An Original Script For a Quick and Easy But Effective Performance
It’s late in the season, and if you need a Christmas skit, you have probably already found one. However, I would like to share the one we did this year–“One Holy Night,” an original script for a quick and easy but effective performance. It is perfect for performance by a small group with a limited budget, and it requires limited staging. If you need something to fit into a worship service, this will work. We did it as the drama team’s contribution to the high school Christmas celebration which also included the band and choir concerts. The skit includes scripture and plenty of awe and wonder, a little evil, and some anachronistic humor.
Perhaps the greatest asset of this script as a piece of “literature,” is that the authors retained the reality, the rustic feel, of the way things must have been, much the same as Lori Erickson did in her article “On Christmas Eve: Thinking About Holsteins and the Holy.”
That’s the way it was, you know. There was confusion and peace, the common and the miraculous, the rustic and the brilliant, the human and the divine. The birth of Jesus was real.
“One Holy Night” was written by my Creative Writing Class: Shelby Elerick, Halle Baum, Haley Weaver, and Hannah Shepherd, and me.
One Holy Night: What You Need
7+ Characters: Mary, Joseph, Innkeeper, Groundskeeper, Shepherd, Herod, Wiseman, people in Herod’s entourage
Traditional Bible costumes
A homemade scrim made with a wooden frame and white sheets
A spotlight and a light for behind the scrim
A homemade litter for Herod (This can be a chair nailed to a piece of particle board with 3 long poles attached to carry it on the shoulders of 6 strong, steady people.) The litter is not necessary: Herod can walk in with his people, just as long as he looks very pampered and important.
One Holy Night: The Script
Mary
[walks to center stage and spot light comes on]
[quiet and in awe] An Angel came to me in the night. He said I would give birth to the Son of God. How am I, Mary, daughter of man, supposed to raise the Son of God? King of kings. King of kings! How am I supposed to raise the King of kings? God, why did you choose me? It could have been anyone else, but no, You chose me. I’m pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Who’s going to believe that? Joseph had his doubts, and I couldn’t blame him. My father said he planned to divorce me quietly. Then God gave him a dream. King of kings … Son of God … Lord over all…I’m giving birth to Him? What if Joseph and I fail to raise Him correctly? God, You chose me to give birth to your Son. I know you chose me for a purpose, so help me, help Joseph, and help our families to understand.
[blackout. Mary walks behind scrim]
Joseph
[walks to center stage and spot light comes on]
Yes, I freaked out when Mary told me she was going to have a baby! And not just any baby, at that, but the Son of God. I have studied about the coming of Messiah all my life, but this is Nazareth … and Mary … and me. The best thing I could think of to do was to divorce her quietly so she would not be publicly disgraced … or stoned to death. I really do care for her! Then, I had a strange dream. An angel came and told me, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because I, God, have given her this child. She will give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus.” It was a dream, but more than a dream, and I believed. I did just as God said and took Mary home as my wife. Now we pray daily, “Lord, prepare us. Teach us what to do. Show us how to raise Your Son.”
[blackout. Joseph walks behind scrim]
Innkeeper
[walks to center stage and spot light comes on]
[with enthusiasm–this character is a fast-talker and a salesman] Welcome to the Shepherd’s Inn where we treat you like family! We have double occupancy rooms, deluxe rooms, and suites …just nothing today. We are completely full; however, I can get you a deluxe room next Tuesday.
[beat as the Innkeeper gives the impression of listening to Joseph talk]
I am so sorry. I can see your wife needs a place to rest. I will talk to my manager to see what I can do.
[turns with with back to audience, then turns back to face audience OR short blackout and lights come back up on the same person]
I am sorry. I checked with my manager and we are booked, there is nothing I can do. But, if you book a room for Tuesday, I can give you a coupon for a free breakfast.
[beat as the Innkeeper gives the impression of listening to Joseph talk]
Let me check with the groundskeeper and see if there is anything he knows about.
[turns with with back to audience, then turns back to face audience OR short blackout and lights come back up on the same person]
I am happy to tell you the groundskeeper and I have found a free place for you and your wife to stay. It is nothing fancy but it will keep you warm and dry. Ever heard of Air B & B? Well, this one is a charming, rustic, actually more “air” than “B and B” … OK, it’s a cave … a rustic, cozy, cave … but you’ll have plenty of privacy. There are a few lambs–they’re pretty shy–they won’t bother you … and donkeys … a cow (maybe two or three)–quite pastoral–and maybe a few mice.
