The Rehearsal
A Christmas Comedy
By Jo Bower

From the Collection 
Readers’ Plays for Small Churches of Any Size  
by Jo Bower
Available on Amazon.com 
ISBN 0-9721530-5-5
Also Available from 
Ten Talents Publishing LLC
147 Hwy 1206
Deville, LA 71328
http://tellsofcutezar.tripod.com
e-mail author at jobower@suddenlink.net

 
Summary

The cast of a church production of the Nativity play are in the throes of rehearsal. In the first scene, semi chaos reigns. In the second scene, as the cast perform for real, there is a completely different atmosphere.

Characters
Mary
Joseph
Angel
Director
Wiseman one
Wiseman two
Shepherds one
Shepherd two
Narrator
Choir Director
Choir Member #one (woman)
Choir Member # two (man)
Herod
Advisor
Choir (Singers)

Director's Notes

This is a reader’s play with action. The actors carry the script with them in pretense that they are the script for the play they are rehearsing. You can even make fake covers for the script titled “The Nativity” or something like that.

	This play is self explanatory as one of the characters is the director of a play. If you will instruct the other actors to listen to that character, they will pretty much know what they are supposed to do.... except when getting it wrong is part of the play. If you don't have three aisles, use the one opposite of the 'right' one for the 'wrong' aisle. Adjust the aisles you use to your church's layout. 
	Make up signs to hang around people's necks with their character's name on it for the first act. This helps the congregation keep track of what's going on with all the interruptions.
	This is one play where you really need a group of singers as part of the play. Even a small congregation could not get into the action enough to cause the frustration necessary for the Director's last line of the first act.  
	However, you just need enough singers to add mayhem to the tangle of people at the end of act one. That last line is the culmination of the whole act's confusion, and is the most important one to get right for timing. The jumble of people needs the most attention so the director's frustration is believable. Don't forget to use the instrument players (piano, organ, band) if necessary to further confuse the jumble.
	Mary and Joseph should probably be teens or younger readers
(or anyone who can get away with telling knock-knock jokes).
	Dim the lights if possible for the second act. It is also VERY effective if costumes are worn. Even as I wrote it, I had no idea the effect the contrast between the two acts would have on the congregation. The second act suddenly became very sacred during the performance. The person who dismissed in prayer spoke of the chaos of the first act symbolizing the chaos of the world around us and the quietness of the second act the peace Jesus brought into the world. Even writers get surprised sometimes.

Scene One
	Takes place at the front of a church at the last rehearsals before a simple Christmas pageant. There are two scenes. In the center is the manger scene. On the right is Herod’s palace, and on the left is the house where the wise men visit. People are milling around, waiting for the director to begin. 
Scene Two	
Same setting, but serious. The house lights are down. The characters are all either in the back or in the side room. The only speaker is the Narrator, but they have their scripts still so they know where to go and when to begin.

 Script

(Cast are assembled on stage, somewhat haphazardly.)

Director
We’ve made some signs telling you who you are so you 
won’t get mixed up. Here, someone help me hand them out.

 (Narrator and others help, amid general chatter and chuckles.)
	
Choir members, take your place and sit down.

(The two choir members with speaking parts stop by the mic on their way to their places. The other choir members find their places while they talk.)

Female Choir Member
When I was a kid, I liked being Mary because she never had to say anything. 
But when I got older, they made her start reciting  the song thing she said to Elizabeth when she visited. I quit liking to be Mary about that time.

Male Choir  Member
I liked being King Herod.

Female Choir Member
You would like being the bad guy.

Male Choir Member
He wasn’t bad . . . Just insecure and scared.

Female Choir Member
He was afraid of the wrong thing.

Male Choir  Member
I remember a play when I was a kid. I was a shepherd and 
somehow the shepherds and wise men got mixed up. 
I mean, we were in costume and everything. 
The wise men came in when the shepherds were supposed to 
and said their lines perfectly. They went to the manger 
gave their gifts and everything. Well, that went ok because 
a lot of times we had that part wrong anyway. 
I guess the audience didn’t realize it was wrong 
until we shepherds showed up at the house where the 
Wisemen were supposed to be. One of my fellow shepherds said 
“We saw the angels in the sky and the star led us here.” 
The kid who was playing Joseph was a cut up and didn’t miss a beat. 
He stood up straight and let us have it.
 “Well, you’re two years late. Where’d that star take you?”

Female Choir Member
What did the adults do?

