Speaker 3: "Good Evening!"
Speaker 4: "And Merry Christmas!"
Speaker 1: "We’re glad you’re here."
(Speaker 2 looks at speaker one for a couple of seconds, then asks: )
Speaker 2: "Why?"
Speaker 5: "Why?" Why it’s because of our Manger story."
Speaker 6: "Manger story? Is that why they gave me this statue thing to hold?"
Speaker 1: "Yea, I’ve got one too!"
Speaker 3: "Me too!"
Speaker 5: "We ALL have one. These figures tell a story that everyone needs to hear."
(Speaker 2, pointing to the audience: )
Speaker 2: "Even them?"
Speaker 5: "Especially them! This is a story that will change their lives! We can’t let them leave here until they’ve heard it!"
Speaker 2: "Why?"
(Speaker 4, looking at speaker 2 )
Speaker 4: "You sure ask alot of questions!"
Speaker 5: "No, that’s OK, he’s (or she’s) right to ask questions. I’ll tell you why they need to hear this story. It’s because it’s a story of hope, and joy, and especially God’s love. It’s a story that never grows old. It’s a story about about miracles and babies, shepherds and sheep, and wisemen with cool gifts and funny-looking transportation."
Speaker 1: "Yea, you gotta love those camels!" (Holds up a figurine of a camel)
Speaker 3: "What are we going to call this story?"
Speaker 2: "I know! Let’s call it The Story of Bethlehem"
Speaker 6: "Boooring! I think we can come up with a better name than that!
Speaker 4: "How ‘bout "Home Alone 3: The Manger and Me:"
Speaker 1: Naah.
Speaker 6: "How about "Manger Mania"?"
Speaker 2: "Hmm, that’s got a nice ring to it. . . Manger Mania"
Speaker 3: "Sounds kind of whacky."
Speaker 1: "Sounds kind of cool."
Speaker 4: "Sounds like a plan"
Speaker 5: "So that’s it? All those in favor of calling our story "Manger Mania" raise your right hand" Everyone raises their hand) To audience: "It’s settled. Tonight we bring you this story entitled Manger Mania. Sit back, listen, and we hope you enjoy the show. Just remember, no one leaves here tonight without knowing the real story of Christmas. We’ll check back with you in a little while, just to see how you’re doing."
(Speakers exit. Choir sings "Manger Mania" )
Manger Mania
Manger manger mania
Manger manger mania
Manger manger mania
Manger mania
Manger mania
For there’s no better way to tell the story how the Savior came to earth
Than to tell of the little manger where the mother of Jesus gave birth
And how shepherds, wisemen and angels all
came to this little manger stall
In the manger that night a miracle happened that forever changed history
Who would think that in such a lowly place the baby child would be
adored, praised and worshipped, on earth and above
this child born of Mary this child of
love
Come to the manger and worship,
Come to the manger and worship Christ the king
Come to the manger
Come to the manger
Come to the manger and worship the king!
(Mary and Joseph appear center stage. They are walking "in place" toward Bethlehem.)
Speaker 3: "Hey, look at that!
Speaker 1: "Who is it?"
Speaker 2: "It’s Mary and Joseph!"
Speaker 4: "Mary and Joseph?!"
Speaker 6: "Mary and Joseph?!
Speaker 1: "Where are they going?"
Speaker 3: "She looks FAT!"
Speaker 5: "That’s because she’s going to have a baby"
Speaker 4: "A Baby?"
Speaker 5: "Yes, of course, the baby Jesus."
(Mary and Joseph appear to be stopping at an imaginary door and knock. . .)
Speaker 4: "Why are they stopping at that door?"
Speaker 5: "That’s the Inn where they want to stay."
(The Innkeeper appears and shakes his head "no" and tries to motion for them to leave. He appears aggitated and impatient with them, while Joseph appears to be begging for a room.)
Speaker 2: "That man does not seem to be a very nice innkeeper. . . what’s his problem, anyway?"
Speaker 5: "He’s probably a little upset because of all the work he’s had to do lately. Ever since the census began the Inn has been filled to capacity with travellers."
