Adult Christmas

44 pages

4 m, 5 - 6 w

Detective Vic Torious is called to the home of famed archaeologist, Dr. Zeke N. Yeshalfind, who is hosting his annual Christmas dinner party for a few close friends and co-workers. During the party, he suddenly notices that his priceless 15th-century Nativity set is missing one of the magi. He demands that everyone remain there until Detective Vic Torious arrives. It is now Vic Torious’ task to discover who “moved” the missing magi. After the suspects have been questioned, the audience will vote for who they think did it. The epilogue, delivered post-intermis...

42 pages

6 m, 6 w, 2 girls, 3 flexible

Here is a touching comedy, a modern-day spin on the story of the Prodigal Son. After years of being over-shadowed by her pretty and over-confident older sister, Peri leaves home, taking the money from her college savings. Like the story from the New Testament, Peri, once quiet and hard-working, lives a life of excess, but finally realizes she wants to return to her family. A homeless man, who has more connection to the family than anyone initially realizes, urges Peri to call home. But will it be the same old story, or will the Stewarts have learned something...

39 pages

3 m, 4 w, 1 g.

Kate Sherman, grieving over the deaths of her daughter and son-in-law from a car accident, finds it almost impossible to show her love for granddaughter, Tammy. Kate won't even allow any Christmas decorations in the house including the now dusty star Tammy's daddy made for her. A climax is reached when Tammy steals her late mother's christening dress for a nativity scene being staged by a young visiting minister, his wife, and friend Jo, whose brother was the drunk driver who caused the fatal accident. At the end, Kate shows her renewed faith when she vows ne...

61 pages

3 m, 6 w, 1 flexible, 2 girls doubling possible

You ever get a Christmas letter?  You know, one of those notes inserted into a Christmas card tell you way more than you ever wanted to know about the senders?  Karen Brookshire loves writing them. With a boy-crazy daughter, a smarty-pants son and a klutzy husband she has her hands full. So Karen has to write their Christmas letter by herself recalling such events as their daughter's first date, which unfortunately occurred at the same time as two overly-adoring aunts were visiting, and their son's high school graduation where he not only won the embarrassing...

24 pages

4 m, 4 w, 2 flexible, extras, choir

Harry Hamilton, a local town council member, successfully persuades the council to eliminate the manger scene from the town square, only to discover that just a block away a local community church will host a living nativity. And guess who is chosen to be Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus? Harry’s son and daughter-in-law had become Christians during the previous year and are delighted when the pastor asks them and their new son to portray the holy family. Forced to visit the live nativity by his wife, the doting mother and grandmother, Harry at first appears to be...

54 pages

11 m, 11 w, 2 flexible, 8 boys, 6 girls.

This faithful yet unique adaptation of the Charles Dickens' holiday story begins in "another world" where Tiny Tim appears. More than just an employee's crippled son, he is a symbol of Scrooge's own infirmity. Scrooge's deceased business partner, Marley, is granted permission to return to Earth with a small but powerful army of holiday spirits on his adventure to convert the covetous old sinner into a Yuletide saint. The most popular scenes of the novel are dramatized, but especially powerful is the future scene of Bob Cratchit's gut-wrenching loss of his bel...

52 pages

Widely flexible cast (suggested minimum 4 m, 4 w, 1 narrator, 3 children)

These 12 Yuletide sketches will provide an evening of laughter while never losing sight of the holiness of the season. With flexible casting and only a chair or bench for scenery, they're just right for any stage and ideal for dinner theatre. On this visit to Christmastown you'll meet some passersby in a park who tell you what Christmas really means to them and some strangers waiting for a bus who give gifts to each other, inspired by a little girl's doll. Find out what the wise men were thinking, at least when they are portrayed by three 10-year-olds in thei...

31 pages

4 m, 6 w, extras.

Everyone wants this year's Christmas pageant at church done right - that means done their way! As the committee members argue over ideas at a fruitless (and funny!) meeting, they realize the Baby Jesus prop for the nativity can't be located. Finally it is found on top of some old records about the church's very first Christmas pageant, and everyone realizes they had lost sight of keeping Christ in Christmas. Lots of humor with an optional ending for a nativity scene and carol. Performance time: 40 minutes (or longer with optional nativity scene).

