Victory!! Triumph!!

So, some of you may know this, but I've been working on the Christmas Pageant for St. Martha again since, like, August, and it's been killing me slowly and painfully. I wrote a whole other pageant, and even sent it to the lady in charge, but frankly I hated it. So today I got to thinking about whether I really wanted to be killing myself come November when I would have to direct the danged thing, and out popped this! =D

The Christmas Star

Scene One

Music/dance

(Jake and his little sister Maybell enter from Stage Right and walk across the stage. They are bundled up in winter coats, snow boots, etc. and it is obviously cold and snowy. Maybell is carrying a large paper star.)

MAYBELL: (Excited) Did you hear Mrs. Malcolm tell me my star was the best?? I think I liked Sandy's best though, she had more glitter. I wish I’d gotten more glitter! Oh but the pageant is going to be so beautiful decorated with all our stars! It’s going to be the best pageant ever, isn’t it Jake? Jake!

(She stops walking when he doesn’t respond, and he turns back towards her.)

JAKE: (Annoyed) Come on Maybell, Mom’s waiting for us!

MAYBELL: (Looking out over the audience) Look at that star! It’s HUGE! It’s just like the one in the Bible story!

JAKE: Come ON! (Roughly grabs her hand trying to pull her away.)

MAYBELL: (Stubbornly not moving.) Do you think it could be the same one the wise men saw?

JAKE: Those are just stories. There wasn’t actually any star or baby or anything, dummy.

MAYBELL: There was too! (She holds her paper star up, lining it up with the star in the sky.) Look. It matches!

JAKE: (Looks up with fear.) Come on Maybell, lets go...

MAYBELL: (Sucking in her breath) Do you see that? It’s getting bigger! The star’s growing!

JAKE: (Yelling) Come on Maybell, let’s go!! (He yanks her arm down, and they both fall to the ground as the lights suddenly black.)

MAYBELL: (Scared) Why did all the street lights turn off Jake? What’s happening??

JAKE: I don’t know... where’s all the snow gone? We should be soaking!

(Lights come back up)

MAYBELL: (Jumping up) Is it day time already? The suns out! Did I fall asleep Jake?

JAKE: Yes that’s right. We must have just both fallen asleep...

MAYBELL: But why are there palm trees? I don’t think we’re in Connecticut anymore!

JAKE: (Frantically) Of course we are! We must just both be dreaming. If we pinch ourselves we’ll wake up, I know it! (He starts pinching himself. Maybell runs over.)

MAYBELL: Stop it! We can’t both be having the same dream, silly!
(MARY enters)
Hey, why don’t we ask her where we are!

JAKE: (Grabbing for her) Maybell, no!

(Gabriel enters next to Mary, and she drops her basket in surprise. Jake puts a hand over Maybells mouth and they both hide behind some prop.)

GABRIEL: Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. (Mary kneels). Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, so the holy one to be born will be the Son of God.

MARY: I am the Lords servant, may it be to me as you have said.

(Gabriel exits. Jake and Maybell look at each other with astonishment.)

JAKE and MAYBELL: We’re in Nazareth!

Music

Scene Two

(After Music the children are still hiding on stage, and Mary is also still onstage. Joseph enters and Mary runs to him excitedly.)

JOSEPH: Mary! What’s the matter?

MARY: Joseph, I have had a miraculous vision. The Lord God sent an Angel to me, to tell me that I am going to bear the Son of God! He said that I have found favor with God, and that the Holy Spirit will come upon me so that I am with child! Isn’t it amazing?

JOSEPH: You’re with child?

MARY: Yes, that’s what the Angel said.

JOSEPH: Stop lying Mary! How could you do this? You have betrayed my trust and then lied to me about it?? The least you could have done was tell me out right, instead of making up some fanciful story!
MARY: It’s no story! Please Joseph, you must believe me! The Angel said-

JOSEPH: There was no angel Mary! You’ve sinned; done something I never would have thought you could. There’s nothing more to it.

(He turns to go)

MARY: (Crying) Please Joseph! Listen to me!