Speaker 3: "Yes, but doesn’t he know about the baby? Doesn’t he know that Mary is about to give birth to the son of God?" Doesn’t he CARE!?"
Speaker 5: "I’m afraid not. . ."
(The Innkeeper seems to relent, and points the couple around back to a stable. . . Mary and Joseph look at each other, shrug and reluctantly turn to go toward the stable.)
Speaker 1: "Hey look! I think the innkeeper’s found a room for them!"
Speaker 3: "I wouldn’t exactly call it a room. . ."
Speaker 2: "He’s sending them to that stable back there. . ."
Speaker 1: "Imagine that! He’s got this big beautiful place here, and he’s taking them out back behind the Inn!
Speaker 5: "If he only knew. . ."
Speaker 3: "If he only knew what?"
Speaker 5: "I was just thinking, if he only knew what was going to happen out there behind his inn, he would’ve given Mary and Joseph the king’s suite!
Choir sings:
Behind the Inn
"Manger Mania"
words & music by Ray Lombardi
Behind the Inn
was the only place that they could find for Jesus to be born
Behind the Inn
Not a place where kings and queens of men would ever be adorned
But that’s all they could find
And Jesus didn’t mind
For the lamb of God was right at home
among the lambs of earth
Behind the Inn
where the only ones who ever came were servants on their chores
Behind the Inn
where no guest had ever stepped inside the rustic wooden doors
a manger stall
became a royal hall
as the son of God was born that night
that for one and for all.
Behind the Inn
Behind the Inn
who could have known a miracle was on its way
Behind the Inn
Behind the Inn
The miracle of Christ on earth to stay
Speaker 6: "You’ve got to be kidding! I’m sure Mary and Joseph don’t want to sleep around those smelly barn animals!"
Speaker 5: "That’s true, but just think how honored those animals are. . . they’re going to be right in place where baby Jesus is going to be born!" I wonder what they’re thinking."
(The 6 speakers leave and Shilly the Sheep, Shoney the Sheep, Cahly the Cow, and Russo the Rooster come out on stage. They begin to discuss their new neighbors. . .)
Shilly: "Hey, get a load of this! Look at our new neighbors!"
Shoney: "But they’re humans"
Cahly: "Oh yuk, the smell!"
Shilly: Can you imagine! It’s not like we’ve got all the room in the world to begin with in this dump. Why can’t they find a place of their own!
Shoney: "Hey, hey, what’s that female one doing? She can’t put him there. . . no. . . NO... NO! Not in my food! Why did she have to put it on my food! That’s my food! Shilly, are you looking at this?!!! What are you going to do about this! She can’t put it on my food!
Shoney: "Now, Shilly, try not to get upset. . .
Cahly: Just as long as the female one doesn’t come lookin’ to ME to FEED that thing! I finished my work for the night.
Russo: "Children, children, children. . . how naive you are! Do you not know who this is! Are you not aware that this is not just any human family! That little one over there is the one who made us. He is our creator.
Shilly: Russo, you’ve been chasing to many hens around the yard! The little one was just born a few minutes ago!
Russo: Yes, but born as a human. As God He has always been, and always will be. Stop and sniff the air for a moment. .
(Everyone sniffs around)
Cahly: What is that great smell?
Shoney: "Yes, yes, I smell it too! Shilly, do you smell it?"
Shilly: "I believe I do. . . all right Russo, what is it?"
Russo: It’s the air of a king. That little baby is the king of all creation. And he has chosen to come here, to our little stable behind the inn, to be born as a man.
Choir sings "Barn Animals"
Barn Animals
Chorus :
We’re barn Animals
we get no respect
We’re Barn Animals
we suffer neglect
‘cause we’re Barn Animals
no thinks we’re rad
we are barn Animals
we just get treated bad.
we just get treated bad
But look at who God invited
To the birth of His own son
Look at who shared the birthplace of a king
Look at who lay by the manger to keep the child warm
It was barn animals
It was barn animals
We’re barn animals
we’ve got lots of heart
We’re barn animals
we’re not very smart
We are barn animals
we look as though we’re numb
but we’re just barn animals
looking rather dumb
looking rather dumb
(The 6 speakers return to center stage. Speaker 1 holds up a shepherd figurine. )
Speaker 1: "Who’s this guy with the big stick?"
