I wrote such an entertainment.  It is called Now is the Time of Christimas.  It was loosely based on my experience in the Christmas Revels.  I would be glad to send you a copy of the script.   I do not know if the Revels offers scripts to its shows; but perhaps they could send you some programs, which offer an outline.  http://www.revels.org.

 

Cheers,

Brian Holmes

I've had a great deal of success with two different script companies.  The first company that I worked with, since there were already scripts at the school I started teaching at, was Knight Shtick Press and Paul Brandvick out of Bemidji Minnessota.  They provide all of the dialogue for the entire event from announcement of guests by the town crier to the final blessing,  There are song suggestions throughout, but you don't have to use those songs.  You can find them at www.madrigaldinner.com.  The play that is included can be a bit long if you are including a great deal of singing.  We always cut down the play because we had over 200 students involved in 13 different ensembles.

 

Most recently we switched up a little bit and used Madrigal Traditions, Inc.  We purchased their Premium Noel Royal for $350 which also includes all dialogue and many short scripts.  My favorite part about this package was that the scripts were short (usually 4-6 minutes without cutting) and there were 3-4 plays spread throughout the event.  The first time we tried it, it was definitely a hit with those who come year after year.  It allowed for plenty of singing with our large group, and the script package (with multiple plays) can be used an exponential number of times without repeating the same plays or recreating the exact same show.  You can find more info at www.madrigalscripts.com.  I don't recall off the top of my head if there are song suggestions with this script set.

 

I would highly recommend either company.  Do a little investigating and see what you feel your students would enjoy the most.  Best of Luck!

 

Chris Storm

 

The link will take you to a site where you will find humorous, often cheesy scripts (in a pseudo Monty Python manner).

I have written a script entitled "What a Tangled Web" which has 6 male and 6 female roles, plus chorus. (some of the roles could be doubled). The script alternates between serious regal ceremony and puns and jokes. The humor could best be described as The Wizard of Oz meets the internet (in the 16th century, of course). In the middle of the dinner, Dorothy "Dot" Com is blown in, and in her effort to get back to her home, "Page,"  she meets a web of friends, including PewterMan and the Seedy Ram, on her way to see the World Wide Wizard (WWW).

It has been quite well received in over a half dozen performances around the country. More information at www.bargraphica.com/Feaste.html. Let me know if you are interested and I'll be happy to send a copy.

 

Lee Barrow

Hi Jean,

In 2003 I wrote a script for our Christmas Concert called "A Very Early Christmas". This uses Shakespearean and commedia de'larte stock characters to portray the story: i.e. Narrator is Halequin/Nick Bottom, Herod is Pantalone, Mary is Columbine, Innkeeper is Falstaff, etc... The tone is humorous and reverent in a nice balance of message. It has angels, dancers, courtly scenes, and tells the biblical story from the perspective of a Renaissance family around the christmas tree. We used a variety of early music (Monteverdi, et al) which can be switched out as needed. We hired a consort of early music period instruments and it was a HIT! Email me to receive a script if you are interested.

Hi Jean,

 

I wrote a piece a few years back called "Love's Delightment Done", which is a play that strings together a series of madrigals/motets and is presented as an Elizabethan soap opera involving a love triangle.  It requires four actors in addition to the singers.

 

It has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas; in fact, it's set in the spring (when love is in the air)--but if you're perhaps looking for something that will entertain during the holidays and give people a break from all the holiday stuff that's thrown at them then, it could work.  The show itself was very well-received when performed by the Arcadian Chorale in NJ, and played to standing ovations.

 

If you'd like more information, please feel free to contact me.

Knight-shtick press:)