BETHLEHEM A Musical Nativity for Children Script by Keith Dawson Original Music by Mike Smith Lyrics by Keith Dawson & Mike Smith ISBN 1 898754 16 0
CONTENTS Scene One The Temple Page 5 Scene Two Mary s Home Page 7 Scene Three Elizabeth s Home Page 8 Scene Four Joseph s Dilemma Page 11 Scene Five Bethlehem Page 13 Scene Six The Hills Above Bethelehem Page 18 Scene Seven The Nativity Page 22 Production Notes Page A1 SONG LIST Song One O Little Town of Bethlehem Page 5 Song Two Mary s Song Page 8 Song Three Why Choose You? Page 11 Song Four What Have the Romans Done For Us? Page 14 Song Five O Little Town of Bethlehem Verse 2 Page 16 Song Six Glory To God In The Highest Page 19 Song Seven Follow The Star Page 20 Song Eight My Child Page 23 Song Nine O Little Town of Bethlehem Verse 3 Page 24 Song Ten Gold & Frankincense & Myrrh Page 25 Song Eleven O Little Town of Bethlehem Verse 4 Page 26 Song Twelve Once In Royal David s City Page 26 Page 3
DRAMATIS PERSONAE Joseph Zachariah Gabriel Mary Elizabeth Innkeeper Inkeeper s Wife Benjamin Jonathon Simon Angel Melchior Caspar Balthazar Angels Chorus in Temple Chorus 1-3 Chorus of Relatives Chorus 1-4 Bethlehem Street Chorus Chorus 1-7 The Carpenter Elizabeth s elderly husband An Angel Joseph s Fiancee Mary s elderly cousin A Shepherd A Shepherd A Shepherd A King or Wiseman A King or Wiseman A King or Wiseman Choir Angelic Host Page 4
SCENE ONE - THE TEMPLE (As the show starts Joseph is found seated at a reading desk set stage right {SR} reading from the scriptures. The main scene is within the temple in Jerusalem, but this is not lit as yet. The chorus open the scene with verse one of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'.) SONG ONE - 'O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM Chorus: Joseph: (Chorus) O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie, Above your deep and dreamless sleep, The silent stars go by. Yet in your dark streets shining Is everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. (Reading from a scroll on the desk). The Lord says, 'Bethlehem, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family goes back to ancient times.' When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the Lord and with the majesty of the Lord God himself." So says the prophet Micah. (He looks up from the desk) If only he was able to see how true his words were. (Seeing the audience) Hello, my name is Joseph. I was just reading my favourite piece from scripture; the story of the birth of Jesus. Let me tell you how it actually happened all those years ago. My story begins with my wife's cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zachariah. Zachariah was quite an old man and he served as a priest in the temple in Jerusalem. It all started one day when he was alone in the temple... (The lights fade down on Joseph and come up on the main set and we see an altar centre stage {CS}. Zachariah is attending to an incense burner in front of the altar ie down stage centre {DSC}. He is an old man with a beard. Suddenly an angel appears stage right {SR} frightening him.) Whooo are you...? You startled me! Don't be afraid, Zachariah. I have come to tell you that God has heard your prayer and your wife, Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John. He will be one of the Lord's great men. But this is impossible! I am an old man and my wife is very old also. I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God. It was He who sent me to you with this good news. But because you did not believe me, you will be unable to speak until the child is born. (The angel disappears) Page 5
(Zachariah moves across stage to SL and a crowd of people join him from SL.) What's happened Zachariah? You've been such a long time in the temple. Are you alright? Can we do anything for you? Was it a vision? (Zachariah motions that he is unable to speak to them.) He's been struck dumb! It must have been a vision! There! I knew it. Didn't I say it was a vision. Was it Elijah? (Zachariah shakes his head) (As they lead him off SR) It wasn't Moses was it? (The lights fade down on this scene. The altar is removed from the stage and a simple table and chair are placed on stage to represent the interior of Mary's house. The lights come up on Joseph.) Joseph: Well the angel was true to his word, for shortly after Elizabeth found that, at long last, she was pregnant. Six months later the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, who was my fiancée. She was at home, alone at the time, and very frightened when the angel suddenly appeared. Page 6
