Easter Drama Script - New

AN EASTER DRAMA

written by

Evan Brammer

SCENE ONE: THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

POSITIONS: NARRATOR IS ON THE STAGE. DISCIPLES ARE IN THE REAR OF THE AUDIENCE. PALM BRANCH WAVERS ARE SITTING IN THE AISLE SEATS OF THE AUDIENCE.

PROPS: PALM BRANCHES

NARRATOR ONE

Come to the center of the stage.

Welcome. Welcome. You have arrived at a special time. Palm Sunday.

Point towards the gym door.

Even now, Jesus and his disciples are coming.

SOUND: 01 TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

PALM BRANCH WAVERS

On your cue “his disciples are coming” and the music beginning, stand up and begin to wave your palm branches in the air. Do with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Yell, “Hosanna” randomly but not all together.

3 DISCIPLES AND JUDAS, MARY

Walk down the aisle and then break off and take your marks on the stage. Two to the

left and two to the right. Make sure to kneel down.

JESUS

Walk down the aisle towards the stage with the disciples. Hang back towards the rear a little bit. Time your walk with the music so that you reach the stage, turn around and shake your head right when the music is ending. When the music stops, freeze!

SOUND: END SOUND

NARRATOR ONE

Goes up to JESUS and points at him.

This man is a special man. He was born some thirty years ago in a little town not far from here. He has lived an honorable life; a life of service, of sacrifice, a life without sin. And he has come here, to the city of Jerusalem, the city of his forefathers to celebrate the annual festival of Passover. And, he has come to die.

Pointing to the people waving the branches.

These people, these hundreds of people waving

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their palm branches, they do not understand. They have, in a very real way, missed the point.

He takes a palm branch and examines it.

You see, these palm branches, are a political symbol.

Waving the branch.

They wave them over Jesus like you would wave the flag over some conquering king. They believe Jesus has come to get rid of the Roman soldiers and to set up his kingdom.

This is their view of the “coming one.” This is their vision of the Messiah; the Christ.

Putting his hand to his ear.

Listen to their words, “Hosanna!” they say. This word, “hosanna” it literally means “save us, we pray!”

Getting up very close to JESUS and pointing out his grief-stricken face.

And yet, you can see it in his eyes, the tears, the weeping…

…for they do not understand.

EXIT STAGE LEFT

END SCENE ONE

--

SCENE TWO: CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

POSITIONS: SEVERAL ANIMALS (SHEEP & GOATS) ARE KNEELING NEAR A TABLE, WITH THEIR MASTERS STANDING NEAR. BEHIND THE TABLE ARE TWO MEN SELLING SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS.

PROPS: TABLE WITH MONEY BAG ON IT

SOUND: 02 CLEARS THE TEMPLE

ALL ACTING BEGINS WITH THE START OF THE MUSIC

JAMES & JOHN

Walk towards the animals on the far side of the stage and begin talking to their master.

PETER

Walk towards the animals on the near side of the stage and start petting them, considering if you will buy them or not.

JESUS

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Walk towards the animals on the far side of the stage, shake your head in disgust. Then walk and do the same with those on the other side of the stage. Then those in the center. Right when the music hits the high point, begin pushing the people away. Even your disciples. After you’ve pushed them all away, throw the table off the stage.

You dare to make my Father’s house a market place. It is written that this will be a place of prayer, you make it a den of thieves. You just don’t understand. It should be a place of prayer.

Shake your head and then freeze!

NARRATOR 2

Walk to the center of the stage.

Here we are, in the Temple of the Lord. Jesus came here as a boy. He learned under the great rabbis of the past. He taught them as well.

Pointing off stage.

He knew this place and he knew whose spirit dwelled

just inside the most holy of holies.

And yet, as he arrives in this place that he remembers he sees men trading and selling. A “den of thieves” he calls it.

It wasn’t that sacrifices weren’t to be purchased. And the money changers, they were there to help those pilgrims that had come from long distances to change their money into the temple money so they could pay the temple tax.

This wasn’t the first time Jesus cleansed the Temple. Just three years before, at the beginning of his ministry, he had driven them out the first time. They did not learn.

Glances in the direction of JESUS.

ALL ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION.

JESUS

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JESUS overturns the table.

This place, my house,

JESUS shakes his head.

NARRATOR 2

Enters the scene.

Morning, day two.

LIGHTING: THE STAGE GOES BLACK

END SCENE TWO

--

SCENE THREE: ANNOINTING OF JESUS

This scene is a flash back to a few days before the previous scene. Jesus and his disciple are in the house of Simon the Leper when a woman, Mary (the sister of Lazarus), begins to anoint Jesus’ head and his feet with a very costly oil. Based upon: Mt 26:6-13, Mk 14:3-9.

