Easter

16 pages

6 m, 4 w (2 are nonspeaking), 2 flexible

Jesus’ last words on the cross profoundly changed those who heard them. He continued to teach us how to live even in the final moments of His life as He hung on the cross in the agony of His execution. His lessons of forgiveness for the offender, salvation for the sinner, and trust and love for family and friends guide our daily lives. In this play, each character hears a phrase from Jesus' final utterances and reflects on its importance. Two narrators unify monologues delivered by characters whom Jesus affected during the course of His life. All characters a...

34 pages

16 m, 13 w, 3 teen boys, 2 teen girls, and extras as townspeople.

After the crucifixion, believers and nonbelievers were filled with doubt. Followers asked how Jesus could leave, even after promising that He would not? Nonbelievers questioned themselves— what if they did kill the Christ? Yet among the chaos and grief Christ came to them and comforted them. He continued to teach about faith and trust. With the ascension, for those who would witness and believe, the Holy Spirit would come upon them, marking the beginning of Christianity. Hallelujah! The cross is empty. Jesus lives. This Biblically inspired play runs about 90 ...

36 pages

9 m (with doubling), 5 w, 3 children, extras.

It is the time of Passover and Jesus has just re-entered the city. The city bustles as people flock to meet their Messiah and to witness Him healing the sick and the crippled. Simon, who has lost his faith in God, rejects claims that Jesus is the Messiah. Instead, Simon stays home, consumed with worry as a drought threatens the crops he sells. But Simon's blind son, Alexander, ventures into the crowded streets to meet his Savior and to restore his father's faith in the Lord. When Jesus lays His hands upon Alexander's eyes, Alexander finds that he is no longer...

30 pages

flexible casting

Lent and Easter come alive with these seven dramatic portrayals, each 10 to 15 minutes long. These portrayals can be performed sequentially to form an entire program, or select ones can be performed singly to enhance a worship service. The dramas follow the events as they actually happened, beginning with John at midnight after the Last Supper, and ending with Barabbas some thirty years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Other portrayals are the voices of Judas, Peter, Caiaphas, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. The monologues are as historically acc...

12 pages

About 20 minutes.

Here is an excellent collection of six short dramatic scenes and monologues in which an agent of the devil visits Biblical characters at their most vulnerable moments, right after the crucifixion. The Samaritan woman, Peter, John, a centurion and others, the agent preys on their weaknesses - their shame, their fear, their doubt. But faith wins out each and every time. Let these scenes inspire your congregation this Easter. Easy to rehearse. About 20 minutes.

34 pages

Flexible

You’ll find something for children of all ages in this resource book of recitations, choral readings and three short plays. The recitations cover the Easter experience, from Jesus’ entry in Jerusalem to the resurrection, and beyond. With simple themes and words for the very young, and more advanced concepts and vocabulary for older boys and girls, these verses will allow your entire Sunday school to participate in your Easter program. Your older pre-teens will enjoy these three short Easter-themed plays which require minimal adult direction. The pre-teens can...

21 pages

14 readers.

Here is a beautiful, inspiring, candlelight Easter service. It is the reverse of a Good Friday Tenebrae service in that as a variety of people read short monologues representing witnesses to the crucifixion and resurrection, candles are lit rather than extinguished. Scripture readings, prayers, and suggested hymns are also included. A dramatic service to show the true joy of the resurrection. About 45-minutes. 

28 pages

13 males, 3 females, and 12 + flexible

This show is a modern rendition of the traditional Easter story, highlighting events surrounding Jesus’ last days. From the time he arrives in Galilee to his arrest, death and resurrection, the audience will be captivated by this biblical retelling. The story is set in present day and includes D12, his street-smart gang of disciples, a young group of zealous followers who later turn on him, and the Pharisees and Sadducees dressed in priestly garments and big church hats, who plot to end Jesus’ fame. Using dramatic monologues, comedic lines, heartfelt songs an...

48 pages

3 m, 3 w

In this play, six witnesses to the Sermon on the Mount recreate the experience for an early assembly of Christians. In the recreation, witnesses take turns acting as Jesus, audience members, and narrators of the story. Though much more entertaining and humorous than most translations of the Sermon, Jesus’s words in this version closely follow the original Greek in the order that He spoke them. This word order demonstrates the warmth and cleverness that Jesus used to draw people into His message. This allows audiences today to hear these words in an exciting n...

20 pages

4 readers and an ensemble of players

Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with this Easter vigil play. A cast of four readers brings the Bible to life, and into our modern lives. A troupe of players move among the readers, illuminating the text with movement and pantomime. Six individual Bible stories are dramatically portrayed, including Creation, Abraham and Isaac, Noah and the Flood, Crossing the Red Sea, The Promise of an Abundant Life, and The Three Men in the Fiery Furnace. Anticipating the Promise reminds us that these ancient stories still matter to a modern audience. Run time 15 minutes....

43 pages

3 m, 3 w, 1 flexible part.

Mary, a wealthy widow, is unsure if Jesus is the Messiah until she lets the upper room in her home be used by his disciples for what becomes the Last Supper. Events get out of control after the meal, especially when Mary's teenage son, Mark, follows Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane. But her faith becomes absolute later when her friend Joanna announces Jesus has risen. A powerful story, which reaffirms the message that through Christ's death and resurrection, we are cleansed of our sins. Performance time: 40 minutes.

44 pages

11 monologues and duets (up to 9 w)

These eleven monologues and duets, presented through nine women, tell the emotional events of Jesus’ Crucifixion and the miracle of his foretold Resurrection. Chronologically arranged, they closely follow the Passion story in interweaving the women’s relationships with Jesus and with each other. Each piece, however, may stand alone, whether in a liturgical role during a worship service, or as part of a program. "Seeking Jesus" assists us in seeing these women as individuals. They are mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, disciples – just as women of today. Leng...

39 pages

4 m, 4 w.

Malchus, a high priest's servant, has his ear severed by Peter during the arrest of Jesus, but after Jesus heals him, Malchus' hatred and rejection of Jesus disappear. Later, when he hears the news of Jesus' resurrection, he accepts Him as the Messiah as does his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Tabitha, even though in doing so she must give up her boyfriend, Gideon, the son of a high priest. Neither Malchus' mother-in-law nor his cousin, however, can believe that a convicted criminal is truly the Son of God. A strong story of Christian conversion. Performance ...

21 pages

Ensemble cast of 18 - 23

This dramatic presentation highlights the power of the spoken words of Jesus and the spoken promises of God. It uses the eloquence of figurative language and poetry to recreate the monumental events that capture Jesus’ last days on earth. Incorporating dramatic movement and hymns, an ensemble cast will take you full circle on a journey from when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt to the Last Supper, a Passover celebration gone wrong. The imagery depicting the horrific death of Jesus will come to life, and in the final scene you will be reminded of His life...

24 pages

10 m, 2 w, 5 flex, 2 teens, 4 extras, doubling possible.

In the bowels of hell, Satan schemes with his computer-wielding intelligence officer, Abaddon, and his cohorts Sin, Death, Hell, and Grave. Their mission: to kill the Carpenter, the one who has been thwarting Satan's plans for the humans. Only Satan is aware of the Carpenter's true identity, for his unwary accomplices are simply pawns in his vengeful battle against Yahweh who kicked him out of heaven. You will get the behind-the-scenes look at Jesus' battle with spiritual wickedness through His life and death and finally His defeat of the spirits of darkness ...