 General Dramas These plays are for use during general or special worship services, Sunday School gatherings, special events, retreats ... or for any place and time drama will serve to complement and strengthen the day's message, emphasis or conversation.
This 20-minute play was commissioned by the South Carolina Synod for its annual gathering of churches and was produced in three locations simultaneously before more than 500 people. "Gee Golly Gosh" is a play about stewardship. An elderly mother who has decided to revamp her will and give away large portions of her estate before she dies is visited and questioned by her well-meaning children. They demand that she see a psychiatrist. The play revolves around this visit, with flashbacks to other scenes involving her children and friends. Who is crazy? What does it mean to live a thankful life that promotes giving? This play is quite easy to produce.
This is a very silly look at this famous parable of Jesus. There is a movie being made about this story, and a famous actor shows up wanting a part. However, he doesn’t like being the first, the second, or the third seed. Nothing is good enough for this actor. Finally he is given the part of the good seed. All seems well until the actor learns that being a good seed means bearing good fruit! It takes work. “Can I be the sower,” he asks? “Sorry, that part is taken.” This play is great for youth.
This is another silly play and an excellent opportunity for youth and adults. It tells the parable and explores what it means for us to build our houses on sand or on the rock of faith.
This play was written specifically for the youth of the church to perform on “Souper Bowl” Sunday, the event which annually raises money for hunger ministries. People are gathered to watch the big game. There is a “TV” before them. (This TV is a large frame made out of wood or cardboard, with a hole behind which actors perform.) As the game begins, suddenly the commentators break character and end up stepping out of the TV into the living room. They refuse to continue until those watching the game consider the issue of world hunger. What can they do to make a difference? Maybe the first step is to simply acknowledge that everyone is part of the problem!
This is a dramatic monologue based on the story in scripture in which Mary, Martha and Lazarus’s sister come before Jesus and pour on him a costly oil. This can be done quite simply, even from the pulpit with a manuscript.
This play is a "speech choir" piece for Advent exploring all the waiting that we do in life, in light of the waiting we do for and in Christ.
This is a series of four short plays revolving around the same couple as they sit to do their Advent devotions, lighting their Advent wreath on each Sunday evening in Advent. The first play takes place during the first year of their marriage, the second when their children are young, the third when their children are in college, and the last with just the husband after the death of his wife. Where is our hope in all these situations through the years?
A play for Advent focuses on the words of John the Baptist: “Who told you to flee the wrath to come?” These words are not easy to hear. What happens when a woman who is so busy getting ready for the Christmas holidays that she hasn't had time to worship or consider the real meaning of the coming Christ hears these words everywhere she turns? On her answering machine? On the television? On the radio? Something must be up! This play is both funny and poignant. It requires one actress and voices read from off stage.
This is a play for Advent. In Matthew 2 we hear of Joseph being told to trust God's word, and that the child is of God. We hear of Joseph believing what he heard. But how hard was this? What if Joseph goes to talk with his Rabbi the next day about this, and of course, the religious authority cannot believe that God would act in such a way?
This is a play designed for the youth for the season of Epiphany. Epiphany is the season of signs and miracles. Marvelous Marvin comes along. He is a magician who claims he can do all that Jesus can. He feeds the "multitudes." He heals a crippled man. He even raises a dead man. All of this is obviously a scam, but the crowd is caught up in it. One person argues, but is losing the debate until she returns carrying a cross. She challenges Marvin in a very interesting way.
What if there were radio at the time of the resurrection? This play simply lets the developing story unfold, with interviews of disciples, Thomas, the women, the religious authorities, Romans, and more. Because of the format this play is very easy to produce, but it does run about 30 minutes. It is excellent for a youth group to perform for a sunrise service.
Peter denies Jesus three times, but is also asked three times after the resurrection if he will serve him. This speech-choir piece explores how we deny Christ and how the resurrected Christ comes to us to forgive us and ask us again to follow him.
Jesus said some difficult words about divorce. The church is often not very good dealing with those who are divorced. Sometimes divorcees do not feel welcome. A man shows up at the court house to file divorce papers for the second time in the same day. The somewhat crazy woman behind the counter recognizes him. This second time he wants to file divorce from God. He feels as if God has forgotten him! Why not? He knows it is only symbolic, but he wants to do it. Can this unlikely woman witness to him about the love of God even for those who have failed in relationships?
This is a play based upon the feeding of the five thousand. It takes place at a lunch counter where some rather strange things happen. How does God perform miracles today, giving us all that we need? Are we asked to give like that little boy did for Christ? How are we asked to offer up all that we have?
Jesus heals the man lame from birth, saying "Get up, your sins are forgiven." When people look at him in doubt he says, “Is it any easier to say, get up and walk?” Only then does the man walk. This play takes place at a psychiatrist's office. A "scribe" comes to see the doctor. He is troubled because yesterday when this event took place, he did something that no one else saw. After Jesus said to the man that his sins were forgiven, the man did start to get up, but the scribe pushed him back down. "I had to" he says, for if Jesus can forgive sins he really is the Son of God. How do we push back on God and the word that God proclaims to us?
The town of Nazareth gets a bad reputation. It rejects Jesus. This play takes place in that town ... in the present. The only character is a souvenir salesman at his table talking with tourists as they get off the bus. No one wants to buy anything. Oh sure, go to Bethlehem, go to Jerusalem. Are those cities any better? This play explores how we reject Christ each and every day.
This play is a dramatic monologue by the swine herdsman who lost his entire herd when Jesus cast the demons into them. He is both amazed and angry about what Jesus did.
When Sarah hears God's promises to her, she laughs. This play is designed for seniors and explores how we laugh at the promises of God to us in our later years. How is God still at work?
This serious and dramatic monologue is designed to be used on the first Sunday of Lent following the account of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. There are other times it can be used as well. Satan himself stands before the congregation. He explains that he lost a bet with God, and the wager was that if he lost he had to come to a church today and tell the truth. No lying! As Satan speaks of his attempts to "get God" and tempt Jesus, he grows angrier and angrier. His greatest anger is over the fact that even HE is redeemable, but that he will always refuse God's grace. This is a very powerful monologue.
Bill and John meet before a fishing trip. Because of a pamphlet one received on the street, the story of Jonah is on his mind. He laughs at how ridiculous the whole notion is of a fish swallowing a man. The issue at stake is how we read and understand scripture. How is the Word true to us spiritually if, historically, there may be some flaws? |
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GENERAL DRAMA 1