SCENE TWO - MARY'S HOME (The lights come up on the main set and fade down on Joseph. Mary is found sweeping the floor of her home.) I do hope that Joseph will be here soon, we've so much to plan. It's all very exciting! But he's got too much work to do at the moment. The farmer is desperate for the plough to be finished, it's nearly planting time. He works so hard... (She is interrupted in her thoughts by the appearance of the angel Gabriel to her left.) Peace be with you! The Lord is with you. (She gives a little scream of fright) Oh! You startled me! Who are...what are...how do you mean "The Lord is with you"? Don't be frightened Mary, for I am the angel Gabriel. God has decided to bless you in a wonderful way. Very soon you will become pregnant and have a baby boy. You must name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of God. How can this possibly be. I don't understand you. The power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the child will be utterly Holy - the Son of God. Six months ago, your cousin Elizabeth became pregnant. What? Elizabeth! But she's very old. Are you sure? I mean she's always wanted a child but... There is nothing that God cannot do. Every promise from God will come true. I am the Lord's servant and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything that you have said come true. (The angel disappears). But what shall I do? When people know that I am to have a baby, it will cause such a scandal. What will Joseph say? Will he refuse to marry me? Will he believe me? Understand me? (The lights fade down on the main scene and come back up on Joseph at his desk.) Joseph: What a wonderful girl. Can you imagine what it must have felt like to have an angel appear at your side and tell you that you are to be the mother of God's son? You might expect that she rubbed her eyes and blinked in an attempt to shake off a dream; but no, not Mary, she took it all in her stride, quietly accepting this great responsibility. Two days later, she hurriedly set off to visit Elizabeth. It was a long journey on foot - nearly sixty miles - and it took her four days to arrive there. Elizabeth was overjoyed to see her young cousin and they warmly embraced each other. Page 7
SCENE THREE - ELIZABETH'S HOME (The lights fade out on Joseph and come up on the main set. It is the interior of Elizabeth s home this time.) Mary, how wonderful to see you. (She hugs Mary). Elizabeth! I'm so pleased to hear your wonderful news. God has surely blessed you. He has indeed. God has graced me at last with a child! But how are you Mary? I've got some wonderful news also! You remember the visitation that I told you about... The angel Gabriel; the one that visited me? Yes. Well, his message has come true. I'm going to have a baby! Congratulations! What an honour this is - that you have visited me! The moment that you walked in and I heard your voice, my baby jumped inside me with joy. You believed that God would do what He said and that is why He has given you this wonderful blessing. SONG TWO - MARY'S SONG (Mary) Lord you've filled my heart with joy, Lord you've done great things for me, For I am just a lowly child, I rejoice that God is my redeemer. Lord you've done great things for me, And holy is Your name. Lord your mercy reaches out, And cloaks all those who fear your name. Great and wondrous works are done, No one can compare with you, for, my Lord you've done great things for me, And holy is Your name. Lord who scatters far and wide, Those who lay down great and mighty plans. The rich, he has sent empty hands, Raises those who're poor and lowly. The Lord will help my own dear land And Holy is His name. You must stay here for a while, Mary. I will, Elizabeth, I will. I'll stay as long as you want me to. Page 8
Joseph: But what about Joseph? Won't he be worried? I told him about the vision of the angel and about you having a baby and he was amazed. I'm not sure that he believed me. But when I told him that I was going to have a baby, he became very concerned about what the people in the village would say. I thought it best for me to leave for a short time and let him sort it out in his own mind. He knows where I am. (The lights fade down on this scene and come up on Joseph.) Mary stayed for three months, in fact. It was a very long time. I didn't know what to do - or think. But, just after Mary left, Elizabeth gave birth to a baby boy. Everyone expected him to be named Zachariah, after his father. That's the way it was with us - the first boy was always named after his father; but the relatives were in for a shock. (The lights fade down on Joseph and come up on the main set. Zachariah is seated CS, Elizabeth is seated at his right hand side and a chorus of relatives are situated SR, standing in a group.) Chorus 4: Chorus 4: All chorus: Chorus 4: What a lovely little boy, Elizabeth. After all these years, who would have thought it possible? We've God to thank for this miracle! You'll name him Zachariah, of course, after his father. No. Understandable. The first boy is always named after his fa... What did you say? I said no! He will not be called Zachariah. Not Zachariah! But this is unheard of. The first boy is always named after his father. Always. It's the rule! His name will be John. John! There's no one of that name in your family. Well there is now! He is to be called John. Fetch a piece of paper for Zachariah and let him name the boy. Yes, let's see what his father has to say about the name. (One of the chorus fetches a piece of paper and Zachariah writes on it.) (Looking over Zachariah's shoulder) His name is John! His name will be John! God told me so! Page 9
Chorus 4: You can speak Zachariah! (Smiling) Yes, the angel said that I would remain silent until the baby was named. I can speak again! This child will be special. I wonder what He will turn out to be? He will be the messenger of the Lord. The one who prepares the path for the Messiah. (The lights fade out on this scene and come up on Joseph. He is pacing the floor and appears very anxious. It is clear that his mind is troubled.) Page 10