A New Star
A Children's Nativity Musical
Peter Stephenson
Copyright 2008, 2012 Peter Stephenson
Thank you for downloading this free ebook [children's Nativity Musical].
You are welcome to share this children's Nativity Musical with friends and colleagues. This ebook [edition] may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided that it remains in its complete, original form.
Please note: “free” does not mean that copyright has been relinquished. The script, the lyrics and the music remain the copyright of Peter Stephenson. The author (Peter Stephenson) must always be credited in any production or in any recording of a production.
The cover of this book is “Holy Night” by Stushie, and is used by kind permission of the artist. You can find this and more of his work online at:
https://stushieart.com/
All of the associated audio assets (that is, the practice tracks, the backing tracks and a tuning track) are available to download for free from following website. Here you can also download, for free, a PDF Director's version of this script, which contains full, stage and lighting directions set out in standard stage script format. I encourage you to visit:
The Freesias- A New Star
You are at liberty to produce this musical without the need to pay a fee, commission or acquire a licence, provided that you are, or act directly for, either a school, a nursery or a church/church group looking to produce a Nativity to raise funds for your school, church, church group, PTA or your school charity. This is not limited to the United Kingdom.
If in doubt, please check the FAQ on the following website:
The Freesias - A New Star - FAQ
*****
For Erin
A New Star
Cast Of Characters
Narrator
Boy; Francis of Assisi
Musician 1
Boy or Girl
Musician 2
Boy
Musician 3
Boy or Girl
Gabrielle
Girl; Angel
Mary
Girl
Joseph
Boy
Postman
Boy or Girl
Shepherd 1
Boy
Shepherd 2
Boy
Shepherd 3
Girl
Shepherd 4
Girl
Innkeeper
Boy
Innkeeper's Wife
Girl
Angel 1
Girl
Angel 2
Girl
Angel 3
Girl
Wise Man 1
Boy
Wise Man 2
Boy
Wise Man 3
Boy
Choir
Ensemble
Angels
Ensemble
SCENE
Two houses in Galilee; inn and stable in Judea.
TIME
Long, long ago.
SCENE 1
SETTING
In FRONT OF CURTAIN.
(NARRATOR enters)
NARRATOR
A long time has passed since I first told this story.
(beat)
A lot of things happened before it, and a lot of things have happened since - things that have changed our world.
(beat)
Today, it's time to tell the story again, with a mixture of now...
(CURTAIN OPENS)
NARRATOR
... and then.
SCENE 2
SETTING
Nazareth; the stage is divided roughly into three.
AT RISE
MARY sits darning some material. MUSICIANS are are holding their instruments.
NARRATOR
Some musicians were practicing their various, er, skills...
(Musicians begin to play [mime]. Narrator covers his ears)
MUSIC 1: "KERFUFFLE NUMBER 1" (INSTRUMENTAL)
NARRATOR
... when they had an unexpected visitor.
(GABRIELLE enters. Musicians stop and look at Gabrielle)
(Narrator uncovers his ears)
MUSICIAN 1
(beat)
Oh. Come in.
GABRIELLE
Do not be afraid. I am an angel from on high.
MUSICIAN 3
(in awe)
Wow.
(admonishing, to Musician 3)
Be quiet, you.
GABRIELLE
I had to come in.
MUSICIAN 2
Yes. You probably want my autograph, don't you
GABRIELLE
No.
MUSICIAN 2
(eager)
It might be valuable one day. I'll get a pen.
(Musician 2 fetches pen and paper)
GABRIELLE
I had to come in. I simply couldn't ignore the noise, I mean the sounds, that you were making.
MUSICIAN 1
I see.
GABRIELLE
I'm really on my way to see Mary.
MUSICIAN 1
Mary is next door at the moment, in Joseph's house.
GABRIELLE
Right. Thank you.
(Musician 2 holds pen and paper in front of Gabrielle)
MUSICIAN 2
(to Gabrielle)
Who shall I say it's to?
(Gabrielle notices Musician 3 who is looking at her, as:)
(Musician 2 writes on the paper)
GABRIELLE
(to Musician 3)
How are you?
MUSICIAN 3
Wow.
