Easter
Women of the Cross - The Witnesses Called Mary New Release
Easter by Josephine Kelly
18 pages
3 w
This drama gives life to the last seven lines uttered by Christ and the women who must witness his death. It’s a beautiful and mournful play capturing the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and the witnesses of Mary, his mother; Mary Magdalene, his disciple; and Mary Clopas, sister to Mary, Mother of Jesus. As Jesus utters his final words from the cross, it is the women of his ministry who ensure his story is told. The three women travel with Jesus to the hills of Golgotha and bear witness to his crucifixion. These women go to the cross when his other disciples must...
Behold Our Lamb New Release
Easter by Nate Bressler
35 pages
2 m, 6 w
Two earthshaking events, one from the New Testament and one from the Old, intertwine in this play to remind us that when Christ came as our sacrificial offering for our sins, it was a purposeful fulfillment of prophecy by God. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection echoes the story of Exodus from Egypt. The Passover and Exodus are experienced in a Hebrew home through the eyes of a typical family of four - mother, father, and two teen children. The events leading up to the Crucifixion are discussed at a Jewish home through four very different women - Mary Magdale...
The Golgotha Project New Release
Easter by Jeff Zimmer
64 pages
8-10 actors with doubling. Without doubling 24 m, 19 w, 7 flexible.
The story of Jesus' death and resurrection truly is "the greatest story ever told." But why is it so often told in ponderous and arch fashion? "The Golgotha Project" brings to life the people of 2,000 years ago by finding the humor and humanity in them. The story is told in a series of amusing monologues, dialogues and brief scenes involving people who witnessed the events in Jesus' time. The show is very modular. Productions can either choose to eliminate certain scenes or characters with little effect on the overall show. This Easter story is fresh and ente...
Twelve Seats at the Table
Adult Easter by Susan Furlong and Marilee Lake
31 pages
14 m.
The setting, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper," is the upper room during the last Passover meal celebrated by Jesus and His disciples before the crucifixion. Each disciple, speaking in monologue form, tells why he chose to follow Jesus and how his life has been changed by His presence. Like all men of faith, past and present, each has a different vision of the Lord's purpose, yet, despite their doubts and fears, they are united in their devotion to the Messiah. The audience experiences the humanness of each apostle in this powerful pr...
Darkness
Easter by Terrell Anthony
28 pages
3 m, 1 w, 1 flexible
It is the night of Jesus’ crucifixion. His followers (the audience) are in hiding from the authorities. They came to Jerusalem to hail Jesus. Now, they’re confused and frightened. They have become strangers in Jerusalem, the followers … of a dead man. As the audience sits in the dark, they meet Mary Magdalene, a beggar boy, Nicodemus, Simon the Cyrene, and James the disciple. Each of the characters has a unique perspective on Jesus that’s reassuring but challenging.
“Darkness” is U-3 ...
The Tavern
Easter by Hilary Mackelden
62 pages
(2 m, 3 w, optional extras as Roman soldiers)
What happened immediately after Jesus’ death and resurrection? What was the crucifixion like for the townspeople? Set in a run-down tavern on Good Friday through Easter Sunday, we see how five different people were affected: a barmaid, the widow of one of the accused, the soldier who pronounced Jesus dead, Barabbas, and a young teen. Rage, guilt, confusion, regret and doubt—their feelings are overpowering. But at some point, will these emotions lead to understanding, peace and even belief?
Quiet Sunday
Adult Easter by Alberta Hawse
27 pages
3 m, 3 w, 1 boy or girl
The Porters have gone to morning services and now think they deserve a QUIET Sunday afternoon. But being a Christian takes more than just going to church. God needs them to organize a youth group, help their married daughter and son-in-law who are quarreling, and show the Christian way to an exasperating neighbor. It's confusion, mayhem, and lots of humor with people just like you and me. Entertaining with a good message. Perfect for Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, or anytime. About: 45 minutes.
Once More With Passion
Adult Easter by Terrie Todd
36 pages
2 m, 4 w, 1 flexible, 1 small girl, 5-9 extras
Rick Hampton, an actor, gets a part as a Roman soldier in his hometown’s professionally produced Passion Play. As Rick works hard to learn his lines, he’s also trying to navigate his personal life which is in turmoil. Recently separated, he’s temporarily staying with his mother, who exemplifies so many Christian virtues, including also giving temporary shelter to Karen, Rick’s estranged wife. When Rick is asked to take on the role of Jesus, which includes a dramatic, stylized crucifixion scene, questions begin to arise for him and he’s forced to take a good l...
