 | Christmas Pageant |
| Many speaking parts |
| Theatre for the Church |
| Intergenerational |
| Congregation participation |
This Pageant draws from the Christmas story found in Luke as well as from the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran Theologian martyred in Nazi Germany. There are many important parts for many participants, both young and old. Both humorous and poignant, it is well received. It is written to glorify Christ, of course.
Characters:
DAD M. 30-45. Not too bright but thinks he’s quite clever.
SON M. 10-14. Is clever, quite. Patient with his dad.
VOICE M. 30-99. Low, rumbling sound.
LIZ F. 11-15. One of Mary’s best friends. Thinks about boys.
AMANDA F. 11-15. One of Mary’s best friends. Concentrates on boys.
MYRANDA F. 11-15. One of Mary’s best friends. Meditates on boys.
CHRISTINA F. 11-15. One of Mary’s best friends. Revels in boys.
LINNEA F. 5-8. Little sister of one of Mary’s best friends.
MARY F. 14. Mother to be. Sweet, sincere.
GABRIEL F/M. Ageless. Small, but can project enormous rage/compassion.
PROT…G… Gabriel’s charge. Observant and learning.
JOSEPH M. 35. A little conceited. Not altogether there.
SHEPHERD 1 F/M. 7-9. Smallest of the three brothers. Concerned and capable.
SHEPHERD 2 M. Audience Volunteer.
SHEPHERD 3 M. Audience Volunteer.
CAPT. F/M. 4-7. Commander without a command.
SHEEP 1 F/M. 4-7. Scared.
SHEEP 2 F/M. 4-7. Hungry.
SHEEP 3 F/M. 4-7. Wheezy.
KINGS M. Three Audience Volunteers
Music:
Magnificat: (Boy Soprano)
And the Angel Said Unto Them: (Countertenor)
Glory to God: (Quartet SATB)
Away in a Manger: Amanda Norman
Neil Hulbert’s organ on Messiah. His piano for Lo, How a Rose ‘er Blooming, Away in a Manger, In a Bleak Midwinter and Silent Night.
Production Notes:
All characters live in their world but look and sound modern. They wear what young girls and adolescent boys wear today. There are no bath robes or tinsel halos but sheep should be woolly and angels angelic. Candles and flashlights are used for effect. If the tiny sheeplings are not up to their scene it should be cut.
Director’s Notes:
As a writer, tinkering with the Bible is always scary. If I indulge myself too far a field, the point is lost and the multitudes get mad, but if I remain historically narrow, the camels make a mess on the carpet. I wanted to do three things with this most beautiful of stories: show the importance of little ones, make it an intergenerational event, and bring it close to home for our young actors. I hope I have, and I hope you enjoy it!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “If we want to be part of these events, Advent and Christmas, we cannot just sit there like a theatre audience and enjoy all the lovely pictures. Instead, we ourselves will be caught up in this action, this reversal of all things; we must become actors on this stage.” It is to this ideal that we aim our little play.
An excerpt from A Bonhoeffer Christmas
by Roger Iverson
Copyright © 2005
Scene 3
DAD
(Frantically searching his bible.)
Just a minute… Just one minute… I know we’re around here somewhere… Are we to the night skies gleaming with adoring angles yet?
SON
We first have to get the shepherds out here.
DAD
Shepherds?!
SON
You did remember the shepherds, Dear Dad. …Didn’t you?
DAD
We have a little problem here, Son.
SON
How could you forget about the!... (DAD droops his head.) We’ll find a way, Dad. I’m sorry. I... I know! What if we…
(SON whispers his idea to DAD.)
DAD
I don’t see why not. Give it a try.
SON
Ladies and gentlemen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a man who loved Jesus, but knew first hand the evil people do. He once said, “We want to be a part of these events, Advent and Christmas, and we cannot just expect to sit there like a theatre audience and enjoy all the lovely pictures.” So therefore, My dad and I would like to invite two lucky persons to come up, here and… be… shepherds… please? …anyone?
DAD
Just choose someone.
