Tell Me The Story. By: Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades 4/2/2010

Transcription

1 Tell Me The Story By: Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades 4/2/2010 The Easter musical, "Tell Me The Story," was written and produced by the music ministry at Southwest Church of Christ in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The script explains the songs that were performed, but copyright restrictions prohibit us from including the performances of the songs and any musical interludes on the video. The video of the musical is provided on The Story website for reference purposes, so you can see how Southwest staged and performed it.

2 Cast of Characters Ryan s dad Ryan, Age 5 Ryan, Age 25, missionary William, Age 25, disillusioned seeker William s father, godfather-like Charles, William s younger brother, flashy dresser, lots of bling, a bully Alexander, William s youngest brother, a spineless follower John, Age 65, walks with a cane, kindly, professor-like Miss Matthews, young teacher Present-day children Jewish crowd John the Baptist Jesus Adulterous woman Pharisees Guards Stage Setup The stage has two levels. The higher level is a platform built across the entire rear of the stage, with two sets of stair steps leading down to the lower level. The upper level has two small side stage areas. The front part of the stage in front of the platform is the lower level, with enough space for several people to sit and stand. A scrim covers the rear of the stage, about six feet back from the front of the raised platform. Behind the scrim the Biblical scenes are acted out. Choir risers are placed behind the scrim also, where the cloud of witnesses sings. A park bench sits at center stage (on the lower level of the stage, in front of the platform) and another park bench angled inward is at stage right, also at the lower level. Near the center bench is an overturned garbage can, and litter is strewn around the stage Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades P a g e 2

3 John on upper platform in front of scrim, William holding his broken book, Ryan holding out a Bible William singing closing song, with cloud of witnesses chorus behind the scrim. Staging Alternatives 1. Two separate playing spaces: one for present day, one for Biblical Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades P a g e 3

4 2. One space, Biblical scenes would come to life around present day characters. 3. One space, Biblical stories would just be told by present day characters (need really strong actors for this one). Musical Options A key component to how well a presentation fits a particular setting lies in the song selection. This show can be done with or without music. We have provided optional song suggestions throughout the script. In each case, it would be appropriate to contact the publisher. You may also use original compositions or songs that your congregation would find more familiar. You can also use a choir in the opening and closing songs to bookend the show musically and visually. We called it our cloud of witnesses chorus, and they were dressed in all white. We would reveal them behind the scrim for the big choruses in the opening and closing songs. Voice Over You can have your actor speak these lines as he types on the laptop, or you can prerecord these and have them play at the appropriate times Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades P a g e 4

5 OPENING SCENE Dad is sitting in bench on stage right. Single spotlight down fades in with musical intro (Little Ryan enters, carrying The Story for Kids) Little Dad, will you read this to me? (He climbs up in Dad s lap) Dad: Sure. What have you got there? Oh I know this story. It s the greatest story ever written. Little What makes it so great? Dad: Well what do you say we start here? The Word Is Alive; Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman, 2007 My Refuge Music/Club Zoo Music/SWECS Music (BMI). Admin By EMI-CMG Publishing (Lights fade in behind scrim. Song is sung by choir dressed in white, standing on risers. During the song, various pictures come to life behind the scrim. Joseph and his brothers. David and Goliath. Esther and the King. Mary and Joseph. Father and son look on, standing up and pointing, discussing what they see.) (They sit back down as music is still underscoring.) Little Did all of that really happen? Dad: Oh yes. Little But you said it was just a story. Dad: (Laughs) Oh Ryan, it s more than just a story. It s THE Story Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades P a g e 5

6 (Lights and music fade down) (25 year-old Ryan fades in downstage right. Single spotlight on him as he is sitting at the edge of the platform with his laptop, typing) VoiceOver: Hey Mom. Well, it s been less than a month since I got here and it already feels much longer than that. I would ve loved to have seen this place before the war. There is no escaping the story the war has written here.. I wish they knew what we knew. That there s an even greater freedom and the price has already been paid. There are those that wish things had never changed. Mainly these are the ones whose money and power have been threatened. They don t make it easy for us, but they re more an annoyance than a problem. The kids here are awesome. I wish you could meet them. So brave. Still smiling, though most are left with nothing, many without any family. Yet they still show this amazing capacity for love and hope. So, now I go and hang out with the kids in a park. Well, what s left of it anyway. A lot of the grown-ups are still leery of my being around, but I hope I m growing on them. I bring my guitar and I ve been teaching the kids some songs. And, I also tell them stories like Dad used to. I guess it s my way of not missing him so much. (Spotlight fades on Ryan as he shuts the laptop and exits downstage right.) (Dim light on stage left revealing William. He is dressed neatly, but plain. He is sitting, leaned up against the wall reading a book.) (Alexander, Charles, and their father enter from stage left. They are well-dressed and a little flashy - think Godfather meets Dmitry meets Guido.) Alexander: You see Father, I told you we d find him down here with the trash. (William bolts upright defensively.) William: Hello father, I was just... Father: Just what? Rolling around in the rubble to see what kind of diseases you could bring home? I don t understand you son. I give you a home. Away from all of this and you show your gratitude by behaving like a commoner. William: We re all commoners now, Father Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades P a g e 6