24 pages

3 m, 5 w, 3 flexible parts and extras.

The wealthy Collins family returns from dining out Christmas Eve to find their home empty, thanks to three bumbling burglars who not only took all the furniture, but every one of the perfectly wrapped Christmas presents! With nearly all their wordly possessions gone, Mom and Dad, son and daughter, have to confront each other as to the true meaning of Christmas. Slowly, as they recount happier times as a family, they come to realize how much faith they have placed in material things. With the help of a neighbor's gift of a Bible and visiting carolers, the Coll...

27 pages

5 m, 8 w, 1 flexible, 1 boy, 1 girl, extras, doubling possible.

Ebby Neezer hates Christmas so much, she leaves her estate every year on the 24th of December and goes to Bermuda. Her staff and great niece, however, love Christmas and have prayed for years for Ebby. It is their hope that one day she will return to God and celebrate Christmas with them. This year their prayers are answered. On the way to the airport, Ebby's limo breaks down and her chauffeur urges her to wait in a nearby diner while he makes repairs. There, a waitress named Marley brings her some coffee, which is only the beginning of an unusual evening. Th...

20 pages

9 flexible, 1 female, extras for nativity creche

It’s late at night in a small stable in Bethlehem. The animals have been run out of their warm stable because of some human intruders. As they complain and question the fairness of the whole situation, they meet a stranger in the corral, a small and weary donkey. As the humble donkey talks about his trip and his masters, the animals are joined by a dog who has followed his master down from the hills.  He tells them a wild story about some flying creatures that spoke to them about a “Savior” that had just been born. Next, they are joined by the haughty camels ...

40 pages

4 m, 3 w, 2 teen girls, 2 boys.

Following a divorce, Judy Williams has become bitter and tries to shut out the world and move away from her troubles. The only problem with that is, God isn't finished with her, and He moves her right into the middle of a bunch of caring Christians. And He tops it off with two new neighbors who are guardian angels. He even challenges her with the Fink brothers, two bumblers who don't know how to do anything right - except show God's love. Here is a play which reminds us that when you are willing to experience God's forgiveness it can cut through bitterness an...

37 pages

5 m, 6 w, 2 extras.

Crazy, colorful Buster and Martha Smith, an elderly couple, are awaiting the arrival of their children and grandchildren for a traditional Christmas homecoming. They reminisce, in flashback, about the Christmas of 1955 when their youngest son, Ernest, hid "Santa," a man who had just robbed the bank, in their attic. While the robber tells Ernest fantastic stories to keep him believing, Buster tries to find the stolen money to earn the $1,000 reward to provide a good Christmas for his family. Martha must remind him of the real meaning of the holiday. Later the ...

24 pages

6 m, 4 w.

The Murphys are back in another heartwarming, spiritual comedy. (Meet them in "A Christmas Rapture".) This year they get a lot more than they bargained for when they adopt a nursing home patient for the Christmas holidays. What was hoped to be an opportunity to minister turns into a trial of their faith when Gus Swanson (better known as Grumpy Gus) arrives. Bitter and hardened from a past hurt, Gus makes life miserable for anyone around him. But the faith of teenage Denita Murphy and an unexpected reunion between Gus and a young evangelist, show us the healin...

20 pages

1 m, 1 - 2 w, 3 teen boys, 1 teen girl, (extras: 4 m, 1 w) Plus angelic choir (2 songs)

Owen is disgruntled. It’s time for the annual Christmas pageant and he’s been chosen for the role of a “dumb ole shepherd.” It’s even worse because his older brother will be playing a king carrying a gift of gold and his sister an angel dressed in regal finery. Meanwhile, Owen will be clothed in a “ratty old bathrobe with a towel wrapped around his head” carrying a stick. It just ain’t fair!

While he is stewing over his fate, he drifts off to sleep where he is transported back to the ...