Word Alive Christian Drama Ministries

We're Passionate About Drama Ministry

Reaching thousands of churches worldwide

  Scroll down to see a video sample of "Oh, Holy Night".

Oh, Holy Night video illustration.  You can buy the DVD on the Dowel Rods link.  The DVD also has 3 other dowel rod songs on it.

Christmas Resources

On This Page:

16 Christmas Sketches

4 Medium Length Christmas Plays

2 Full Length Christmas Plays

2 "How To" DVDs

New for Christmas 2012      Ask for a sample of any script

I’ve Let Go of the Need to Know Why

(A Place We All Must Come To)

Mary seemed to easily accept Gabriel’s proclamation that she was going to be overshadowed by the most high.  Although she asked questions, she was still open to the will of God…no matter how impossible it may have sounded to her.  However, when trying to explain it to Joseph her espoused, God’s will wasn’t as easily accepted by him.  It took more time and other events for him to become convinced.  Isn’t it nice that God is patient with us?  The lesson in this husband and wife script is that, even though their individual faith may have been on different levels, they both had to come to the place where they could say, “I’ve let go of the need to know why.”  We all must come to that place.  Some of us arrive at that place very easily like Mary and others of us arrive later like Joseph.  This is the theme for this sketch.  Though this sketch deals with very serious concepts, there is a mix of humor that rises at just the right times.

Cast:  1M and 1F      Mary and Joseph   Running time  6-7 minute

Christmas at Oak Leaf Manor

A Christmas Comedy That Even a Dementia Patient Can’t Forget

My parents were administrators of a nursing home for over twenty years of my life from my mid teens to thirty something.  As one might imagine, I saw and experienced many comical, emotional and yet inspiring moments through the lives of those wonderful senior citizens in that time.  It is with that in mind that I used some of those experiences in the Christmas comedy, “Christmas at Oak Leaf Manor”.

“Christmas at Oak Leaf Manor is a fun filled Christmas script with fun loving senior citizens that tell the Christmas story in a way that only they can tell.  Between Raymond, a cantankerous resident, Harold and Maude the love birds of the manor, Edith a jewel who helps us to remember the past, and Martha and Howard who is fighting dementia and a paralyzing stroke, they help Ginny a young nurse’s aide to see and hear the real message of Christmas.  It’s amazing that even though Martha is dealing with the challenge of remembering her own name let alone the name of her loved ones, God uses her to open the eyes of Ginny that Jesus truly does love her and that’s why he came.  The script has all the comedy and emotional elements that your audience will appreciate at the Christmas time of year. 

Your actors will love the characters and the message in this medium length script that’s sure to touch your audience with a look at Christmas through the story of senior citizens.  The whimsical characters of Jim and Henry bring a childlike comedy relief into the nativity scene that win Ginny’s heart as well.  Your audience will be crying one moment and laughing the next. The performance is appropriate for a Christmas dinner or banquet atmosphere as well as the sanctuary.        

We’ve incorporated a dowel rod piece performed by senior citizens or at least people dressed like senior citizens, called, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”  They use their canes that are wrapped to look like candy canes to illustrate the song.  This is a wonderful ending to the script.  The DVD for this song comes with the purchase of this script so you can see what a great addition the song is to the play.  We use Karen Carpenter’s arrangement.

2011 Christmas Sketch Book 

14 Sketches for one low price.  Here is the list of sketches:

Comedy Sketches

1. Are You My Son, Father? – Joseph holding the baby Jesus for the first time (monologue)
2. Numb and Numb-er – 2 Female
3. Exceeding Great Joy – 3 Male  (Wisemen/Kings)
4. The Hillside Incident – 3 Male  (Shepherds of Bethlehem)
5. Closet Candles – 6 mixed  (Life size candles)
6. Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, humbug – Reader’s Theater for 4 readers
7. Turned Away – 1M / 1F  Husband and wife (Comedy with a message)
8. The Elevator to Christmas – 7 mixed (Perfect for a banquet atmosphere. Very funny.)
9. Today is Jesus’ Birfday – 1 M playing a 3-4 year old

Serious and moving monologues

1. While the World Sleeps – Mary (monologue)
2. The Bethlehem of My Heart – Joseph (monologue)
3. Fear Not – Mary (monologue)
4. Simeon’s Moment – Simeon  (monologue)
5. Oh, For a Christmas When I Was Young (Poem)

One Wintry Night

As recorded by David Phelps

This a new Christmas dowel rod interpretation DVD.  It could be a great stand alone piece or compliment to a larger presentation.  This DVD takes time to explain the movements of this song.

$9.00  For One Wintry Night DVD dowel rod song

Up in the Air About Something!