To Whom the Cross Speaks
Adult Easter by Betsy Tan
16 pages
7 m, 6 w.
A large, rugged cross is found standing in a messy alley. People passing by are shocked to see it. The cross speaks a message in an effort to express God's love and compassion, but what effect does it have? Reactions are split between two groups: those who think it foolishness and those who are reminded of what happened 2,000 years ago. Some hear and live; others refuse to hear and die. A dramatic and inspiring play you won't soon forget. Appropriate for Easter as well as throughout the year. Performance time: About 30 minutes.
Barabbas
Drama by Hilary Mackelden
67 pages
Large, flexible cast; much doubling possible.
A thief and rebel, Barabbas dreams of leading a free Judea. He is captured and sentenced to die, but on the eve of his execution, he is reprieved and a rabbi, Jesus, dies instead. Barabbas is pleased about this until rumors start that the dead rabbi has risen and is now very much alive. Jealous and resentful, Barabbas plots to expose the resurrection as a fraud, thus regaining his own position as leader, but his plot goes awry when he himself comes face to face with the living, breathing Jesus. Few Easter plays are written from Barabbas’ point of view, much l...
Resurrecting Charlie
Easter by Tracy Wells
32 pages
17 m, 3 w, 7-14 flexible
Resurrecting Charlie is a dramatic “play within a play” which tells the story of a traveling Christian drama group who is producing the show, “The Easter Story Spectacular!” Its star, Charlie, struggles with the poor decisions and mistakes of his past and hopes to get back on track by learning why Jesus sacrificed Himself to save us from our sins. Charlie’s stardom-obsessed costar Logan and his jealous director Kathryn conspire against him, while his friend and production assistant Amanda helps him see the true meaning of the Easter story. This pla...
Guilty as Charged
Easter by Tambra Kay Petrie
28 pages
3 m, 3 w.
Doug and Jeff Montgomery, along with their wives, and college-student sister, Sara Montgomery, are heading home for the weekend to perform a play for the church's annual Easter Sunrise Service. As luck would have it, they are stranded at a run-down lodge where they meet Calvin Bruzenski, a lovable but not-too-bright "surfer dude" who sets his sights for Sara. To make good use of their stranded, waiting time, Jeff and Doug decide to rehearse their Easter skit. Calvin, eavesdropping and unfamiliar with the story of Jesus' death and resurrection, believes it to ...
Hey! That's My Donkey
Adult Easter by Christy Long
32 pages
15 m, 6 w, 1 child, 2 flex, extras. Much doubling possible.
Issachar cares about only one thing, money. So when Rachel, his wife, generously loans their donkey to Jesus' disciples for the Master's use, Issachar is furious and determined to get his donkey back. Several encounters with Jesus and a week of searching for his animal find him still "donkey-less" and seemingly still heartless. In a final attempt to get his donkey back, he unknowingly enters into a plot with Judas and the Pharisees to kill Jesus. Despondent over what he has done, Issachar hurries off to Golgotha to try to explain things to Jesus before He die...
Final Exchange
Adult Easter by Robert Hammett
24 pages
4 m, 2 w, 1 child, voice.
An incarcerated Barabbas is being attacked on three different sides: a Roman soldier set on avenging his brother's death, a crazy man he has to share a cell with, and his own memories of a life full of anger and doubt that has plagued him for as long as he can remember. If the soldier doesn't kill him, he is painfully aware of his own impending crucifixion just a few days away. In the middle of all this turmoil, a voice of reason and hope presents itself in the form of a cranky old cleaning woman. She reaches out to Barabbas, but unfortunately, her mission of...
Rose in the Courtyard
Adult Easter by Craig Sodaro
24 pages
3 m, 3 w
On the eve of his appointment as a Roman governor, Flavius faces a tragic dilemma. His daughter, Gena, professes she is a Christian during one of the great persecutions. Flavius' wife, driven by ambition, wants nothing to block his appointment - even if that means her husband must sentence her step-daughter to death. Flavius is torn between his desire to uphold the law, his love for his daughter, and an inner light that seems to be guiding him contrary to all that he believes. The impact of the play comes from a rosebush. Cruelly clipped of all its beautiful ...