Speaker 2: " That’s a shepherd?"
Speaker 6: "The shepherds were the first people to hear about the savior being born."
Speaker 4: "Oh yeah? Who told them?"
Speaker 5: "The angels."
Speaker 1: "You’re kidding, right? You don’t mean that these guys in white robes came around with wings flappin’ and said, "Oh, by the way, Jesus was just born."
Speaker 3: "Can you imagine? If you’ve never seen an angel how would know what they look like? Do you think the shepherds were scared?"
Speaker 2: "I know I’D be shaking in my boots!
Speaker 5: The Bible tells us that the shepherds saw them in the foothills where they were tending their sheep. The angels were praising God and singing about the birth of Jesus.
(A shepherd begins walking across the stage). . . hey, there’s one of them now! Sir! Hey you, sir, come over here!"
Shepherd: "You talkin’ to me?"
Speaker 5: "Yes sir, we need to talk to you!"
Shepherd: "I, I, I can’t. . . I’m just a figurine in the nativity!"
Speaker 5: "But you were there when the angels came, weren’t you?"
(The shepherd reluctantly comes a little closer. . . )
Shepherd: "Yea, so?"
Speaker 5: "So you can tell us what it was like."
Shepherd: "I don’t know if I should be talking to you. . . I’ve got work to do and sheep to tend. Maybe another time. . ."
(All the speakers, at random:) "Come on, tell us! We want to know! Tell us, please!"
Shepherd, reluctantly: "Oh, allright. . . I can tell you this, I never shook so much in my whole life. Listen carefully, and I’ll you what happened. . ."
Choir sings "The Shepherd Shake"
The Shepherd Shake
All across the hillside
and over the plain
through spring and summer
through wind and rain
we keep the sheep safe
we guard the flock
we’re strong and steady
we’re like a rock
we’re like a rock
‘cause we’re the shepherds of Bethlehem
But on the night when
not long ago
a band of angels
put on a show
We started shakin’
Our eyes grew wide
We tried to act tough
We tried to hide
We tried to hide
We learned the shepherd shake that night
We did the shepherd shake
We did the shepherd shake that night
We did the shepherd shake
We did the shepherd shake in the light
that shone from that band of angels above
who brought the news of God’s great love
come down in human form on that night
Speaker 3: "Boy, I bet everyone must of been shocked to see the angels in the sky that night!"
Speaker 5: "Well, that’s not the only thing in the night sky that would have surprised them"
Speaker 4: "What do you mean?"
Speaker 6: "Yeah, what are you talking about?"
Speaker 2: "I know! I know! He’s talking about the star."
Speaker 1: "The star?"
Speaker 2: "Yes, the star over the manger."
Speaker 6: "Big deal. . . there must of been hundreds of stars out that night!"
Speaker 2: "Yes, but not like this one." This star was special."
Speaker 5: "He’s (or she’s) right. This star was special. It was a star that shone brighter in the sky than any other star. A star that would lead men from far away to leave their homes and travel to Bethlehem. It was star that appeared. . . somewhere over the manger.
(Soloist sings "Somewhere Over the Manger")
Somewhere over the manger
a star shone bright
for it led to Bethlehem
on that very night
Somewhere over the manger
a star so high
Was the sign that God had planned
in the eastern sky
It led a tiny band of men
As they followed God’s own call
To go to Bethlehem and find
in a manger stall
A Savior come down to the earth
A savior from on high
Whose birthplace was just underneath
This star up in the sky
Somewhere over the manger
that star so bright
lit the path that led to where
the child was born that night
Somewhere over the manger
so very long ago
a star was shined down on Bethlehem
so everyone could know
The Savior had been born
The Savior of mankind
Today the star still shines
That man new life could find
(Soloist exits; speakers still in place. Three cool eastern guys start walking out together doing a jazz shuffle. Music begins.) .