Male Choir  Member
(shrugs)
They didn’t have anyplace to go. The Wisemen
 were already on stage. So, they just laughed and let 
it go on, but the laughter encouraged the kids.
The one Shepherd with the speaking part just 
jumped right in and starts telling the story of the 
Israelites’ escape from Egypt. He says, 
“First we crossed this big river, on dry land even. 
And God drowned the people chasing us.” 
And on he goes. By the time he gets very far, 
the congregation has quit laughing and is listening to 
this perfect recitation of the journey. No one had any 
idea this kid has been listening to all the 
stories for the last four years.

Female Choir Member
How old were you?

Male Choir  Member
We were about seven.

Female Choir Member
What happened?

Male Choir  Member
Suddenly, just before starting Joshua’s battles, 
the kid looked up and sighed. “Well, it’s a long story, 
but that’s how we got here.”
I don’t know what possessed me. I guess I was 
caught up in the story. But suddenly I remembered I 
was a shepherd and we started this story 
watching the sheep by night. I remember clearly saying. 
“Boy, is our father going to be mad! 
We left the sheep two years ago!”
And that ended the program. 
I’ve never lived that down.

Female Choir Member
Did that really happen?
(Male choir Member starts to answer, 
but Director interrupts him. They go to their places.)

Director
Okay, let’s get started. We’re going to do a walk
 through so you’ll remember your final places. 
Then we’ll do the whole thing without stopping. 
Choir, why don’t you get us in the mood 
by going through your opening number?

The choir sings  Joy to the World, (One Verse)

Director
Good. Nice. During the program, you’ll remain 
up there for the whole program, so you 
can sit down. Shepherds, Wisemen and Herod 
and advisor, sit on the first two rows. Mary and 
Joseph and angel, go to the stable. 
No... Wisemen, go to the back.

(Everyone follows directions, slowly, talking among themselves. 
The narrator goes to talk to the director.)
(Mary, Joseph and the angel start toward the 
stable and stop at the microphone.)

Joseph
Knock, Knock

Mary
Who’s there?

Joseph
A Wayne.

Mary
Wayne who?

Joseph
A Wayne in a manger... !

Mary
Cute. Knock, Knock

Joseph
Who’s there?

Mary
Noah.

Joseph
Noah who?

Mary
Noah good place to eat?

Angel
Knock, Knock.

Mary
Who’s there?

Angel
Police.

Joseph
Police who?

Angel
Police, stop telling these
 Knock-Knock jokes!

Director 
(to the kids in the
 manger scene.)

SSh! During the program you’re the first ones
 to come in from the back of the church.
 Listen for the choir’s first number. When the narrator
starts reading, you start in. For now, stay where you are.

( She turns to speak 
to the narrator) 
You’ll read here . . . 
(voice becomes 
indistinct.)

Angel
I know this lady that kept missing her animals 
out of her small manger scene after Christmas. 
Her boy had gotten a toy tractor and trailer set 
for Christmas, and she found him with all the 
animals in the back of the trailer. When she 
asked him what he was doing he said, 
“I’m taking them to the sale.” 
 And guess who was driving?

Mary
Who?

Angel
Mary should know. Jesus was driving!
 Taking them to the sale!

Joseph
Cool!

Director
Shepherds, you need to 
be in the back. Go!
Angel, Mary and Joseph, you are 
supposed to be at the stable.

(The shepherds go semi-quietly)
 (Mary and Joseph and angel go to stable)

Shepherd One    
(Stopping at the microphone.)
Done any hunting yet?

Shepherd Two
Not yet this year. Too bad we don’t live in 
reindeer country. We could catch some for 
the school play. They can’t do the manger at school, 
but at least live deer would show the beauty God made.

Shepherd One
That reminds me of this man in Tennessee’s 
encounter with a deer. He was in his pick 
up, and it was just dusk and foggy.

Shepherd Two
Yeah, that’s when they come out.

Shepherd One
Well, I guess he knew that, cause when he saw
 a deer, he rolled his window down so 
he could see better. He was going really slow, 
and just as he passed the deer, it jumped! 
It came through his window and landed in his lap!

Shepherd Two
You’re kidding!

Shepherd One
No, a true story. Anyway they fought. 
The deer couldn’t get out the other side 
‘cause the window was up, and it couldn’t 
get turned around to get out. The driver decided 
he was getting too cut up by the flying hooves, 
so he opened the door and jumped. He just stood in 
the middle of the road and watched the deer 
drive his pickup off the road and into a tree.

