Christmas Plays
For many years we wrote and performed a Christmas play that focused on the Nativity. We have several different plays which center around the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ as told in Luke 2, each with a different approach to the beloved Christmas story. All of these plays include full scripts free of charge which can be printed from the web site. Follow the link to the "Script" and you should be able to print the script. However, if you do perform one of these plays, we would love to hear from you! Also feel free to email us with any questions.
"O Come All Ye Faithful"
Written by: Beverly Key
Cast:
Nativity -- Mary, Joseph, Angels, Shepherds
Scripture -- Various scripture readings, by different people, or one person
Song Stories -- Various people to tell history of and perform Christmas carols
Costumes:
Costumes for Nativity cast and period costumes for songs.
Scenery:
Scenery for Nativity with song stories taking place in front of Nativity.
This play begins with the song, "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and this narrative: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, these words have echoed through the ages, calling us to worship our God and our King. As we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus we see the “faithful” gathered around a lowly manger. We read of faithful men and women in the Holy Scriptures and know that above all, God is faithful to keep His Word. And, tonight we want to look at some of the faithful men and women who, often through adversity, wrote the Christmas carols we enjoy year after year. "
The play tells the stories of eight Christmas carols and includes the story of the Truce of World War I between the British and the German soldiers. Most of the parts can be read, making it easier for the performers. I did a lot of research for the history of the Christmas carols and some of the sources are listed at the end of the play. I used many more sources to verify the information. Everyone, including those in the play, seemed to really enjoy this play. It was very enlightening, as we don't usually think of the hard trials that the song writers endured before writing these blessed songs.
The Gifts Of Christmas
Written by Susanna Key Little
Cast:
Angels (at least 2)
Mary
Joseph
Shepherds (at least 2)
Wise Men (at least 2)
Young Man and Woman
This play is the Christmas story, told through the scriptures (KJV). It can be performed by all ages. This play can be done with as few as 10 characters, two to open each "gift", although more angels, shepherds, and wise men can be added. The parts may be memorized by those who open the "gifts" or read by Narrators. The songs can also be sung by those on stage, or off stage. The unique feature of the play is in the presentation. Please see the photo page for details.
I was able to get five large pieces of folded cardboard which had been used to deliver floor mats. We painted each opened piece with a simple different scene. (The wet paint wrinkled the cardboard and we had to press flat with tables.) We taped on plastic plant segments to give more detail. For the town of Bethlehem we used paper mache to cover pieces of foam and glued them in the center. We hung a star light with string to each flap and it rose over Bethlehem as the flaps were opened. We taped large boxes (filled with heavy items) behind each piece of scenery to keep them from falling forward or backward. The flaps were propped open with large rocks, plants, or sheep. Bethlehem was placed on folded tables above the choir pews so that the star would be higher than the other scenery. For the manger scene we made a cardboard manger which unfolded forward when opened. This scene was lower and in front of Bethlehem, so the town and star appeared to be in the distance, above the stable. We covered cardboard sheep with fleece and glued on white cotton balls and a black button eye. They were placed behind the flaps and brought forward as the manger and shepherd "gifts" were opened. The front flaps were covered with different colors of shiny Christmas paper and tied with bright ribbons to resemble large gifts. The play opens with four large "gifts" on stage. With each part, a new "gift" is opened and after four parts, all the segments flow together to create the scenery. The gift of love, the cross, is moved to the center in the end, and all the characters move from the stable to kneel at the cross.
My Christmas Essay
Written by: Susanna Key
Approximate Length: 30 Minutes
Cast:
Mother Mary
MaryDaughter Joseph
Joseph Angels Shepherds 3 Prophets and Wise Men (can be same actors) King HerodThis play is about a young girl whose mother teaches her about the true meaning of Christmas. Starting with the Old Testament, this play shows that Jesus' birth was planned from the beginning of time. It ends with the explanation that Jesus was born to die for us on the cross.
