.

N2: Mary? . . Have a child? . . .

N3: How could this happen? . . Mary was single! . . Surely this was impossible!

N4: From the announcement which Gabriel made, one thing was clear:

N5: This was not impossible. . . it was going to happen . . and soon!

N1: And there was more! . . Not only would Mary have a son, but her child was to be the son of God!

N2: The promised Messiah no less!

N3: How could this be? . . . There must be some mistake!

N4: Gabriel assured Mary that this was part of God’s great plan for his people.

N5: Hesitatingly Mary realized that God had asked her to serve, and serve she would.

Choir sings “Mary’s Song” while Mary, at downstage center, reflects, (do not over-act, less movement is better).
dancers perform at upstage center and to the sides of Mary, do not come too close to the actor or block the view from the audience.
Dancers use very soft, slow, gentle movements.

Mary’s Song:

The angel came, I am so blessed
Honoured and grateful, so why do I cry?
I promised to do what you asked of me
But is there not someone more able than I?

The child, the Redeemer of all
Your only Son, Messiah adored
In him is the promise made flesh
The hope of the world, my saviour and lord
The light of the world for us all.

at close of song Mary kneels, bows, freezes at downstage center

N1: Mary accepted her role.

This entire script is available free of charge to DramaShare members or non-members may purchase the individual script