Description
Christmas Eve at the New Hope Mission shelter on skid row.
Many of the workers at the shelter, and those who come for a Christmas meal, are there because they must, not because they want to be.
Each person has a background, and many of those backgrounds impact on others.
Cast: 13
- Cast: 13+ (most could be male or female, additional crowd persons would be useful)
- Ken, pastor, late 20’s or older
- Erica, 20’s, mission staff worker, lost parents in car accident last Christmas Eve
- Peter, late teen, 20’s, mission staff worker
- Candace, mission staff worker, any age
- April, mission staff worker, any age
- Frank, late 40’s or older, lost his daughter 9/11
- Zeke, drug dealer, late teens, 20’s
- Judy, mission volunteer, daughter had died of drug overdose
- Carly, mid teens, runaway from home
- Adam, 40’s or older, businessman who lost it all
- Shay, techie who has lost everything through Hollywood strikes
- Crowd1 and Crowd2, people from the crowd with a few lines
Bible Reference: Luke 2
Set:
- This seven scene drama all takes place in the dining hall of a skid row mission. It can be run as a seven scene drama, or as all one scene, with lights down between scenes, and the lights focusing on the table where the action is happening.
- tables and chairs
Sound: wireless mics
Song: none
Lighting: Spotlights to direct attention to the featured table would be useful
SFX: none
Props: coffee cups, plates with food
Costumes:
- mostly old, well worn clothing
Special Instructions:
Time: 45
Sample of script:
SCENE I
as lights come up Ken is working around, arranging tables, setting up chairs
Ken: There, that should do it for tonight.
Erica comes on stage, yawning
Ken: Hey Erica, Merry Christmas!
Erica: Shouldn’t it be bad luck or something to wish Merry Christmas on Christmas Eve?
Ken: If that was the case there would be a ton of bad luck people over the last month.
Erica stretches, yawns
Ken: Looks like you are worn out Erica, not feeling well?
Erica: I am OK.
Ken: You are bummed. . .. Care to share?
Erica: It’s no big thing.
Ken: OK, if you say so. . . . If you change your mind and want to talk I am here. . . Now then . . you have the songs ready for tonight?
Erica: Yup, Jingle, Jingle All The Way.
Ken: I hope there is something a bit more deep than that.
Erica, angry: Look, I have been worship leader at my church back home for four years, I think I can handle Christmas Eve at a skid row shelter, OK?
Ken: Whoa, take it easy Erica, I . . .
Peter comes on stage happily humming “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”
Peter: Hey guys, seen any signs of Santa yet?
Erica, mocks: Yeh, I am sure his reindeer are prancin’ and dancin’ as we speak.
Peter: I just hope he got my note.
Ken: Likely not enough room in Santa’s sleigh for a Ford Mustang.
Peter: My luck.
Candace and April come on stage
Candace: The volunteers are here, ready to go.
April: That new volunteer, Judy, she is so awesome!
Candace: You are so right April. . . . And after all she has been through, . . . you guys remember Simone, right?
Peter: Poor Simone! Died of a heroin overdose, right here at New Hope . . .
April: Judy was Simone’s mom.
Erica: And she has come back here to volunteer at the shelter? . . . How could she, I mean . . .
Candace: I guess we all have our reasons for being here at New Hope Shelter.
Ken: Yes we do . . . (thinks, shakes head, smiles) . . . It’s been three years now since God led me here Cleveland to start New Hope. . . (looks around, hugs others) . . And since then God has brought me an awesome team to work with . . and awesome volunteers too!
Peter: You never told us your background Ken. . . You from here in Cleveland?
Ken, frowns, gets quiet: No . . no . . I’m from . . New York City, actually . . Long story . . .
Candace: This mission has a million stories it seems. . . New girl came in last night, Carly, just maybe 15 likely . . ran away from home. . . So sad!
Peter: All ages in here . . . There’s this guy Adam . . . From the way he acts, talks, he seems like someone who has lost a lot.
Erica: One thing Adam hasn’t lost is his attitude!
Peter, chuckles: Adam has an attitude for sure . . but it`s obvious the attitude is covering over a lot of hurt.
Erica: Hurt happens, Adam has to learn to move on . ..
April: Isn’t it amazing how volunteers would leave their own families on Christmas Eve and spend it with the less fortunate.
Erica: Why would anyone with a family leave them on Christmas Eve?
Candace: Why would you say that Erica? . . . They leave for the same reason we do . . to be a family for those who have no family.
Erica, angry: I have news for you Candace, if I had a family you can bet I wouldn’t be here!
Erica runs off stage
Candace, embarrassed: Did I say something wrong?
Ken: It wasn’t you Candace. Erica’s mom and dad and sister were killed last Christmas Eve by a drunk driver. . . . Christmas can be an especially hard time with all the memories.
Candace: I am so sorry, I’ll go and apologize to Erica!
Ken: It’s OK Candace, Erica likely needs a little private time.
Peter: Well, I better get going, time to get the show on the road.
lights down
SCENE II