JOSEPH: No. Goodbye Mary.

(He exits. Mary looks after him heartbrokenly, then falls to her knees. Maybell comes over sadly and places a hand on Mary's shoulder.

JAKE: (Whispering) Maybell!

MAYBELL: It’ll be all right lady. I know it will.

(Mary smiles at her, then exits.)

JAKE: Come on Maybell, we’ve got to figure out a way to get home!

MAYBELL: No! I don’t want to go home yet, I want to see how it turns out!

JAKE: You know how it turns out already!

MAYBELL: But I want to see it! Don’t you??

JAKE: (Turning away from her) How did we get here?? We could be stuck forever! Maybell, what was the last thing you remember before everything went dark?

MAYBELL: I don’t know. We were looking at that star, I guess.

JAKE: Yes, yes we were! And you held up your paper star and then things got very strange... do you still have it? Your paper star?

MAYBELL: Of course!

(Just now a group of towns people come bustling on, following a Roman Guard, who carries a pole with a sign on it. They talk excitedly.)

GUARD: Quiet! Caesar Augustus has issued a degree that a census shall be taken of the entire Roman world. All men must go to their home town to register. Those who do not will be punished severely. Leave at once, or else.

(He exits, the crowd trailing after him. Maybell goes with the crowd, but Jake doesn’t notice.)

JAKE: (After they’re gone.) Maybell? Maybell!
(He exits, running.)

Music

Scene Three

(Maybell and Jake both enter, Jake dragging Maybell.)

JAKE: Hurry up! We’ve got to try to get home! We’ve already spent a whole day here, and who knows how long it’s been in our world. Mom and Dad must be worried sick.

MAYBELL: I don’t think so. I think they know we’re fine. And don’t you see Jake, we had to come here just because you said the Christmas story wasn’t real! Still think it’s just a story?

JAKE: Okay fine, it’s not a story, but we do need to figure out how to get home!

(Mary enters, kneeling stage right, and Jake and Maybell quickly hide again. Joseph comes running on.)

JOSEPH: Mary!

MARY: Joseph? What are-

JOSEPH: Mary, I’ve had the most amazing dream! An Angel came to me, and told me that the child you bear is from God, and that he has chosen you to bear him! I was so wrong; I never should have doubted you! Can you forgive me Mary?

MARY: Of course!

JOSEPH: (Kneeling) I want to help father the child, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life! Will you marry me?

MARY: Yes. Yes Joseph, I will.
(They hug.)

JOSEPH: But you know, we will have to go to Bethlehem, my hometown, because of the census...

MARY: So be it. At least we’ll be together.

(They exit. Maybell comes skipping out happily, and even Jake is smiling a little awkwardly.)

MAYBELL: Yippee! It’s going to be all right just like I told her! (She stops, then nods her head.) All right Jake, we can go home now.

JAKE: What?!

MAYBELL: We can go home! Don’t you want to?

JAKE: Uh, yes of course, I just thought you...

MAYBELL: You want to stay, don’t you!?

JAKE: No of course not, I mean... here give me your star. I don’t know if this will work, but we have to try it.

(She gives him the star, he holds it up the way they had before, and Maybell takes a step back, eyes wide.)

MAYBELL: It’s so bright! And I’m getting dizzy...

(She falls, and so does Jake. Lights black.)

JAKE: Yes! It worked!

Maybell: Are you sure? Because I don’t feel any snow...

(Lights come back up, to reveal Jake and Maybell center stage, and stage right three wise men sleeping.)

JAKE: Oh no!

MAYBELL: (Getting up) It’s the wise men! They must be on their way to Bethlehem, to see the baby Jesus!

JAKE: How are we ever going to get home now?? They’re waking up! Quick, hide!

(They both hide as the wise men stir.)

MELCHIOR: I suppose we should be on our way again.

GASPER: How much longer do you think, Melchior? We’ve been traveling for weeks and weeks!

BALTHAZAR: Patience Gasper, the star is growing closer, can you not tell?

MELCHIOR: We will arrive at the right time, I’m sure of it.