Shepherd Two 
(laughing)
I don’t think I believe that.

Shepherd One
It’s true. It was on the Nashville news. 
But I always wonder what the insurance 
agent thought. Reason for claim: 
Deer drove my truck into a tree.

Director
Quiet back there!
Let’s go back now. In the program, the shepherds 
will be in the back, while the choir sings. 
The Narrator will read the Mary and Joseph scripture. 
Mary and Joseph, go back to the seats 
and come up while the Narrator reads 
about your journey, then go right into 
the shepherds’ scene. Narrator, begin.

Narrator 
(begins reading.)
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to 
expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Blah blah blahhhh I’m cutting some of this out.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her 
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there 
was no room for them in the inn.

Director
The Choir sings a medley here, 
But we won’t do it right now. Narrator, continue.

Narrator
	And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  
And so on...
I’m shortening this, too.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off....

(Narrator reads the shepherd’s scene,
 and comes to the end but Shepherd are not there.)

Director 
(breaking in)
Shepherds, you are supposed to be here!

Shepherd Two  
 (laughing)
Sorry, can you start again?

Narrator
Again?

Director
Okay, Narrator, start the shepherds’ scene again.

Narrator
Okay . . . 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they  were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Director
Shepherds?

Shepherds 
  (In unison)
Coming !
 (they start down the left, right,  
(or wrong) aisle)

Narrator   
(takes up where stopped)
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God
 and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’

Director
No, the middle Aisle. Start again.

Narrator  
(sighs, but doesn’t make any
 remarks, just starts reading again.)
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. And so on.... .

(Shepherds finally arrive as 
Narrator ends scripture)
Choir Claps and ad libs 
encouraging remarks…) 

Choir
Yeah! Finally! Good!
(Shepherds bow to the choir)
.
Director
Shepherds, did you get that?

Shepherds
(Together)
Got it.

Director
You go and kneel or stand next to 
the manger. Do it. 
(Shepherds obey). 
Stay there. Okay, will you remember that?

Shepherds
Yes!!!

Director
Okay. We’ll run through the whole 
thing in a minute. Wise men, where are you?

Wiseman One 
(from the back)
Back here.

Director
Get ready. Narrator, let’s go over your scripture here.
 I don’t think we want to read the whole thing . . . 

(she picks up her script and
 goes to the narrator)

Wiseman One
If the Wisemen knew so much, why 
did they have to ask Herod’s opinion?

Wiseman Two
Prophecy?  I don’t know. Courtesy?  
One king to another?

Director
Choir, why don’t you do We 
Three Kings while we work this out.

(Choir Starts We Three Kings,
 But Choir director stops them, 
fussing at them a little.
 Ex: You’re too  sharp there… 
or you went flat in phrase one)

Wiseman One 
(after song.)

Did you hear about the guy who took 
the twelve days of Christmas song seriously?

Wiseman Two
No. That’s weird.

Wiseman One
His girl’s name was Agnes, and she wrote 
a note after every gift. I thought they were 
funny, so I copied them.
 (Pulls out copy from pocket)
December 14	My Darling John
Whoever in the world would dream of 
getting a real partridge in a pear tree? 
Thank you a hundred times for 
thinking of me in this way. All my love, Agnes.
December 15 Dearest John. Today the 
postman brought your sweet gift Just imagine 
two turtle doves. I’m just delighted at your
 very thoughtful gift. They are just adorable.
All my love, Agnes
December 16 Dear John: Oh! Aren’t you the
 extravagant one?  But really, I must protest. 
Three French hens. They are just darling 
but please, you’re too kind. All my love, Agnes
December 17 Dear John:  Today the 
postman delivered four calling birds. 
They are beautiful, but don’t you
 think that’s enough. Affectionately, Agnes

Wiseman Two
Here’s the one about the rings. Notice it’s back to dearest.

Wiseman One
Yeah. (Reads) December 18. Dearest John:  
What a surprise. Today the postman 
delivered five golden rings, one for every
 finger. I love it. Frankly, all those birds
 squawking were beginning to get
 on my nerves. All my love, Agnes

Wiseman Two
Just wait. Isn’t it back to the birds?

Wiseman One
Yeah. (Reading)  December 19 Dear John, 
When I opened the door today there were
 actually six geese laying on my front steps. 
So you’re back to the birds again huh? 
These geese are huge. The racket’s keeping
 me awake!  Please stop. Cordially, Agnes

Wiseman Two
Cordially?