(Christmas According to the Angels)

“Up in the Air About Something!”, is a compilation of Christmas sketches and monologues that creatively move the audience to new heights through the Christmas story.  It uniquely tickles the funny bone with colorful and whimsical characters and sincerely tugs on the heartstrings through characters that your audience will fall in love with. This is going to be a wonderful and joyful Christmas experience for everyone.

Up in the Air About Something!”, is truly is a wonder mix of comedy and the scriptural Christmas story.  Don’t worry, the comedy is timely and will not upstage the traditions of the season, but joyfully confirm them.  There are many inspirational moments that rise just at the right time to invite your audience to worship the King of kings in all of His glory.  The angel characters will have your audience in stitches and the monologues by Mary, Joseph, Elisabeth and Zacharias will powerfully reveal timeless messages in ways that your audience will remember for a long time.  Ask for a sample by emailing us at howitiller@aol.com

Cast: Perform these scripts with 6-13 actors.  Ages teen to older adult.

Running time: 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes

“Back to You” !

A modern day Christmas comedy featuring a delightful story with a wonderful mix of Interpretive Sign, Dowel Rods, Black Light and Song Interpretation.  Crazy things begin to happen in the lives of a married couple as they are decorating their home for the Holidays, when suddenly the nativity characters actually come to life!  Relationships are rekindled as the Christmas story leads your audience back to Jesus.  By the end of the play the stage turns into the stable scene and as the married couple places their miniature size nativity pieces in place, the actual full size nativity characters in the play also take their place.    Want a sample of the script...just drop us an email to www.howitiller@aol.com.

Cast: 7   mixed male and female speaking parts

A team of 10 -15 that perform the dramatic songs (Depending on your platform size)

You receive: The Complete Package

A Great Script with all the blocking,  Seven Dramatic Songs performed in a variety of Dramatic fashions, CD of all music, Director’s Note Book, and All the “How To” step by step DVDs which helps your rehearsal management, saves you time and eliminates stress.

Songs include:  One Wintry Night by David Phelps – A Baby Changes Everything by Faith Hill – Oh, Holy Night by New Song – We Are the Reason – by David Meece – Strange Way to Save the World – by 4Him – Back to You – by The Wilbanks - The Holy Lamb Medley by IBC  Choir

Christmas Package 1 Includes: 3DVDs and 5 short sketches

2 Dowel rod DVDs that have 4 songs on each DVD, which include -

1. Oh, Holy Night - a very beautiful dowel rod song created for women to perform

2. Still Her Little Child - a touching story telling dowel rod song that is centered around Mary

1 CODE Louisiana Thursday Evening DVD which features 12 pieces, but also the Christmas song -

3. We Are the Reason - A moving black light sign language song

The package also includes the dramatic pieces

1. Cholos

2. Fear Not

3. Are You My Son, Father?

4. Closet Candles

5. Simeon's Moment

You can read more about the sketches below, which are also available individually.

Save 30.00 and order the whole package

Fa,La,La,La,La,La,La,La…Humbug

Christmas Comedy Reader’s Theater Style

 For banquets and festive Holiday moments

 Reader’s Theater is dramatic reading of a script.  This script was specifically written to be performed as a reader’s theater that expresses excitement of the Holiday season, but what would Christmas be without a scrooge?  In this script, 3 voices are excited about the Holiday season and want to enjoy every part that comes with it.  The 4^th voice is scrooge like and adds a humbug response to the other reader’s excitement.  So, one of the readers is the antagonist voice, which also brings the comedy element to the script, but also helps the script turn the corner toward the real meaning of Christmas.  It’s this voice that asks the hard questions, which draw out the real answers.  Your readers will have a blast with this while at the same reminding us what Christmas is all about. 

If you’ve not performed any reader’s theater, then you have a fun experience ahead of you.  Even though the script doesn’t need to be memorized, it’s still needs rehearsal for the comedic timing and ebb and flow of the script.

Cast: 4 mixed  1 M / 3F 

1: Female – Festive, dressed festive

2: Female – Festive, dressed festive

3: Female – Festive, dressed festive

4: Male – Scrooge like in character.  Dresses in drab clothes (The antagonist)

Running time:  About 7 minutes 

Perfect for that last comedy piece before the festive event comes to an end.

Turned Away

(The Innkeeper and his wife Christmas comedy with a very touching message)

The innkeeper has recently discovered whom it is that he has turned away and sent to the stable.  His wife earlier found out that Mary was with child and made a visit to the stable with swaddling clothes and things that would help them.  When she returns back to the inn, she has many questions for her husband and why he turned away the couple.  I take some poetic license to create a fun, “What if” scenario to the traditional and Bible events.  In doing so, many thought provoking lines and subjects are brought to light that make the audience think about their own life.  We all have dreams that haven’t come to past yet and some of the dreams and disappoints are shared in the characters in, “Turned Away.”