7 Alexander: Well, maybe you are, big brother. Charles: (As he grabs William s book and tears it in half, throwing it down.) Oh, but William is so much smarter than we are, right? He s better than us. (William and Charles are now facing each other in a stand-off.) Father: Alexander, Charles, go home. Charles: But Father, he s. Father: (angry, but controlled) I said Go home. (pause) Tell your mother we will be along shortly. (Alexander and Charles exit stage left.) William: Father, I (Father grabs him by the collar and is square in his face.) Father: You listen to me boy. You want to waste your time reading silly stories and filling your head with nonsense, go ahead, but don t expect to be a part of this family if you do. You think the war is over? Do you? The war s just getting started and I WILL NOT have some weakling as my eldest son. You got a choice to make William. Stay here and die with these low-lifes, or come and let your father teach you how to be a leader, a soldier. (Releases his grip on William and proceeds to straighten his collar) Now, collect yourself and get home. You mother will be expecting you for lunch. (Father begins to exit stage left, stops, and turns around.) I will not let you disgrace what I have built for this family. Remember that. It s time to grow up William. (William is left on stage by himself, picks up the pieces of his book, a little hurt, but mostly angry; throws the book.) (Lights come up, stage right, revealing the rest of the park which is where William has been this whole time. Ryan is sitting on a park bench with his guitar with children sitting around him singing the end of a children s song, such as If You re Happy and You Know It. When the song ends the kids are clapping and excited) Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades P a g e 7

8 Alright kids, what song should we do now? Kid 1: Tell us a story! Kid 2: Yeah, tell us the one about Joseph and his dreams! Kid 3: No, tell us the one about Noah and the Ark! (A slight uproar of opinions from the kids. Ryan stands to quiet them.) Alright, alright now guys, I ll tell you a story, but only if you will be very quiet. Now, how about a new story? Yes. Many years ago, there was a man who lived away from the cities in the desert. He had crazy hair and a long beard. And he ate grasshoppers. (Obvious reaction from kids). You see, he was telling the people about a savior that was coming: Jesus! (Lights slow fade in behind scrim. Musical underscoring begins as John the Baptist is seen baptizing in the River Jordan.) John the Baptist: (Takes someone down into the river.) I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (John baptizes as action and music continues in river. Lights come back up on Ryan and the kids.) Kid #1: Fire! That doesn t sound good. No, Sadie, not with real fire. John is talking about Jesus. And wouldn t you know it. John looks up and there he is. Kid #2: There who is? 2010 Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades P a g e 8

9 The one they had all been waiting for. The Messiah. Lights down on Ryan and the kids. John the Baptist: (Bowing before Jesus) I need to be baptized of you, and do you come to me? Jesus: Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. (They walk down into the river and pause. John the Baptist sings.) Prepare Ye the Way, Intro only; Robin Mark, 1998 Daybreak Music Ltd. (Music fades and lights fade behind scrim as Ryan s voice trails back in, and lights come up on Ryan.) And as Jesus came up out of the water, a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love, and am well pleased. Kid 3: Tell us another story, Ryan! (All kids chime in their approval) (noticing a Miss Matthews entering upstage left) Well guys, it s getting pretty late and Miss Matthews: Children! Come here now! (The children do as they re told, some turning and waving to Ryan as they leave. The woman can be heard scolding the children about trusting the stranger when she has told them to stay away.) (William, who has been watching from stage left, is now walking upstage and around the set watching Ryan, but not speaking. Ryan is sitting on the bench messing with his guitar and is aware of William. William takes a piece of gum, unwraps it, puts the gum in his mouth and drops the wrapper to the ground as he s seeming to exit upstage right.) 2010 Shane Sturdivant & Travis Eades P a g e 9