Wiseman One
Yes, and December 20, it’s just John. 
(Reads) 
John: What’s with the birds?? Seven
swans a swimming. They are not created to
be in my house. What am I supposed to do 
with them? I need to take a bath tonight!
 Am I supposed to take them to the swamp?
 The alligators will love that! I’m a 
nervous wreck. It’s not funny. 
So stop sending birds! Agnes

And look, December 21, it’s Okay, Buster
 (reads) 
December 21, OK, Buster:
I think I prefer the birds. Did you tell the 
 eight maids a milking to bring their cows?
  You’re going to have to come over here
 and clean up! I’m warning you, stop! Agnes
December 22, really gets down to business.
 Hey Sicko, What are you doing? 
The nine pipers playing are upsetting the 
cows and they’re stepping all over those
 screeching birds. I need help! The neighbors
 have started signing petitions. You’ll get yours!  
 (He looks up.) 
No signature.

Wiseman Two
She’s calling the police when
he sent the ten ladies dancing!

Wiseman One
I love the last two days. December 24, Listen Jerk: 
Those eleven lords are leaping over the cows,
 the nine pipers playing won’t stop and the
 ten ladies dancing are exhausted. And the 
eight  maids a-milking have started talking
 about eating the cows ‘cause they’re out of milk. 
All twenty-three of the birds are dead. 
They’ve been trampled to death in the 
chaos. I hope you’re satisfied!  (Laughs)
And it’s signed, Your sworn enemy!
And here’s December 25

Director
Just get it over with and let’s
 get back to work.

Wiseman One  
(Suddenly becoming aware
 everyone is listening)

Huh?  Okay, December 25,
 (Continues, suddenly serious,
 lawyer voice)

	Dear Sir: This is to acknowledge your
 latest gift of twelve fiddlers fiddling which
 you have seen fit to inflict on our client, 
Miss Agnes McHolstein. The destruction, of
course, was total. All correspondence should 
come to our attention. If you should attempt 
to reach Miss McHolstein at Happy Dale Sanitarium,
 the attendants have been instructed to 
shoot you on sight. With this letter please
 find attached a warrant for your arrest.
Cordially, Law Offices of Dewy, Cheetah and Howe

Wiseman Two 
(After they quit laughing)

I read the other day that “The Twelve Days of Christmas” 
was written in England as a song to help
 young Catholics learn the points of faith
 because people didn’t read. They memorized everything.
The “true love” is really God. The person who
 gets the presents is really every baptized person.
We’d say Christians. The Christ is the partridge
 in a pear tree. The song, says Christ is like
 a mother partridge who plays like she’s
 hurt to draw predators away from her babies.
I don’t remember them all, but 2 Turtle Doves
 are The Old and New Testaments.
 3 French Hens are Faith, Hope and
Charity. 6 Geese A-laying are the six
 days of creation. The 10 Lords A-leaping
 are the ten commandments, and the
 11 Pipers Piping are the eleven faithful
Apostles.

Wiseman One 
(humorously)
Huh.... Too bad John didn’t know that.

Director 
(covers eyes and shakes head.) 
 (Speaks with dry humor)
At least we learned something. I think.
Okay, Wisemen, as the Narrator reads
 about the wise men, you come
 down the left Aisle.

Narrator 
(reads)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from
 the east came to Jerusalem,  and (they) asked, “Where is the one who has been born king 
of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

(The Wisemen arrive, and
 no one is there.)
Director
Herod will be there, I promise. Go Back.

(They go)
(Herod and his advisor come in
 and take their place, talking.)
Herod
Have you ever read about this guy?

Advisor
Herod?  Wasn’t the one who fiddled while Rome burned?

Herod
No, that was Nero. This guy was so afraid of losing
 his throne he went to awful bloody lengths to keep it.

Advisor
Oh, yeah, he was the guy who killed all the
 kids to make sure Jesus didn’t get away.

Herod
Absolutely Mad. Crazy. 
(Pause)
 I wonder why God used him?

Advisor
I heard this story about a family who had
 a crazy uncle they dressed up as Santa 
Claus every year. One year he stole all the
 presents, unwrapped them, changed the
 wrapping on the presents, and changed all the tags.
Kids got pipes and fishing rods. Adults got pop
 guns, electronic games and bike parts. 
No one’s clothes fit. They finally put
 everything in the middle of the
 floor and took turns picking out gifts.

Herod
What happened?

Advisor
They’re still fighting about who got the
 wrong present, or the one they were 
supposed to get. 
But they still let the uncle be Santa.