[beat as the Innkeeper gives the impression of listening to Joseph talk]
I do apologize, but if you come back on Tuesday, I will be sure to get you that coupon.
[blackout and Innkeeper goes behind scrim]
Groundskeeper
[walks to center stage and spot light comes on]
[angry] The Innkeeper asked me to put this man and woman in a cave. It makes me so angry. Who would bring his pregnant wife to Bethlehem in this crowd? Who would put his pregnant wife in a cave? What if they wake up my cows? The donkey will rage. Why would they do this? I’m angry … [beat, attitude noticeably softens], but I feel as though it is my purpose to help, like it’s my job. These people look normal, but then again there is something special about them. They have this light shining over them in the night, like they were sent by God. Once the baby came, I expected noise and crying. That baby, however, is silent, like he is a perfect baby. Like I said there is something different about this family. Maybe it’s Mary, maybe it’s Joseph, but truly there’s something different about this baby. He’s a light, a sign of peace. He is peaceful, and he is perfect. [determined] This family is different, and I want to know why!
[blackout and grounds keeper goes behind scrim]
Shepherd
[walks to center stage and spot light comes on]
[Awe] As I stood there, watching my flock with my fellow shepherds. I noticed a light, so bright that my eyes couldn’t bear to stay open. [beat, then braggingly] I’m really brave–I killed a lion once, and plenty of jackals with my bare hands [returns to awe], but I got scared, wondering what was happening to us. Then, an angel appeared. He said “Do not be afraid. For I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you, He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Once he spoke to us, more angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on Earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” When they all left us, and we were back to the dark of night, I looked around and spoke to everyone. I said “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord has told us about.” Soon after, we started off. Once we found Mary and Joseph, the baby was there, laying in a manger. We introduced ourselves to them and praised God for what He had done. Traveling back into town, we spread the word about how the Messiah was born, as people looked at us amazed at what we said. Then, they went, too.
[blackout and shepherd goes behind scrim]
Herod
[Spotlight follows Herod’s litter from back to front. The litter is preceded by drums or other fanfare. Herod rises from the litter and addresses the crowd]
[with authority] I, King Herod of Jerusalem, am the most high and powerful king [gets quiet, contemplative], but there are rumors. People say a baby has been born. They are calling him the Messiah and the Lord. How is that possible!? I am the one and only Lord!!!
[blackout. He exists, but does not go behind the scrim]
Wise Man
[He carries a scroll]
One quiet night, I was watching the stars as I usually do, but when I looked to the West, I saw a strange star. A star that wasn’t there before. I sought wisdom in old scrolls, old prophecies. An elderly prophet, the wisest man I know, pointed me to ancient writings from the time of the captivity of the Hebrews. He told me I might find something there. I eventually found these words:
[open the scroll]
Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore, will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
[close the scroll]
I will follow that star toward Bethlehem and find this king. I will carry him gifts.
[blackout and wiseman goes behind scrim]
Herod
[returning to the stage and spot comes on]
I will tell the Magi to go and search for the child, because I would like to go and worship him. Ha, ha! Me, the mighty Herod, worship him! Hahahaha …But, if this plan fails, [very sinister here] I will simply give orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and in its vicinity who are two years old and under. I will find this boy and make him no more. [point to audience and speak with force] I will not allow any of this nonsense!!!
[aggressively storms to his chair on the litter and is carried out with the same loud pomp with which he arrived]
[Blackout]
Keyboard plays a gentle version of a few bars of “Silent Night” as light behind the scrim comes on giving the traditional silhouette of the Nativity figures: Mary and Joseph, shepherd, wiseman, innkeeper, and groundskeeper. It is important that this scene be in utter contrast with the loud entourage of Herod.
Light on the scrim goes out: house lights come up
I hope you enjoyed One Holy Night: an Original Script For a Quick and Easy But Effective Performance. If you have questions about the skit or how it may be performed, please contact me at beverly.green@eastrichland.org.
God bless you, and may you take great joy in this holy season.
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