Staging: Gabriel is on the far right; Mary is sitting center stage; the chorus stands at left stage. Voice of God (From microphone): Gabriel, you are to be my messenger to a young woman named Mary. She is engaged to Joseph, who is a descendant of Abraham and then Jesse, the father of David. Go to her in Nazareth of Galilee and tell her of the great blessing which is to be hers. (Gabriel bows his h...
Staging: Houses are in the background; all villagers, Joseph, and Friend are on stage; the crowd is milling about and gossiping. Villager 1: That's Joseph over there. Villager 2: Have you heard about his betrothal? Villager 3: She lives in Nazareth. Villager 4: Well, I know what I would do if I were. Friend: Well, Joseph, have you decided what to do about your plans for marrying Mary? From what yo...
Staging: The background of houses remains, or might be rearranged. Some people are on stage; others enter as the official begins to yell. Roman Official (With scroll): All hear this! By decree from Caesar Augustus, through Cyrenius, Governor of Syria: All will be enrolled. Each household will report to the birthplace of its lineage to be enrolled. (Villagers stand around; they are commenting on th...
(Mary and Joseph approach from the back of the room and speak when they are halfway to the stage.) Mary: Joseph, could that be Bethlehem just ahead? Joseph: Yes, at last. (Mary and Joseph continue to walk slowly toward the stage. All other Scene 4 characters take their places on stage. The visitors, beggars, and merchants yell appropriately.) Mary: It looks so crowded. Joseph (Knocking on door): D...
Staging: Mary, Joseph, and the baby in a manger are in center stage. The Speech Choir stands to one side. Narrator 1: Thus it is in the small town of Bethlehem that Jesus is born to fulfill the prophet's words. (Isaiah sits forward and listens intently.) Reader (Holding Bible): "But you, 0 Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who ...
Staging: Mary, Joseph, and the baby in a manger are center stage. The shepherds are standing and kneeling to one far side. The Narrators hold the Bible as they are speaking. Narrator 1: "And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."Narrator 2: "And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, (Angel enters from sacristy.) and the glory of the Lord sh...
Staging: Herod's court is set up to one far side. Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar each enter from different places at the rear of the room. The Magi meet at a central place, greet each other, and look over maps and scrolls together. Meichior: The star is still brilliant in the sky. I'm sure it will lead us to the King of the Jews. (The three proceed toward the stage.) Caspar: We are approaching th...
