I never understood why being sensitive to others feelings about holidays (political correctness, an unfortunate term if I ever heard one) meant obliterating the best of Christmas. Marginalizing Christmas strikes me, probably unfairly, as the bully in the schoolyard who mutters, “If I can’t have all the cake, I’ll stomp on it so no one has anything.”

As a result, Christians tiptoe around the Christmas holiday and mutter to themselves: Where did it all go? We can’t even have Christmas anymore!

Continue to believe that, if it makes your dark nights of the soul more comfortable. Just remember that others may feel the same way about their mosques, temples, and other denominational houses of worship.

Then program your Christmas festivities accordingly and invite other religious communities to join in. And actively look for contemporary theatrical work that represents current theology in a new light.

But how! What are we looking for, you ask?

1. For Church Christmas Celebrations

First, for religious services, look for contemporary works that help explain or explore the Christian world and vision in accessible language.

• As We See Him by Doris Gwaltney is a cantata using traditional carols to be performed by church choirs.
• A Pastor’s Tale: The True Story of Silent Night is a 15-minute comedy about the creation of Silent Night which fits easily into existing services–and it also encourages teen participation..

2. Christmas Holiday Shows for Community Theater in Public Venues

Find programs that, if not completely inclusive, are not exclusive.

• Check out farces like A.N.G.E.L.S., INC, which is full of the Christmas spirit and messages but plays to a secular house. (It ran to full houses at Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg in 2018.)
• A Colonial Christmas by Gillette Elvgren blends American history and the holiday spirit (or lack of it) through a magic barrel organ which whisks them back to Revolutionary times. This play is fun for middle schools, high schools and community theater
• Christmas in Montana is a 15-minute comedy with a teen cast taking on the idea of political correctness ( or incorrectness) in the traditional Christmas carols. Short enough to include in holiday services or programs as schools and community theaters.

3. Plays that Embody The Christmas Spirit

Consider plays that are joyous or inspirational rather than a specifically Christmas oriented: plays compatible with a message of hope and joy.

• Gillette Elvgren’s 2-man tour de force, Brendan’s Journey is a journey in which faith is lost and found. It requires little more than a bare stage with props and the suggestion of a boat. A great production for church and community theaters.
• Oliver Twist by Mickey Coburn is a comedy favorite for high school and middle school productions at Christmas. It also plays well for community theaters.
• Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass by Robyn Hilt are 30-minute zany comedies that bring the wit and wisdom of Lewis Carroll to our Christmas stage. Both have large casts that can involve many students and their families.

4. Traditional Christmas Stories with a New Twist

Fourth, if you want to remain traditional and commercial, consider a new adaptation of an old work.

• D.D. Delaney has written a one-man, one-hour The Concise Christmas Carol . In 50 minutes, the script tells the complete story of Scrooge, as one actor portrays different characters in the story. It may be performed by up to 4 actors, if desired, and is great for Christmas house parties and small venues.
• The Chimes is an adaptation of a little-known Dickens Christmas story, complete with a haunted bell tower, London fireworks, and a tale of redemption and social justice. With a large cast, a wonderful new comedy for high school, middle school, community theater, and regional theaters.

We all love A Christmas Carol. But perhaps it’s time to think out of the box and add new traditions for our holidays to come.

If you need a large-scale holiday show we have a great selection of tried and tested plays adapted from traditional Fairytales