GASPER: You are right my friends. I’m just anxious to meet this king of kings, as I know we all are.

MELCHIOR: Courage and strength dear comrades, let us be on our way!

Music
(As they get ready to go and file out through the aisle, someone or the children's choir, or perhaps even them could sing We Three Kings.)
MAYBELL: (After they are gone) What majestic kings they are! So wise!

JAKE: (Much more thoughtful then usual.) Yes. Yes they are.

MAYBELL: (Leaning against him.) I’m sleepy Jake. Maybe we can go home now.

JAKE: (Reluctantly) Are you sure?
(Maybell nods.)
JAKE: All right. We’ll try once more. Don’t look, you’ll hurt your eyes!
(He holds the paper star up, and lights black once again. In the dark you hear Maybell sigh.)

MAYBELL: Nope. No snow.

(Lights back up, and a trickle of shepherds with some sheep come on stage.)

MAYBELL: Whoa, who are they?!

JAKE: I think they’re shepherds, Maybell.

MAYBELL: (Goes over to a young shepherd.) Excuse me, are you a shepherd?

SHEPHERD: Of course I am! As was my father before me, and my grandfather, and my great grandfather!

MAYBELL: Wow!

SHEPHERD 2: Where are you from? You’re dressed very strangely!

JAKE: (Coming over) We come from afar, and we don’t know where we are.

SHEPHERD 3: Why, you’re in the hills of Bethlehem of course!

MAYBELL: Bethlehem!

SHEPHERD 1: That’s right. But Bethlehem’s very crowded right now, because of the census. There isn’t any room in the inns you know! Oh, but you can stay with my family if you like! Although we will be out here watching the sheep all night...

MAYBELL: All night?! Don’t you get tired and cold?

SHEPHERD 2: Well yes! But it’s our job, what can we do?

(Suddenly, a whole choir of angels enters, along with Gabriel. They can actually be the children's choir dressed as angels. The Shepherds fall back with fear.)

GABRIEL: 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. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.
Music
(The heavenly choir can sing Hark! The Harold Angels Sing, here, and more songs if you want. They exit. The shepherds look at each other in astonishment.)

MAYBELL: Well, lets go!!

SHEPHERDS: Yeah!!

(They all run down the aisle to the back. Mary and Joseph come onstage, with baby Jesus. More music, if you like. The Shepherds come running up to them, and kneel.)

SHEPHERD 1: We’ve come to see the baby boy, our savior.

JOSEPH: Welcome, friends.

MAYBELL: May I hold him?

MARY: Of course. (She hands Jesus to Maybell. She holds him with awe.)

Music
(The children's choir or someone could sing Silent Night or Away in a Manger here. Or if you have another song that would be good. After music Maybell puts him into the cradle and goes to Jake. The wise men come down.)

MAYBELL: Look Jake, the wise men!

(They come and one by one give their gifts. Then Shepherds start coming forward and laying down small things as gifts. )

MAYBELL: (Sadly) We don’t have a gift for the baby Jesus.

JAKE: Yes we do... we can give him this!

(He takes the paper star, and lays it at the babies feet. Then he kneels.)

JAKE: I’m sorry I didn’t believe before, baby Jesus.

(Maybell comes up besides him.)

MAYBELL: Look Jake, he’s smiling at you.

(She kneels next to him.)

Music

(During the music Jake and Maybell get up, unseen by the audience, and exit. After it is over they come on Stage Left, looking around.)

MAYBELL: How did we...?

JAKE: I guess it was time to come home.

(They look over at the Manger scene stage right, then up at the star.)

MAYBELL: Isn’t it beautiful...

JAKE: Yes. Yes it is.

(He takes her hand and they exit together.)

End Music.

Well.... that was nice! Lol, I know it's not perfect but it's so much better then my other one, and I know I'll be able to do something with it, so that's a bit of a relief.

AND, people it's our YEAR ANNIVARSARY on the 27th!!!!! :O :O :O We have a PARTY to organize, and it's got to be much bigger then the others. We'd better start planning!!
Ideas please??!! Comment away!! <33

Annapants