The script is designed for a husband and wife to perform.  As I wrote the sketch, I couldn’t help but see the husband and wife in Fiddler on the Roof as characters.  So, if you’ve seen the movie, then you have an idea of what I was thinking.  You may see someone entirely different. 

This sketch could be performed in a service, banquet or as a sermon setup or lead in to a song.

Cast: 1 M and 1 F

Jeremiah – Innkeeper 

Miriam – Innkeeper’s wife

Setting:  Innkeeper’s home.

Running time: 14 minutes

The Elevator to Christmas

(A business Christmas Comedy)

Sometimes life would be better if we didn't see all the negative faces that people wear to work or everyday life.   It's interesting to see how one bad attitude can rub off on everyone in the room.  But put a happy blind person in the middle and see what takes place, especially if the situation takes place on an elevator and they start singing a traditional Christmas song. The stress of the story is that one of the characters is late for a meeting and hates the idea that the elevator is stopping at almost every floor.  The meeting is a special meeting because she made a mistake in accounting.  She could jeopardize her job further by being late.

Cast:  Mix M/F

Terry (Male) or Terri (Female) - Blind person  (Upbeat and happy)

Ms. Gamble - Total business and proper like.  She's late for her appointment.

Mr. Harrison - Business man who has a cold.  He is late for an appointment, too.

Kelly - Secretary delivering coffee

Mrs. Duncan - Elderly  (Walks with a walker or cane.)

Mail Carrier - UPS or US Post

Mr. Thompson - The boss

Props: Sun glasses for blind person, walking cane for blind person, walker or cane, boxes and upright moving trolley to carry the boxes, coffee cups, donuts, kleenex or handkerchief, attaché cases.

Special Effects:  Elevator bell sound effect   (Optional)

Running time:   8 minutes

While the World Sleeps

(The Heart of God Began to Beat)

 A Monologue for Mary

 This monologue is a moving and deep reflection by Mary’s calling.  The angel, Gabriel, said she was highly favored.  Be inspired by someone who knew more about what God was doing than the so-called temple elect.  What was God up to?  The heavenly mission of angels was secret to all except a young teenage maiden of Israel.  Heaven came down while the rest of the world slept.  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.  This would be a perfect monologue to stand alone or compliment a larger event.

Cast:  F

Mary – Older teen

Running time:  7 minutes

The Bethlehem of My Heart

(Removing the Herods in Our Life)

This monologue is more than just the retelling of the traditional Christmas story.  It goes further and invites the audience to listen, but to also sit up and re-listen.  It makes the audience think.  Yes, to appreciate the fact that God came, Emmanuel, God with us, is the essence of why we celebrate, but to also think about how he came despite what else was happening in the earth…despite who was sitting on any earthly throne.  “The Bethlehem of My Heart”, opens the possibility for your audience to ask the question of themselves, “Who sits on the throne of my heart?”  Everyone needs a Bethlehem of the heart.

This is a moving and thought provoking moment for your audience.  It can be a stand alone moment or a contribution to the evening of celebrating the birth of our Saviour.

(A Shepherd’s Christmas comedy)

The gospels record angels appearing in the night sky to announce the birth of the Savior to some lowly shepherds keeping their sheep at night just outside of Bethlehem.  We’ve named these shepherds, Gershem and Zeb and they both have the equivalent of what we call in today’s world, as ADD.  These two comical characters are trying to tell the story of this great site to a shepherd friend named, Zach.  However, they are so excited about telling Zach about the event, that it turns into utter chaos.

According to Zeb, the words, “Fear Not”, is not enough consolation to calm a simple lowly shepherd’s fears…especially when spoken by a shimmering nine foot giant angel that appears out of nowhere in the middle of a quiet night sky in Judah.

The Hillside Incident 

One of our best selling Christmas Comedy Sketches

Numb and Numb-er 

(Modern technology meets the true meaning of Christmas)

Two senior citizen widows have just had a new computer installed by one of the widow's daughter, Kathy.  The widows are also sisters.  They are excited about being able to order toys and Christmas gifts on line.  However, after a day and night of trying to figure it out, Marge is frustrated, but as it turns out, a five year old comes to the rescue.  A few clicks later and the silver haired ladies are off and running…well, not running, but you get the idea.  They take advantage of the technology to share a wonderful message about how Christmas used to be.

Cast:  2 Female  (Characters are in their 70’s)

Props:  Chairs, desk and computer and peripherals

Setting:  Living room

Running time:  9-10 minutes   Comedy with a message.  Great for a Christmas banquet.