SON
All right. You, sir. And you, sir. (As SON escorts the SHEPHERD VOLUNTEERS to the Down Right exit and Off.) If you both wouldnít mind. Just follow me. Let me show you what’s behind Door Number One! Carroll Marol will take care of you back there. And thank you for volunteering to destroy any dignity you ever had!
DAD
(Looking in his bible.)
Found It! Here we are, Son. I found it. “And in those days, Caesar Augustus made a degree that a consensus should be made....”
SON
Caesar Augustus made a Decree that a Census should be Taken. A census, Dad, not consensus. He wanted to count his people, not lead a management seminar.
DAD
Right. The highly effective king wanted to count how many people lived in his kingdom... Probably to tax everyone to pay for his private wars.
SON
If he was the strongest king in the world, why would he have to declare war on weaker countries?
DAD
...Don’t interrupt, Boy. Anyway... Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem...
SON
Bethlehem...
DAD
Bethlehem to be counted.
SON
You see, as a patriliniel society, every man went to the home town of his lineage to register. Joseph was a descendant of King David ergo he went to Bethlehem.
DAD
...Exactly! Who’s telling this story, anyway!
SON
You are, Dad. And doing quite a superfluous job, might I add.
DAD
Why, thank you, Son! The shepherds were abiding in a field, keeping watch over their flock by night!
SHEPHERD 1
(Scared. Singing “Silent Night” with one lit candle and staff.)
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is... Dark.
I’d give anything
To be in bed.
Wish my big brothers
Didn’t sneak off.
When we get back home
I’ll tell Dad.
He’ll make sure they get what’s theirs!
(SHEPHERD 1 whistles tune a little. SHEPHERD
VOLUNTEER 2 and SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 3
sneak up behind SHEPHERD 1.)
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEERS 2 and 3
Boo.
SHEPHERD 1
(Runs, yelling.)
Aaaaaahh! (Stops, looks at his brothers... Yells some more.) Aaaaaahh!
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 2
Shhhh! You’ll wake the whole country side, Little Dude!
SHEPHERD 1
Dad told you not to sneak off like that!
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 3
Lighten up, Little Man. We just went into town...
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 2
Look what we got!
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 3
Yeah, check this out...
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEERS 2 and 3
Shepherds in sunglasses!
SHEPHERD 1
Why did you get sunglasses? We’re keeping watch over our flock by Night!
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 2
It’s that crazy star, Little Man.
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 3
It’s blinding us, Dude!
SHEPHERD 1
Look! There goes a lamb!
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEERS 2 and 3
(Blind. Groping.)
Where?
SHEPHERD 1
Never mind. I’ll get him myself. This night, the world depends upon the little guy!
(SHEPHERD 1 chases CAPT. Off Stage.)
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 2
You are so cool in those shades, Dude.
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 3
No man. You are way cool.
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 2
I got it! You know what we are?
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEER 3
I’m with you, Brother, mine.
SHEPHERD VOLUNTEERS 2 and 3
We’re dual, cool, Dudes!
CAROL 4
And the Angel Said Unto Them --MESSIAH no. 15
Jon + Neil’s organ
(Not singing the first measure + 1.)
(During And the Angel Said Unto Them, flood lights pour on SHEPHERD VOLUNTEERS 2 and 3 as they
slowly draw to the ANGEL QUARTET, removing their sunglasses, then, transfixed, exit Down Left as
SHEPHERD 1 enters with CAPT.)
SHEPHERD 1
Don’t worry, guys! I got him... Guys? Guys! You’re NOT going to scare me this time! Do what you may! I’m made of stone! Nothing can make me frightened or sore afraid...
CAROL 4 (Cont.)
Glory to God --MESSIAH no. 17
SATB Quartet + Neil’s organ
(Only the first nine measures.)
SHEPHERD 1
...Did you guys sing something? ...Please tell me you’ve been taking lessons on mom’s autoharp and you just sang something uncharacteristically beautiful...
CAROL 4 (Cont.)
Glory to God --MESSIAH no. 17
(Only measures 10 - 17.)
