This site contains play scripts for children, adults, or some of each to perform. Most are Christmas plays but there are also two Easter plays and one Vacation Bible School Program. There are currently thirteen different play scripts stored here including all of the dialog, songs and actions necessary to perform them. There are no copyrights so anyone is free to use them and modify them as they wish for their own particular use as long as they are not earning money for their performance. The plays are in order of popularity, based on feedback that we have received from users and videos that we have found online. If you use one of our plays, please let us know! And send us a link if you record your performance! We have watched all of them and would love to see more!
For some nicely performed adaptations in 2022, see the Time for Change and Time Machine Talk Show pages.
CHRISTMAS PLAYS
1. “Time Machine Talk Show” (2015) – The Christmas Story as a Talk Show with commercials. It can be performed with less children and with prerecorded video segments. This was performed in December 2015 at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in St. Louis. This play has become very popular with a number of churches who have their own versions of this play online. Watch versions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
2. “A Change of Scenery” – Christmas play idea 2013, another more contemporary take on the standard Christmas Advent story. It was performed at Mt. Zion UMC on December 15, 2013. It was also performed at Faith UMC in Lisle, IL, on December 8, 2013 (a week before we performed it!) This play requires a minimum of costumes because its setting is contemporary.
3. “Time for Change” (2016) – The Christmas Story told from God’s perspective where He has the largest role. You need one confident actor who does not mind portraying God on stage. Watch an excellent 2022 version of it here.
4. “The Meaning of Snowflakes“: (2016) Inspired by and including the poem of the same title by Holley Gerth, this is a short, easy to perform Christmas play written by Anna Muhm. It can be easily incorporated into a worship service during Advent. It was performed on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at Samuel UCC in Clayton, MO.
5. “Get the Story Straight” – a short musical, comedy to be performed by children during the Christmas season. Performed at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church on Dec. 20, 2009. We also noticed another church in South Carolina performed it, and so did this church.
6. “The REAL Story: A Christmas Comedy” (2017) by Anna Muhm. This was inspired by “Get The Story Straight” by Penny Chou with an ending inspired by “One Night In Bethlehem” by Jill Norman Lord. This was performed Sunday, December 10, 2017 at Samuel United Church of Christ in Clayton, Missouri.
7. “Mission Accomplished” – another short musical comedy to be performed by children during the Christmas season. Angels are featured because we had a lot of kids who wanted to be angels and have leading roles. This was performed at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church on Dec. 19, 2010.
8. For Christmas Eve 2020, Samuel United Church of Christ, performed Zooming to Bethlehem: A Virtual Christmas Pageant, by Carol Penner (leadinginworship.com). Our version can be viewed here.
9. “Christmas Gifts” (2015). Originally by Tanis Harms from the church-skits.com web site, this is a version adapted by Anna Muhm that was performed at Samuel UCC in December 2015.
10. “For God So Loved The World” (2014) – Another contemporary version of the standard Christmas story to be performed by a small group of youth and children. A caretaker in a children’s home patiently explains the Christmas story to some irreverent teens who are unfamiliar with Jesus’ birth story.
11. “Witnesses” – another Children’s Christmas Musical written in 2011. Talking animals narrate the story and some singing is required by actors or by adults in the background.
EASTER PLAYS
12. A more traditional Passion Play written to fit into a standard worship service for Palm Sunday. (2008) Performed by adults at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church on March 16, 2008.
13. “Saving Jesus” – a youth oriented Palm Sunday or Easter passion play featuring the song “Real Jesus” by downhere. (2008)
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL PROGRAM
14. “Jesus VBS” – Vacation Bible School program (2012) was written but never used. It is not finished completely, but only needs a little customization to be ready for use at any church.
For questions you can contact Penny Chou at pennychou@gmail.com.
Penny was a long time member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and is now a member of Samuel United Church of Christ.