INT. STAGE AREA THREE

POSITIONS: A GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE STANDING AROUND TALKING. SOME ARE KNEELING. SOME ARE SITTING. JESUS IS IN THE CENTER, HIS DISCIPLES ARE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE GROUP. ALL ACTORS ARE FROZEN IN THEIR POSTIONS.

LIGHTING: SPOTLIGHT HITS THE CENTER OF STAGE AREA THREE.

NARRATOR ONE

Walks into the center of the spotlight.

(softly, gently)

Four days before.

Quickly kneels outside the spotlight.

SOUND: A SOUNDTRACK SOFT PLAYING MUSIC PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.

MARY MAGDALENE

MARY MAGDALENE walks around the group holding a jar of precious oil close to her, trying to get into the center where JESUS is.

EVERY TIME SHE TRIES TO ENTER, PEOPLE CLOSE THE GAP – BLOCKING HER.

She collapses onto the ground.

JESUS

Taking notice of MARY, JESUS pushes through the crowd and kneels down in front of MARY – much like you would kneel on one knee to help a fallen child.

MARY MAGDALENE

MARY MAGDALENE stands up and breaks the jar of oil over the head of JESUS. She then kneels down lower and pours the oil over his feet and wipes it up with her own hair.

ALL ACTORS FREEZE IN THEIR POSITIONS.

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SOUND: ALL MUSIC STOPS.

NARRATOR ONE

Enters the scene, near MARY and JESUS.

(softly, gently)

This woman is Mary. She is the sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead not long ago. Every time we see her she is at Jesus’ feet. When Jesus had a meal at her house, she sat at his feet and listened while her sister ran about frantically trying to do things for Jesus. It was said that she chose the better thing.

When her brother Lazarus had died, she collapsed at Jesus’ feet in sorrow.

And now, once again, we find her at his feet. This time however, she has brought with her something precious. This oil that she is pouring over his head and his feet, it costs about a year’s wages. She is anointing him, preparing

his body for what would later come.

Look, as she wipes his feet with her hair. It is written that a woman’s hair is her glory. Yet, she chooses to give that glory up to honor him.

Kneels to the side so that the audience can view the scene.

ALL ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION. MARY CONTINUES TO ANNOINT JESUS. JUDAS STEPS CENTER STAGE.

JUDAS

(very loudly)

What is this? Do not waste it.

Slightly tries to pull MARY away. Acts as though he can save a few drops of the oil.

We could have sold this and given the money to the poor. Why would you waste such a thing.


NARRATOR ONE

Enters scene.

(softly, gently)

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Judas sounds convincing, doesn’t he? “Let us use it to sell and give the money to the poor,” he says. And yet, he doesn’t care even a little for the poor. He is the treasurer. He controls the money.

Pulling on JUDAS’S pockets.

His pockets are lined with others gifts.

Every story has a hero and its villain. Judas is neither. He is the tragedy of this story. He was called to be a disciple of Jesus, one of the few, one of the twelve. But he does not see things in black and white, only in shades of grey. Watch what happens when your heart is grey.

(slowly, annunciating every word)

It is not long before all goes black.


END SCENE THREE

END ACT ONE

--

ACT TWO

SCENE FOUR: THE LAST SUPPER/FEET WASHING

In this scene Jesus and his disciples have gathered together to celebrate the Passover meal. He institutes the Lord’s Supper and teaches the disciples to serve one another. This is their purpose. Based upon: Mt 26:17-29, Mk 14:12-25, Lk 22:18-30.

INT. STAGE AREA FOUR

POSITIONS: JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES LOUNGE AROUND A LONG TABLE SITTING ON PILLOWS ON THE GROUND, TALKING CHEERFULLY, EATING AND DRINKING. ALL ACTORS ARE FROZEN.

LIGHTING: SPOTLIGHT HITS THE CENTER OF STAGE AREA FOUR.

NARRATOR TWO

Enters the scene.

(softly, gently)

At the end of yesterday, Jesus had sent a couple of his disciples to this man’s house.

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Points to one that is lounging around the table.

He said, “He has a furnished upper room in his house. Go and tell him that we will celebrate the Passover meal there. Prepare the meal in that upper room.”

And now they’re here.

Gesturing to the whole group.

You may have noticed that everything that has happened and will happen this week is special. The palm branches held special meaning. Jesus’ zeal for his father’s house, did too. The oil did and so does this meal.

The Jews would only celebrate the Passover meal once per year to honor the time when God’s Spirit passed over the whole of Egypt, striking down the firstborn of all living creatures; except those that had faith in God…

Gesturing as though to touch the sides and tops of a doorway.