(The Prayer of Zacharias and Elisabeth)  The miracle that God performed for Elisabeth and Zacharias by answering their prayer for a son is beyond words.  In, “Speechless” the audience will discover the wonderful things that had to line up for God to bring forth the one who would be the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”.  The birth of John is very much a part of the birth of Christ.  What’s amazing is that Zacharias never gave up praying that Elisabeth would have a son and when the angel, Gabriel, said she was going to have a baby, he didn’t believe it.  So, the angel made Zacharias, speechless. 

This is a great set-up to the traditional Christmas Story.

 Cast:  1 M and 1 F

Zacharias – Very old

Elisabeth – Very old  

Running time: 22 minutes

1. Cholos - Howi takes poetic license to create a wonderful monologue about a

2. Fear Not - Mary recounts the angelic visit of Gabriel to her cousin Elisabeth. A perfect sketch to compliment Christmas season or can be performed anytime. This touching monologue brings the reality of Mary's thoughts and feelings to light. 7 minutes.  There is a DVD of the entire blocking of the monologue on the monologue page.

3. Are You My Son, Father? - Joseph holds the baby Jesus for the very first time.  Mary is resting from the long journey and someone needs to hold the baby.  This thoughtful and humorous look at what Joseph might have been thinking is great for all year round or perfect for Christmas.  8 minutes  The song, "Strange Way to Save the World", by Janet Paschal works very well with this monologue.

"Closet Candles", is one of our top selling comedies

4. Closet Candles - Jack is searching the closet for a candle for the candle lighting ceremony at church, but none of the candles want to go, except the shortest, most used birthday candle. Cast of 6 1M and 5 mixed   Comedy. 8 minutes.

5. Today Is Jesus' Birfday - Found in the book, "The Story Teller"  It's a few days before Christmas and Johnny who is 4-5 years old is thumbing through a toy catalog.  We'll he says a lot of funny things about his family, aunt Myrtle and other family secrets.  Great for a Christmas banquet.

6. Simeon's Moment - This monodrama takes us right to the moment where Simeon sees the baby Jesus when first brought into the temple. A very touching moment that is perfect for Christmas or anytime. Simeon was old but promised that he would not see death until he had seen the salvation of the Lord. What a glorious moment when he saw Mary and Joseph enter into the temple with the baby Jesus.  10 minutes with music

7. Oh, For A Christmas When I Was Young - A poem found in the book Reader's Theater and used in the popular Christmas comedy, Numb and Numb-er.

(Wise men with Gifts Comedy)

      The wise men have lost sight of the star that they were following.  They’ve been traveling for many months and now are discouraged by not seeing the star for quite a while.  Howi takes a light hearted look at their dilemma.  The star appears at the end of the sketch which brings renewed hope to their search. The Bible says in Matthew 2 that when they saw the star that they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

     This sketch brings a fresh element and perspective to the Christmas story.  It’s nice to have a break from the traditional voices of the manger and Bethlehem.

     The key to the success of this sketch is the comedic timing at the end of the scene when the star appears.  The expression and emotion of the characters is vital for the comedic closure.  After the audience realizes that the star has re-appeared the wise men need to rejoice big time.

Running time 5-6 minutes Great accompaniment to any Christmas presentation

Cast: 3 male

      Christmas Package 2 Includes

Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Station Script and 3 DVDs.

1- Dowel Rod Volume 2, which includes

Oh, Holy Night (A song in this play)

2. "I'll Be Home For Christmas" if you choose to add the senior citizen candy canes song.

3. Live Performance (So you can see what the set may look like)

Medium Length play that is rehearsal friendly

Christmas Eve

at

Mountain Creek Train Station

A Christmas Comedy

Being Snowed In Was Never So Much Fun

A Wintry Mix of Comedy, Song, Dowel Rods and Scripture

     A medium length play that any size of church can perform and everyone will enjoy. 

     It takes place in a small train station on Christmas Eve and everyone in the station is anxious to get home for Christmas.  The scene opens with adults, children and teens at the train station vying for a ticket to get on the small train that leads home.  However, limited tickets and a building snow storm complicate matters.  The teens are heading home from a ski trip.  The children, who are orphans and their chaperon are at the train station to take the train home because their bus is broke down. 

     The play tells the story of Christmas in a very unique way.  Even though it’s a modern day setting, there is a couple on their way to Bethlehem, a baby is born, Gabriel shows up, the shepherds arrive and yes, even the kings make a last minute appearance.

     Your audience will be captivated from beginning to end through a good mix of comedy, song, dowel rod and scripture.

            Cast:

       This play makes room for children, teenagers and adults to be involved without it being a stressful, long, drawn-out rehearsal time period.  Most rehearsals can be done the week of the performance weekend.

The production time is 30 – 35 minutes