Speaker 2: "Hey, who are they?"
Speaker 3: "You mean those three guys?"
Speaker 2: "Yeah!"
Speaker 4: "You mean those cool guys?"
Speaker 2: "Yeah!"
Speaker 6: "They look like eastern guys!"
Speaker 5: "Those are the three cool eastern guys!"
Speaker 1 & 2: "Cool eastern guys?"
Speaker 3, 4, & 6: "Cool eastern guys?"
Speaker 5: "Yes, they’re the ones that came to see the baby Jesus"
Speaker 2: "They look mysterious"
Speaker 3: "They look fierce!"
Speaker 4: "They look determined!"
Speaker 6: "They look like serious business!"
Speaker 5: "That’s because they’re on a mission from God. They’ve come to see the baby Jesus and worship him."
Speaker 3: "So what’s their story?"
Speaker 2: "What’s they’re tale?"
Speaker 1: "What’s the deal?
Speaker 6: "What are we talking about!!!?"
Speaker 5: "Listen up. . . we’re going to hear about these three cool eastern guys!"
(Choir sings "Three Cool Eastern Guys")
Three Cool Eastern Guys
"Manger Mania"
words and music by: Ray Lombardi
Three cool eastern guys
Were watchin’ the skies
for a sign and a signal that the King would be born
so those cool eastern guys
said their goodbyes
and started out ridin’ camels across the dessert sand
to a distant place, a cool distant land.
Three cool eastern guys
were men on the rise
but they came to pay homage to the baby boy
bringing gifts of pure gold,
and perfume so old
they worshipped this one who wasn’t even half their size,
those three cool eastern guys
Three cool eastern guys
left in disguise
when Herod tried to trick them into leaving a trail
Those cool eastern guys
were cool, tough and wise
and took a little detour on the ride back home to the east
old Herod was mad as a beast
Speaker 2: "Wow, what a night!"
Speaker 3: "What a story!"
Speaker 4: "What a celebration!"
Speaker 6: ‘This calls for a party!"
Speaker 5: "A manger party!"
Speaker 1: "It will be awesome!"
Speaker 2: "It will be fantastic!"
Speaker 3: "It will be as noisy as Jerusalem’s market!"
Speaker 4: "It will be more fun than two camels at a watering hole!
Everyone looks at speaker 4 as if he were from Mars
Speaker 6: "Anyway, let’s celebrate the birth of Christ.
Speaker 5: "That’s right, we must celebrate! For the birthday of Christ is the greatest story on earth. It is a story that can be told over and over again, and it will never lose its meaning, or excitement or hope. It’s a story that will be told for all eternity - how JESUS came to this earth to save sinners like you and me. If you want to know that your sins are forgiven and that you are bound for heaven, you must believe in the manger story. If you already have, then you’re ready to join the Manger party! We’ll see you at the MANGER!
(Choir sings "Manger Party")
A Manger Party
Words & Music by: Raymond J Lombardi
We’re gonna have a manger party
We’re gonna celebrate
It’s gonna be so great
We’re gonna have a manger party
Come with us and have some fun
Celebrate God’s only Son
Celebrate God’s only Son
Born among the sheep, cows and hay
Born to us on Christmas day
We celebrate the coming of love
We celebrate this gift from above!
Chorus
In this manger humble and meek
Came the son of God to seek
and to save us all from our sin
If our hearts will let him in!
Chorus
Joy to the world the Lord has come
Celebrate Him
Celebrate Him
Celebrate His coming!
Celebrate Him
Celebrate Him
Celebrate His coming!
We’re gonna have a manger party!
Celebrate Him, celebrate Him
We’re gonna have a manger party!
Celebrate Him, celebrate Him
Joy the world, the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Celebrate Him Celebrate Him
Come celebrate the King!
..................................................
© Copyright Raymond J Lombardi. All rights reserved.
A Royalty is payable for use of this script. Sheet music and backing tracks are available from the Author. To pay Royalties and obtain copies of the music, visit the Author's Website at http://www.lorray.com for details.