…demonstrated by spreading the blood of a sacrificial lamb on their doorposts. Together let’s watch as the disciples share one final meal with Jesus, just a day before his trial and crucifixion. Jesus knows it is coming, but his disciples do not understand.

Day four.

Exits the scene.

ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION. ALL CHARACTERS BEGIN TALKING LIVELY FOR A MOMENT AND THEN JESUS, WHO IS IN THE MIDDLE, STANDS UP HOLDING HIS CUP.

JESUS

Thank you friends for joining me here for this last meal together.

All the disciples respond with gasps, “What does he mean by last meal?”

I know you don’t understand what is happening and what will

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happen, but you will. For three years we’ve walked together and you have watched as I’ve fed the many, healed the broken, and raised the dead. And of the thousands that have followed me, you have been my closest companions. But one of you is not of us.

Turning and looking towards JUDAS

Go and do what you must.

JUDAS

Immediately gets up from the table and quickly leaves the scene.

JESUS

Taking a loaf of bread in his hands.

Thank you Father for this daily bread.

He breaks the bread into two pieces and hands it to his two sides, Peter on his right and John on his left.

This bread is my body. God has provided it and He will allow it to be broken. It will be whipped, scourged, and

torn for you. As you eat it, remember me.

Taking the cup in his hands, he lifts it to the sky.

Thank you Father for always providing for our needs.

He takes a drink, turns and hands it to Peter.

This is the blood, my blood, that is being poured out for you. As you drink it, remember me.

EACH OF THE DISCIPLES TAKES A DRINK AND THEN PASSES THE CUP TO THE NEXT PERSON.

SOUND: A SOFT SOUNDTRACK BEGINS TO PLAY.

As the drink returns to Jesus, he once again stands up. This time, he takes off his outer shirt and wraps a towel around his waist. Taking a bowl of water from off the table, he goes to John and begins to wash his feet.

NARRATOR TWO

(while Jesus washes the feet of the disciples)

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As Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, he made himself to be lower than them. Even though he was God, the Creator of the universe, he humbled himself to do the lowest of all jobs: washing someone’s feet.

As he did this, he instructed his disciples to go and do the same for others. The first will be last and the last will be first.


SOUND: ALL MUSIC STOPS

END SCENE FOUR

--

SCENE FIVE: PRAYER IN THE GARDEN/JESUS IS ARRESTED

In this scene Jesus and his three closest disciples (Peter, James & John) go up into the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Jesus prays for hours while the three fall asleep. When he is done praying, Jesus wakes the three but then is arrested by the Chief Priests being betrayed by his disciple Judas. Based upon: Mt 26:36-56, Mk 14:32-51, Lk 22:39-53.

EXT. STAGE AREA FIVE

POSITIONS: JESUS IS SEEN KNEELING AND PRAYING TO GOD WITH GREAT ENERGY AND EMOTION. LYING AROUND HIM ARE PETER, JAMES AND JOHN ASLEEP. ALL ACTORS ARE FROZEN IN POSITION

LIGHTING: SPOTLIGHT HITS THE CENTER OF STAGE AREA FIVE

SOUND: A SOFT SOUNDTRACK PLAYS QUIETLY IN THE BACKGROUND

ALL ACTORS BEGIN MOVING.

JESUS

(Praying with a lot of emotion)

Father! They just do not understand. Everything I have done, the miracles, the healings, they have misunderstood. Father, give them the understanding they need.

Gets up and notices the disciples are sleeping.

Wake up! Don’t sleep. Pray that you do not fall into temptation.

Returning to prayer. The disciples fall asleep again.

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What you have asked me to do, Father, I will do it because I know that this is your desire, but it is not easy. I choose your will and not my own.


NARRATOR TWO

Enters the scene.

Jesus struggled in prayer to God over what he knew would happen next. Though he was and is God, Jesus was also human. In his humanity he cried out to the only one that would understand: his father.

Here comes Judas.

ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION.

JUDAS

(with Chief Priests)

Walks towards Jesus, bows before him and then kisses him on the cheek.

CHIEF PRIESTS

(holding back Peter, James and John from retaliating)

Take him away.


END SCENE FIVE

END ACT TWO

--

ACT THREE

SCENE SIX: TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION

In this scene Jesus is brought before the Chief Priests, King Herod, and then Pontius Pilate to stand trial. All the while, the Jews call out for his death. Not wanting to upset the masses, Pilate condemns Jesus to death by crucifixion, which is then carried out by the Roman soldiers. Based upon: Mt 27:32-56, Mk 15:21-41, Lk 23:26-49.

EXT. STAGE AREA SIX

POSTIONS: JESUS IS STANDING BEFORE PONTIUS PILATE IN THE CITY. THERE IS A CROWD OF PEOPLE ALL AROUND.

