Christmas

26 pages

4 m, 2 w, 2 m non-speaking.

"If that means I have to charge more, so be it! If that means that the poor have to go hungry, too bad!" Those are the unfeeling words of Jonas, an innkeeper in Bethlehem. His inn is full and business is booming, thanks to Caesar's decree. But Jonas' wife, Abigail, and daughter, Deborah, cannot talk him into being a more compassionate businessman and helping those less fortunate. Jonas argues he should make all the money he can now for their old age since their son, Rueben, who would have helped take care of them, died much too soon. The way Jonas figures it,...

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...

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...

20 pages

6 - 11 m, 3 - 4 w, 1 flexible, doubling possible

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the library it was quiet, until Tom and Huck wander from their book seeking a new adventure! Opening the cover of “Alice in Wonderland,” the boys are shocked by a rabbit hopping out, quickly followed by Alice. Trying to catch the rabbit leads to more books being knocked open, and they are soon joined by Dorothy Gale from “The Wizard of Oz,” St. Nicholas from “’T’was the Night Before Christmas,” Mrs. March from “Little Women” and old Scrooge with Marley from “A Christmas Carol.” The confused characters try to ma...

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 ...

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 ...

69 pages

4 m, 2 w

It’s Christmas Eve, and the interstate in Virginia has closed due to major snowstorms.  Frank, a brash billionaire businessman, and his secretary Kristine – who’s not the “sharpest bulb on the tree” – are forced to seek shelter in a highway rest area.  They are soon joined by Tom, a hitchhiking wannabe country music singer, and Mary Beth, a young, very pregnant widow.  Of course, Charlie, the rest area janitor, is stuck there even though he just wants to get home to dinner. 

But this ...

20 pages

Many flexible roles with doubling, 8 players.

In this sequel to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Marley returns one year after Scrooge has become a more generous and loving man. When Scrooge protests that he keeps Christmas, Marley responds, "Yes, but does Christmas keep you?" Three Spirits, Faith, Hope and Love, appear, to take Scrooge back in time to witness the first Christmas. But Scrooge refuses to see that something is missing in his life. Only when the third Spirit, Love, reveals himself as Jesus does Scrooge understand the real meaning of Christmas. The drama ends with Scrooge surprising the...

20 pages

Cast of 10. (2 w, 3 teen girls, 5 teens)

Kaylee is not particularly thrilled about having to be part of a living Nativity at her church. Instead of standing outside in the cold, posing with her friends in costumes like a cheap religious Christmas card, she'd rather be with her boyfriend. The others have varying opinions, but all agree that emailing, texting and playing on their cell phones help pass the time between running to positions whenever a car passes. Kaylee just thinks it's all a waste of precious time. But sometimes God chooses crazy things, like this living Nativity, to share His love. So...

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 ...

20 pages

2 m, 5 teens, 2 children.

Seven youngsters, who have heard that Jesus appears on Earth on Christmas Eve, sneak into the church near midnight. As much as they hope to see Him, they become frightened when a strange man appears. In ragged clothes, hungry and tired, the stranger eats the food the youngsters brought as they question him. Is he some kind of homeless man or is he indeed the Savior they have been seeking? An extraordinary play which reminds us that our Savior is not just found in church but is everywhere. About 30 minutes.

51 pages

5 m, 4 w, 1 flexible and 1 young teen

Vickie Webster, an elderly mother, grandmother and widow, has a mess on her hands. She and her family are in the middle of a financial nightmare that threatens to take her home, her son’s family, and all the joy out of Christmas. They are all in the “red” and can see no possible way out of it.  But with the faith and love of her two crazy “sisters” and the rest of the “family,” they find that God has provided some amazing and comical answers to the problems they face. With the help of an angel that has stepped in before, and a provision that God put in place ...

40 pages

4 m, 6 w

Ever wanted to walk in the footsteps of Mary and Joseph along the nativity trail? Stargazer Holy Land Tours promises that you will experience what it was like as you journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, just like they did over 2,000 years ago. Not only will you step where they stepped, but you will do it in style. The tour promises luxury yurts, the finest Jewish cuisine, and an expert tour guide. But sometimes the amenities in the brochure are just too good to be true. Join the retired pastor and his wife, a newlywed couple, a travel critic, a photographer, a...

40 pages

2 m, 4 w.

Richard Franklin is a bitter man who can't stop blaming his son, William, for an accident which killed an older Franklin son one Christmas some 20 years ago. The tragedy has soured their father-son relationship although Richard, an important church member, and William, who is indifferent to religion, have learned to live with it. A crisis this Christmas, however, makes both men face up to the true meaning of what giving - and forgiving - really mean. Additional roles include Betty, the wife, who knows God is the source of all strength; the Franklin daughters;...