Children's Theatre
A Shower for Baby Jesus
Christmas Youth by Carol Hillebrenner
15 pages
Large, flexible cast.
The season of giving often misplaces the reason for giving, but that's not so in this delightful play. As the children of Bethlehem plan a baby shower for Jesus before he has to leave for Egypt, they learn the story of His birth. Yes, the angels are just a bit impatient and some people don't like one of the wise men's gifts, but everyone is in the party spirit. The play also serves as a mission project as the gifts (diapers, food, clothes, etc.) the children bring on stage can be dedicated to babies born today in less fortunate circumstances. Children from 3 ...
Night That Started It All
Christmas Youth by Tambra Kay Petrie
45 pages
5 m, 5 w, 1 flexible, 2 boys, 1 girl, extras, choir
Imagine the Christmas story written, directed and performed by teenagers! Follow the antics of CJ, the author of this wild and crazy nativity scene, along with Amos and Jordy, two idiotic stagehands, as they try to retell the story of the nativity from a "teenager's point of view." After watching a rehearsal and weathering an emotional explosion from a stuffy lady of the congregation, the Pastor reminds CJ and the rest of the teens that, although it is okay to have fun in the Christmas program, there is still a holiness about the entire event that should neve...
Back to the Nativity
Comedy by Andrew M Frodahl
54 pages
4 m, 3 w, 6-7 flex, 2 kids, doubling possible
Did the Nativity costumes just come alive? Pastor Hadley doesn’t know what to think when he is washing the Nativity costumes and the first sheep pops out of the dryer. Granted, he hasn’t been doing well after the recent loss of his fiancée, taking a leave from his ministry and turning away from God. Last night’s church fire just proves that when it rains it pours. Maybe that wasn’t a sheep he saw…but then out of the dryer comes Amir the Sheep Shearer and Jesse the Angel. Turns out the dryer is a time tumbler, and time and prophecies once fulfilled have been a...
A Birthday in Bethlehem
Musical by Patricia K. Hill
44 pages
Main roles for 7 m, 3 w, 5 boys, 4 girls. Additional roles for 2 m, 2 women. Extras, 1 toddler, and an optional children’s choir.
What if Jesus had been born in your town? Rather than tell about the birth of Jesus from the traditional viewpoints of Joseph and Mary, this musical gives us a refreshingly different look from ordinary people who were there. A small group of adults and children befriend the holy family for more than a year, from helping them find the stable for the birth to a celebration for 15-month old baby Jesus, which turns into a bittersweet evening when the Wise Men warn them to flee. The story begins as Bethlehem prepares for visitors in “Company’s Coming” and we see t...
Crosses to Bear
Drama by Bryan McCampbell
29 pages
5 m, 5 w, 6 flexible, extras, doubling possible
How students cope with the death of classmates due to drinking and driving is poignantly brought home in this one-act. On one side, Lisa is consumed with guilt because she didn't take away her brother's car keys, even though she knew he drank. On the other, Kurt is racked with pain because if he hadn't been drinking, he wouldn't have needed his sister to pick him up and she wouldn't have been in Lisa's brother's car. Then the football team wants to erect a roadside cross in memory of Lisa's brother right next to a cross the girls are planning in memory of Kur...
Something Wonderful (Musical)
Christmas Musical Youth by Elizabeth May Willson
28 pages
6 boys, 2 girls, 8 flexible parts, and extras
Even the sheep sing in this heartwarming original musical drama, although it is serious about presenting the true Christmas story with a salvation message. In answer to her granddaughter's questions, a grandmother reads Luke, Chapter 2, and as she does the whole story unfolds on stage. Smaller churches can "double up" on roles, while larger groups can include everyone by increasing the singers, angels, etc. Beautiful music, including a recitation and song, "Don't Wake the Baby" for your littlest performers.
Performance time: About 35 minutes.
Lullaby at the Stable
Christmas Youth by Verlynn Kneifl and Laurie Larsen
12 pages
Large flexible cast
Preschoolers and children in lower grades will enjoy performing in this gentle and delightful Christmas pageant. Like many mothers of new babies, Mary is having a difficult time getting Baby Jesus to sleep. The wise men, shepherds, angels, lions, sheep, and mice sing their best lullabies, but all in vain. At last, one small, timid, striped kitten sings the Holy Child to sleep. Older children can handle the few speaking roles while any number of younger performers can participate as the animals. Easy costuming and staging and all the songs are traditional, wel...