LIGHTINGL: SPOTLIGHT HITS THE CENTER OF STAGE AREA SIX

PONTIUS PILATE

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Are you the King of the Jews?

CROWD

(Erupts)

He’s not our king. You are our king.

PONTIUS PILATE

(motioning to the crowd for silence)

Are you their king?

JESUS

Stands in silence

PONTIUS PILATE

Motions to a soldier.

SOLDIER

Punches Jesus across the face.

JESUS

Falls over.


NARRATOR 2

Enters the scene.

Pontius Pilate could not find any fault in him.

Jesus was an innocent man.

Yet, he feared the Jews. He feared an uprising. And so, he set another prisoner free and sentenced Jesus to die.

Kneels out of the way.

PONTIUS PILATE

Beat him. And then kill him.

Walks away.

THREE SOLDIERS TAKE HOLD OF JESUS AND BEAT HIM, PUSHING HIM BETWEEN THEMSELVES AS THEY DO. THIS HAPPENS FOR A FEW MINUTES.

SOLDIERS ONE AND TWO

Taking a hold of Jesus, throws him down to the ground. Taking turns, each soldier pounds nails into Jesus’ wrists and ankles. When they are finished, they hoist Jesus upright by each taking an arm.

JESUS

Stands in a way to make it seem that he is hanging on a cross.


END SCENE FIVE

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--

SCENE SEVEN: THE BURIAL

In this scene Jesus’ disciples take his body down from the cross, wrap it in clothe for burial and then lay it in the borrowed tomb of another man. Based upon: Mt 27:57-61, Mk 15:42-16:1, Lk 23:50-56.

EXT. STAGE AREA SIX

POSITIONS: JESUS REMAINS STANDING IN THE POSITION THAT HE WAS IN AT THE END OF THE LAST SCENE.

LIGHTING: THE SPOTLIGHT HITS JESUS

SOUND: A POWERFUL SOUNDRACK PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.

NARRATOR ONE

Entering the scene.

Three hours later.

THE PETER, JAMES AND JOHN WITH MARY COME TO THE CROSS TO BRING DOWN HIS BODY. PETER AND JAMES STAND BEHIND JESUS, JOHN STANDS IN FRONT. MARY MAGDALENE STANDS TO THE SIDE.

JESUS

(looking up towards Heaven)

Forgive them Father!

(shakes head)

They do not understand!

Allows his head to fall down, in a sense, giving up his spirit. Immediately, keeping body in the cross position, falls backwards into the disciples hands.

THE PETER, JAMES AND JOHN LIFT JESUS UP FROM THE CROSS. ANOTHER DISCIPLE, MATTHEW, SPREADS A GIANT BLACK BLANKET OVER JESUS’ BODY AS THEY LAY HIM ON THE GROUND.


SOUND: ALL SOUND STOPS

END SCENE FIVE

--

SCENE EIGHT: THE RESURRECTION

In this scene Mary and others go to the tomb early in the morning to anoint Jesus’ body with spices, but discover he is not there. Jesus has risen from the grave! He appears to the women and then to the disciples, commanding them to “go into all the nations and make disciples. Based upon: Mt 25:1-10, Mk 16:1-11, Lk 23:56-24:12.

EXT. STAGE AREA SIX

POSITIONS: THE LARGE BLANKET THAT REPRESENTS THE TOMB IS LYING FLAT ON THE GROUND.

LIGHTING: THE SPOTLIGHT HITS THE BLANKET

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SOUND: A SOFT, SOOTHING SOUNDTRACK PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND

MARY MAGDALENE

Approaching the blanket, grabs the edges and very dramatically pulls it away to reveal that Jesus is no longer there.

(moving from side to side in confusion)

What? I don’t understand. Where is he?


NARRATOR TWO

Enters the scene.

When Jesus came into this world, the world did not understand who he was. They misunderstood his purpose.

When he died on that cross, the disciples still did not understand. How could their Lord, whom they had followed for three years, just die.

(shaking head)

They just didn’t understand.

But we do. We know the end of that death was not the end of the story.

LIGHTING: HITTING JESUS STANDING IN STAGE AREA ONE

ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION

JESUS

Walking towards MARY MAGDALENE in Stage Area Six. He takes her in his arms, hugging her.

Don’t worry Mary. Death could not hold me and will not hold you…

(turning and facing the audience)

…any of you.

You may not understand now, but you will. The whole world will understand.

I am the way, the truth and the life. To know me is the reason you were born.

LIGHTING: FADE TO BLACK

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SOUND: ALL SOUND STOPS

END SCENE EIGHT

END ACT THREE

END OF PLAY

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Easter Drama Script - New

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