SATB Quartet + Neil’s organ
SHEPHERD 1
(Being flooded with white light and seeing the ANGEL QUARTET.)
...Good Golly Miss. Molly.
(SHEPHERD 1 exits Left.)
Scene 4
CAPT.
Soldiers! This is our big chance to escape!
SHEEP 1
But I feel safe with that boy.
CAPT.
That’s nonsense, solider. We’re going to escape and that’s all there is to it! Are you with me?
ALL
Yes!
SHEEP 1
If we must.
SHEEP 2
I have a question, Sir.
CAPT.
What.
SHEEP 2
What shall we do for food while we’re on the, the you know...
CAPT.
On the what? Bleat it out, Soldier!
SHEEP 2
What will we do for food when we’re on the lamb, Sir!
(Sheep all groan, …Baaaa.)
CAPT.
...Are you blind, Man? Look about you!
SHEEP 3
(Jumping, raising his hand excitedly.)
Sir. You-who, Mr. Sir...
CAPT.
Settle down, soldier!
SHEEP 3
(Taking a hit on his inhaler.)
But Sir! I can’t run away. I have asthma!
(SHEEP start following SHEPHERDS. Exit Down
Left.)
CAPT.
Grass eaters don’t have asthma! This is our chance to... Wait! Stop! Please...? ‘...All We Like Sheep...’ (Exits Left.)
Scene 5
(AMANDA and CRISTINA stand Down Front.)
AMANDA
Cristina. Look what I’ve found in this book.
CRISTINA
What is it?
AMANDA
It’s a quote by Bonhoeffer. Listen: ‘Mighty God is the name of this child. The child in the manger is none other than God. Nothing greater can be said: God became a child.’ I. …I need to do my best, not for me, not so people see me. But for Him. Use my talents for the Child.
(Lights Lower. With back to audience, facing the lit manger, Amanda sings pure.)
CAROL 5
Away in a Manger
v.1 standard tune, v. 2 English tune.
Amanda with Piano
SON
...So in a small barn on the outskirts of a forgotten town they gathered: the angel, the shepherds, Joseph and Mary...
DAD
And the Three Kings?
SON
Yes, Dad. And the… The Three Kings! We need Kings!
DAD
Don’t look at me, Son!
SON
Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems as though you’ve caught us with our kings down. So, again, if any of you would indulge us the favor of acting out the parts of the kings we would surly appreciate it.
DAD
Just go pick three.
SON
Which ones?
DAD
Any ones!
SON
OK. Let’s just use these three. They look… Regal?
DAD
A regular Royal Flush, Son,
SON
Try to look kingly, gentlemen. …Not too much, though. Remember. It’s not about you!
(As each of the Bonhoeffer lines is spoken, each actor
takes his place in the manger scene.)
SON
The great Lutheran Theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, tells us that…
Q1
All who at the manger finally lay down all power and honor…
Q2
All who at the manger finally lay down all prestige…
Q3 (AMANDA)
All who at the manger finally lay down all vanity, all arrogance, all self-will…
Q4
All who take their place among the lowly
Q5
And let God alone be high…
Q6
All who see the glory of God in the lowliness of the child in the manger.
Q1
These.
Q2
These.
Q3
These.
Q1
These are the ones who will truly…
Q2
Truly.
Q3
Truly.
Q1, Q2 and Q3
These are the ones who will truly celebrate Christmas.
(Pause.)
SON
It is at the manger where we all gather. Those with power and those without. We all come, searching for something beautiful, a miracle... And from nothing comes everything. The tiny, itty, bitty baby who was and is and will forevermore be... Savior.
(Pause as SON looks into manger and is bathed with it's warm light.)
SON
Thank you, Dad, for teaching me everything I need to know about the real Christmas.
DAD
Just trying to be a Dad...
The play continues…
| Description | Price | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Actor Book | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Stage Manager Binder | 12.00 | 6.00 |
| Royalties | Call | -- |
| Name | |
| Job | |
| Theatre | |
| Address | |
| Notes/ Questions | |
| Phone |