Herod
I bet they lock the old gentleman 
in his room Christmas Eve, though.

Director
Can I get your attention!  Narrator

Narrator 
(laughing at the Advisor’s story)
What?

Director
Read the Herod scripture again. 
Wise men come again and leave on cue.

Narrator 
(begins reading)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,
 during the time of King Herod,
 Magi from the east came to Jerusalem,

(The Wisemen come
 down left aisle)
and (they) asked . . 
.
Director
Wait, Herod and Advisor, go out and
 come in just before the Narrator reads
 about the Wisemen coming to see him.

(They exit the door they
 came through)
Director
Narrator, again, please.
 Wisemen, keep coming.

Narrator 
(begins again)
 (Wisemen come  
down the left aisle)

“Where is the one who has been born king  of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” 

(Herod and advisor come out and take their places.)
(Narrator continues)
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: I’m cutting to the End....Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Director
Terrific!  Good. Now, Choir, sing your
song about the Wisemen as
we change scenes. Mary and 
Joseph, go to the house,
Shepherds, go sit down, Herod 
and Advisor, go sit down.

(Everyone, including the Wisemen,
 obey and sit on the front rows. They all
 seem tired now. Mary and Joseph 
leave the manger and go to the house.)

Chior Finishes We Three Kings

Director
Mary and Joseph, are at the house and the 
Wisemen come. Wise men, where are you.

Wiseman Together  
(They raise their hands tiredly)
Here.

Director
You’re not supposed to be sitting down. 
Go to the back and come down the right aisle
 while the narrator reads.

(They trudge to the
 back of the room.)
Good, Narrator, begin the final scripture.

Narrator 
(sighs)

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

(The Wisemen arrive, 
they kneel and 
Lay down the presents,
 and everything is fine.)

Director
As the narrator reads the last verse, 
leave the house, cross over to the middle
aisle and leave. Narrator, read the last few lines.

Narrator
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Director
And we have one last song.
Okay, that’s good. Lets go from the 
beginning. Let’s walk through just the
 Characters without words.
 Everyone in their original places. 
Choir, you can sit this out.
(Everyone gets up, and the choir comes 
down to sit where all the other
 characters were just sitting, and they
 get all tangled up. They end in a tangled 
mass right in front of the manger.)

Director 
(exasperated)
Stop! 
 (Everyone freezes)
Ok, just go sit down.
 Anywhere. Sit!

(Everyone suddenly scrambles
 for a place, and the whole
 room gets very, very quiet.)
(Director Sighs)  
I think we need a break.

End Scene one 

 (At this point, any announcements, offering, and such can be taken care of)   (Congregational songs, while Biblical Characters get into costume.)

SCENE TWO
Same church sanctuary, the lights are dim.

Director
I will give a short introduction, welcome, 
and explanation. Something like. “This is a simple play, 
a pantomime. We wanted to just read 
the scripture and act it out for you. 
We will let the light side of Christmas be 
presented by the children later in their program, 
but we want to focus on the scripture just one more time.”
Choir; please begin with the opening number.

Choir sings Joy To the World.

Narrator
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name 
Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 
	All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” 
	When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

(Narrator pauses as Mary and Joseph come up the middle Aisle,
 and make their way to the manger.)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

Choir: 
Silent Night
While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night

Narrator
		And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

(Angel goes to the back of the Manger)
(Shepherds start down the middle aisle.)

	This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
	“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
	So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
 
(Shepherds stand or kneel at the Manger.)
(King Herod and Advisor enters from the back, 
acting like they are talking)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem,

(The Wisemen come down left aisle and 
are escorted to see the king by the advisor)
And (they) asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:  ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Choir We Three Kings

(During the song, the Wisemen leave
 by side aisle, Mary and Joseph go to the house )
(After the song, the Wisemen begin down the 
Aisle toward the house as the Narrator begins to read again.)

Narrator
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

(The Wisemen open their treasures 
and present them, then kneel)

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

(Wisemen leave, go across to the middle aisle and leave.)

Choir: What Child is This?

Director
(quietly after a long pause)
Terrific! Do it just like that! 
 You are dismissed.

(Characters quietly leave the sets, somehow suddenly aware of the  importance of what they had just enacted.)

………………………………..

© Copyright Jo Bower, all rights reserved. 
This script may be used without royalty payment, provided no charge is made for entry to the performance. In return for free use, the author asks that you let her know of any performance. She may be contacted at : jobower@suddenlink.net