This can be performed by adults or children. There must be at least one child and one adult to play the mother and daughter. For the Nativity cast, we had children playing most of the roles, with the exception of adult men portraying the prophets, wise men, and King Herod. Our main stage was the main platform at church, and it was decorated like a living room; there were two seats for the mother and daughter (rocking chair and small bench, covered with a blanket to look like a sofa), with an end table and decorative Nativity scene in between. A sturdy, wooden platform was designed to rest on the tops of the pews in the middle of the choir, where Mary and Joseph could sit, so the Nativity area was a level behind and above the mother and daughter. Lights were hung in the baptistry behind a dark sheet. Different strands were plugged in to resemble a starry sky, one bright star, and a cross, at various times in the play. For instructions on how we made the lights go to Christmas Star in Lights.
View of living room scene in front and nativity
scene in back with platform over choir pews.
Notice all the lights are on behind the navy sheet.
The small lights were on one set of lights and the large star lights were on two sets. During the explanation of the cross, all the lights were unplugged except for the central cross.
Go And Tell
Written by: Beverly Key
This is a play of the Christmas Nativity, which focuses on the part of the shepherds as they spread the news that the Christ Child was born. After their visit to the manger they leave through the audience telling the great news, "The Christ Child is born!" There is a place in the play for Christians to give their testimony of who told them about the Savior and how God used it to lead them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In the end there is a challenge for us to keep on telling the Christmas story. The parts of the Narrators can be read and could be combined if needed. The parts of Isaiah and Micah could be written on a scroll and their parts could also be read if needed.
Cast:
Narrator (Divided into 4 parts - could be easily changed)
Mary
Joseph
Angels
4 Shepherds
Isaiah
Micah
Additional Christians with their personal testimonies
John Finds Christmas
Written by: Beverly Key
One year I saw some very moving videos on YouTube called Cardboard Testimonies. The one that spoke to my heart opened up with scenes of homeless or needy people holding cardboard signs, asking for help. After those first few segments the scene switched to people in a church holding their signs. Each person held a sign to tell where he or she was, and then turned the sign to the back to reveal where he or she was now with the Lord's help. I have often seen people holding signs with such messages as, "Out of work" and "Please help". I think this spoke to me in a special way because I lost my job two years ago and I realized that it could be me out on the street begging. In January, last year, I sat down and wrote this play. Our youth put together bags and gave to each person at our Heart to Heart Banquet to be given to those on the streets asking for help. We put some snacks, warm socks, New Testaments, and gospel tracts in the bags. I pray that God used the bags to bring hope to someone in need.
This Christmas play is about a family who helps a young boy with his family needs, and also with his spiritual needs. As they spend time with him they help him understand the true meaning of Christmas which leads to his own personal salvation. The play ends with the use of "cardboard testimonies" but these could be omitted. We are planning to give this play this Christmas. We have had one practice and have already talked about a few changes.
Cast:
Sign Holder (Carries sign to front for each changing scene.)
Mr. Bright
Mrs. Bright
Joy Bright (Young teenager dressed in denim skirt and nice, everyday shirt.)
John (Young teenager dressed in old clothes, hair a little long.)
Narrator
Mary
Joseph
Shepherds
Angels
A Christmas To Remember
Written by: Andrew and Susanna Little
A family traveling for Christmas gets stranded and discovers the real meaning of Christmas.
What The Innkeeper Missed
Written by: Andrew and Susanna Little
The Christmas story told by the Innkeeper and what he missed.
The Christmas Gift
Written by: Brittany Ward Mills
A Christian woman gives her husband new shoes for Christmas in hopes that he will go to church with her Christmas Day. The Preacher stops by and invites him to church. As the Preacher reads the Christmas story from the Bible, the nativity scene unfolds at the side of the stage. After the completion of the nativity story, the man accepts the Lord's gift of salvation.
The Visitor
Written by: Michael Key and Alan White
During a church Christmas play a visitor interrupts and discovers the true meaning of Christmas.
"What Think Ye Of Christ?"
Begins with the Nativity and ends with some of the people around the cross and resurrection posing the question, "What think ye of Christ?"
Following Jesus
Begins with the reading from Isaiah 53 and looks at the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
