Easter

24 pages

2 m, 3 w, 2 flexible parts. Also 7 to 9 non-speaking roles.

Five college students from various backgrounds are meeting just before Easter break to discuss a special project for graduation. All are very talented, but quite different from each other. There's Kirk, the athlete who's comfortable in his Christianity; Logan, the cynical "get-by" Christian; Catilin, the sorority girl who wears her Christianity like jewelry; Julie, the silent Christian; and finally Shelley, an agnostic who wonders if all Christians are like the ones she knows. It seems like nothing will make these students understand one another better until ...

46 pages

6 men, 5 women, 1 teen, 3 children, extras

Judith, a middle-aged widow, makes her livelihood by selling funeral spices and shrouds in front of her home just blocks from the temple. She is an unfriendly and unlikeable woman who mysteriously rejects Jesus and his teachings. Although her visiting cousin, Simon, and her neighbor and friend, Leah, both accept Jesus, Judith does not. Even after she witnesses Jesus heal a blind man and later sees Him struggle past her house carrying the cross, Judith rejects Him. It's not until Jesus confronts her after His resurrection and reveals her deepest hurts does she...

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 ...

47 pages

1 m, 2 w

Jacob is a decent family man trying to earn a living as a guard at the temple in Jerusalem. But his life becomes complicated by the maverick preacher, Jesus. First Jacob finds his roof damaged after a crowd lowered a crippled man down into Jacob's home where his wife Miriam and daughter Deborah had arranged for Jesus to visit--unbeknown to Jacob. He forbids Jesus in his home again, but that doesn't stop Miriam and Deborah from following Jesus. Their participation is damaging Jacob's career prospects as his bosses are trying to keep this Jesus under control. W...

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...

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 ...

14 pages

7 speakers.

The events at Calvary changed the history of the world. It's easy to identify with the people involved as you listen to their stories. Characters include Peter, Pilate, Mary Magdalene, Judas, Caiaphas, and Mary. Each perceptive monologue is followed by a special prayer given by the leader or minister. Like the Christmas play, "The Road to Bethlehem," this drama can be performed almost anywhere with little rehearsal. Performance time: 15 minutes.

56 pages

Flexible cast.

Celebrate the Easter season with this incredible collection of skits. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, there is a skit for all the Holy Days and Sundays in Lent, 10 skits in all. The skits portray people who surrounded Jesus during his last weeks. They are real people who struggled with the same problems dealing with His life and lessons as people of today. Some approach Jesus with their intellects, some with their emotions, and some with a commitment of the soul that is beyond heart and mind. The Lenten dramas emphasize the thoughts and feelings of women while Ho...

19 pages

3 m, 2 w.

Joel, bitter and cynical, is one of the Roman soldiers appointed to crucify Christ. He does not believe this man is the Messiah God has promised in fact, he does not believe in anything good. He makes a great sport in the making of a crown of thorns to be placed on Jesus' head. His mother, brother, and betrothed are horrified, but cannot change his mind. He does believe, however, at the moment of the crucifixion. A powerful theme, easy to produce. Performance time: 45 minutes.

46 pages

4 m, 4 w, 1 girl.

To Grandma Molly, Easter means a time of rejoicing and for her fullest joy, Molly needs her children about her in worship at church. But she finds that isn't easy. She grieves over her daughter's lack of interest, the unbelief of her son-in-law, and the worries of her son and daughter-in-law over their teenagers. Allen, a widower, is understanding for he has "crumbling walls" in his family too. Together, Molly and Allen gather up the fragments and go on, for nothing can completely spoil Easter, the time of the empty tomb. About 90 minutes.

32 pages

3 m, 2 w, 2 teen girls, 1 teen boy, 1 younger boy

The emotional highs and lows of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday through Easter, are experienced by two families. One present-day family and one Biblical family share the stage and tell two parallel stories of the expectations, fears, pain and final joy that characterized the last week of Jesus' life on earth. John and his sister's family struggle with relationships and John's pending departure from their home. Benjamin and Sarah wrestle with divided reactions to Christ's triumphant entrance into their city and the events of the days that follow. On Good Friday, b...

45 pages

8 m, 1 w, 3 flexible, many speaking extras

When high-schooler Tom is assigned a report titled “Jesus: Myth or Reality?” he wants tangible evidence, not just faith. Resting for a moment, he dreams he is a reporter in biblical time. Motivated by a possible promotion, he must disprove that Jesus is the Messiah. First he meets Nicodemus who secretly requests that Tom speak with Jesus face-to-face before writing his article. Later Tom meets John the Baptist, a man healed by Jesus, a vendor, and Caiaphas. But Tom finds himself scrambling to save Jesus after hearing plans to arrest him. Instead of getting th...

47 pages

4 m, 6 w - 1 optional

Detective Vic Torious is called to the ranch of Bill Yonnaire, the host of the Third Annual Easter Eggs-pedition, an extreme Easter egg hunt. This year’s event is to be televised for the first time. But the ultimate prize, a solid-gold Easter egg worth a million dollars, has disappeared before it is officially “hidden.” Who stole the high-priced egg? Could it be Rev. Evan Zabove, the preacher with a desire to be on TV? Or perhaps it’s the newly crowned champion of the American Superstar TV series, Carrie Oakey. Add in a retired supermodel, a ruthless...

62 pages

3 m, 6 w, 8 flexible roles, 12 extras as the jury

The Easter story is retold through many different viewpoints in this fascinating contemporary courtroom drama. It places three of the Passion narrative's characters on trial for their role in the crucifixion of Christ: Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus; Caiaphus, the Jewish High Priest who presided over Jesus' trial; and Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor who sentenced Jesus to death. The prosecution calls on their witnesses: a person who represent Matthew, writer of the first gospel, as well people to represent Mark and John. Through questioning, each tells...

43 pages

2 m, 3 w, 1 g.

The story of a physician who loses his respect and self-confidence in the face of Jesus' great healing powers. Embittered, the doctor strikes Jesus at His trial. Soon he finds his arm limp and lifeless. Although his family begs him to go to the cross while Jesus still lives, the physician refuses until, with thunder crashing over the house, his wife declares, "Now it is too late." Later, when the physician and his family learn that Jesus has risen, they realize it is never too late to seek forgiveness and be healed through prayer. About 60 minutes.