MUSICIAN 2
(to Gabrielle)
Oh, you can ignore him. He's useless.
(re: paper, to Gabrielle)
I've put "to Angel," but I haven't put "love from." I've just put "Best wishes."
(Musician 2 offers the autographed piece of paper to Gabrielle who does not take it)
MUSICIAN 2
I'll fold it up for you, if you don't have a pocket.
(Musician 2 folds up the piece of paper, as:)
MUSICIAN 2
One of us is going to be a star.
GABRIELLE
That's nice.
MUSICIAN 1
Yes, they're searching for a star.
MUSICIAN 2
A new star.
NARRATOR
It's true.
MUSICIAN 2
And it's going to be me.
NARRATOR
People - for reasons best known to themselves - were looking for someone who could become "a star."
(Musician 2 hands Gabrielle a folded-up piece of paper)
MUSICIAN 1
It could be me.
(Gabrielle opens her palm and blows from it some large, glitter shapes)
MUSICIAN 3
Wow.
MUSICIAN 2
(rudely, to Musician 3)
Will you be quiet.
GABRIELLE
Sometimes, what appears to be the "star" in you is really the "light" from somebody else.
MUSICIAN 2
(doesn't get it)
Huh?
GABRIELLE
Anyway... I'd best be off.
(Gabrielle exits)
NARRATOR
And so the angel Gabrielle carried on with her real journey. To see Mary.
(Musician 1 picks up instrument)
MUSICIAN 1
Right, then. After three.
MUSICIAN 2
Three what?
(Musician 2, and nervous-looking Musician 3, pick up their instruments. Narrator covers his ears in anticipation)
(
Gabrielle enters [Joseph's House])
MARY
(taken aback)
Oh. Come in.
GABRIELLE
Don't be afraid.
MARY
It's all right. I'm not afraid.
GABRIELLE
Good. I normally do have to say that, though.
(clears throat)
I am an angel from on high, and I have some news for you.
MARY
Good news?
GABRIELLE
Yes! You have found favour with the Lord. You are to have a child, and you are to call him Jesus.
MARY
GABRIELLE
Yes.
MARY
A boy!
GABRIELLE
Yes.
MARY
(half-joking)
Now I'm afraid.
(Mary and Gabrielle look at each other. With a warm smile, Gabrielle offers her hands to Mary who accepts; they hold each other's hands)
GABRIELLE
(big smile)
Everything is going to be fine.
(Mary and Gabrielle hug. Gabrielle exits. Mary, very happy, looks up, holding her hands to her chest)
MUSIC 2: "HOW COULD IT BE ME?"
MARY
HOW COULD IT BE ME?
THE ONE THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN,
HOW COULD IT BE ME?
I NEVER THOUGHT A MOMENT
SUCH AS THIS
COULD EVER BE.
HOW COULD IT BE...
CHOIR
HOW COULD IT BE HER?
SHE ASKS THE SKY SO SWEETLY,
HOW COULD IT BE HER?
THE ONE GOD TRUSTS COMPLETELY.
STILL SHE DOESN'T SEE
THAT SHE'S OUR BLESSED MARY.
MARY
(starting to look down)
HOW COULD IT BE...
(spoken)
Me.
[end of Music 2]
(JOSEPH enters carrying carpentry tools)
MARY
Oh, Joseph! Oh, joy! An angel of the Lord has told me that I am with child.
JOSEPH
That's amazing.
MARY
It's going to be a boy and we must call him Jesus.
JOSEPH
We'll have to bring our marriage forward. Then we will live together, here in my house.
(Joseph potters around)
(Mary, who is also pottering, exits [briefly])
NARRATOR
And so, Mary and Joseph did get married. And they lived happily, while the baby inside Mary continued to grow. Then one day...
(POSTMAN enters [Joseph's House])
POSTMAN
(glumly)
Ding dong.
(Postman hands a brown envelope to Joseph)
JOSEPH
Thank you.
POSTMAN
(glumly)
You're welcome.
(Postman exits. Joseph opens envelope, takes out a Letter. Mary enters, looks on as Joseph reads)
MARY
What is it?
(Joseph shows Mary the letter. Mary reads it, as:)
NARRATOR
A letter arrived, telling Joseph that he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, the town of his birth, to register as part of the Roman census.