Angels: Mission Possible (Musical)
Christmas Musical Youth by Christy Long
38 pages
2 boys, 1 girl, 5 flexible parts, choir
The angel Gabriel has a very important job that God has given him. His mission is to deliver messages concerning the birth of Jesus. Even though Mary is quite surprised by Gabriel's message, she yields to God's message right away. Joseph, with some helpful persuasion from Positive and some not so helpful ideas from Negative, also decides to follow God no matter what the cost. This humorous program is highlighted with imaginative original songs as well as traditional Christmas carols arranged with a twist. Also included is an optional program that can be perfo...
Christmas Treasures
Resource Youth by Dolores Steger
41 pages
Flexible cast
This collection will delight all church children's leaders. The 22 recitations and choral readings are perfect for preschoolers and elementary school children. Older youngsters will enjoy performing the three plays: "Christmas Gifts From Jesus," "Channel J-O-Y," and "The Fourth King." Because of the flexibility of this book, any number of children can be involved. It's great for any size church - a must for this Christmas.
Bible Story Skits
Anytime Youth by
26 pages
5 skits
Here are five Bible story skits that will captivate hearts, and because they are written in rhyme, it is super easy for young children to memorize their parts. Laughter will fill the air when your children perform "Noah's Zoo." At just the right moment, the narrator, perplexed and bewildered, recites, "By the time he was through, Noah had himself a zoo!" In "Daniel and the Friendly Lions," one of the lions stands and declares, "I'm certainly no dummy...This man, Daniel, doesn't belong in my tummy!" They will delight any audience - any day of the year.
Good Enough For Christmas?
Christmas Youth by Debbie Entsminger Debbie Entsminger
28 pages
Large flexible cast, doubling possible.
It's Christmas and everyone is happy. Everyone, that is, except Travis, who tried to play a little joke on the Pastor's wife and now only has sticks and stones to look forward to. His grief is intensified by Felicity whose perfect record this past year has earned her all that she wants for Christmas - and she wants 364 gifts, one for each day of her goodness. After Felicity blows her contract and loses everything, they both learn that there is still one gift they can receive for Christmas...one that no one can ever be good enough to earn (Isaiah 64:6), but yo...
First Christmas Lullaby
Christmas Youth by Patricia Stauffer
20 pages
7 m, 5 w, 2 teen girls, 2 boys, extras as angels.
Leah, a teenager, has never spoken a word in her life, and her mother, an old servant woman at an inn, feels guilty and worried about the future. But that all changes when Baby Jesus is born at the inn's stable. As shepherds come to worship Him, another miracle occurs and Leah speaks for the first time, to sing a lullaby. A beautiful, dramatic story. Performance time: 30 minutes.
Littlest Angel
Christmas Youth by Helen Roberts
18 pages
13 speaking parts, extras.
The older angels are preparing for the coming of the Christ Child but the little angels have not been told the great secret and their mischievousness is disturbing. Michael, the littlest one, is the worst! But when the Guardian Angel explains, they are eager to do their share. How Michael is chosen to be the one to accompany Gabriel down to earth makes this a play of beauty and dignity for smaller children. Performance time: 25 minutes.
In the Light of the Nativity
Drama by Terri Dill
44 pages
8 m, 8 w, 4 children, extras.
It is Christmastime, 1855, in a small fishing village in Maine. The mayor and his wife try to keep the villagers on their toes with harbor rules and planning of a traditional Christmas Eve celebration, but the villagers are reluctant to work together. During a relentless snowstorm, Holly, a young mother, finds solace and shelter in the town’s Nativity stable where she nestles her son in the manger. While she sleeps, her is baby taken. Quickly, Prophyte Harbor rallies around Holly and helps search for her missing son. God’s messengers provide saving grace in a...
Story for the Ages (Musical)
Christmas Musical Youth by
58 pages
25 or more flexible parts, one soloist, optional choir
Rachel is sent to Bethlehem to find a "good news" story for the newspaper but can't find anything worthy until shepherds and angels tell her of a wonderous birth. As first the shepherds then wise men go to a simple stable to kneel before the Babe, Rachel realizes she has found her story - a story that will surpass anything she had hoped for. Here is God's gift for all people. It is a story that will outlast time, a "Story for the Ages." Seven beautiful songs including Rachel's song, "Bethlehem Town," the shepherds' and angels' songs, "Gloria" and "Be Not Afra...