(Mary looks unhappy. Joseph comforts Mary)
JOSEPH
We'll pack right away.
(Mary and Joseph gather a few items then exit)
NARRATOR
Everyone was told to return to the town of their birth...
(Musicians start to play [mime])
MUSIC 3: "KERFUFFLE NUMBER 2" (INSTRUMENTAL)
(NARRATOR covers his ears)
NARRATOR
... it wasn't just Joseph.
(Postman enters [Music Room]. Music stops, Narrator uncovers his ears)
POSTMAN
(glumly)
Ding dong.
(Postman hands three brown envelopes to Musician 1)
MUSICIAN 1
Thank you.
NARRATOR
(to Postman, although Postman cannot hear)
Yes, thank you.
POSTMAN
(glumly)
You're welcome.
(Postman exits)
(Musician 1 hands out an envelope to Musician 2 and Musician 3. All open their envelopes, each takes out a letter [qty.3])
MUSICIAN 2
(reading)
I've got to go to Bethlehem.
MUSICIAN 1
Me too.
MUSICIAN 2
Cool.
MUSICIAN 1
It's official.
MUSICIAN 2
(dawning on him)
Oh, no. Bethlehem's miles away, isn't it.
MUSICIAN 1
Have we all got the same letter, then?
(Musician 2 rudely grabs Musician 3's letter)
MUSICIAN 3
(timidly, to Musician 2)
Um, excuse me.
MUSICIAN 2
(ignoring Musician 3, reads Musician 3's letter)
Yep. We've all got to go.
MUSICIAN 1
(re: letter, to Musician 2)
Give it back to him.
(Musician 2 hands letter back to Musician 3)
MUSICIAN 2
But guys, guys! We'll be able to take our talent to Bethlehem.
(Musician 1 gestures: "We can, can't we, yes?")
MUSICIAN 1
(aside, ponders)
Maybe I will be a star.
MUSICIAN 3
(timidly)
Um, I had an idea about the music.
MUSICIAN 2
(mocking Musician 3)
"I had an idea about the music."
MUSICIAN 1
We need to get a move on.
(Musicians gather up their instruments)
NARRATOR
And so, the musicians - who, it so happened, were all born in Bethlehem as well - set off on their journey.
(Musicians exit)
(CURTAIN)
SCENE 3
SETTING
In FRONT OF CURTAIN.
NARRATOR
Meanwhile, Mary and Joseph - who had borrowed a donkey - were on their trek south. Joseph was exhausted, but he couldn't let on.
(Mary and Joseph enter. Mary is on a hobby horse/donkey, Joseph walks beside her)
MARY
Are you tired, Joseph?
JOSEPH
(brave smile)
No. I'm all right.
(They stop)
MUSIC 4: "LONG SO LONG"
MARY & JOSEPH
LONG SO LONG,
THE ROAD THROUGH GALILEE.
FAR SO FAR,
WE'RE TRAVELLING BY DECREE.
MARY, JOSEPH & CHOIR
MILES TO GO
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
MILES TO GO.
MILES FROM ANYWHERE
THAT WE CAN CALL OUR HOME.
MARY & JOSPEH
LONG SO LONG,
THE ROAD THROUGH GALILEE.
FAR SO FAR,
FROM WHERE WE HAVE TO BE.
MARY, JOSEPH & CHOIR
MILES TO GO
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
MILES TO GO.
MILES FROM ANYWHERE
THAT WE CAN CALL OUR HOME.
LONG SO LONG,
THE ROAD THROUGH GALILEE.
SO LONG TO GALILEE.
[end of Music 4]
JOSEPH
(encouragingly)
Come on, Mary. We'll get there.
MARY
(smiles)
Yes, Joseph.
(Mary and Joseph exit)
NARRATOR
The musicians, whose instruments had thankfully been packed away for the journey, followed some way behind.
(Musicians enter with instruments in cases)
MUSICIAN 2
When
I'm a star...
MUSICIAN 1
Or when I'm a star, you mean?
MUSICIAN 2
... I'll still talk to you.
MUSICIAN 1
Wonderful.
MARY
(re: Musician 3)