Quick viewing(Text Mode)

Heaven's Got Talent

HEAVEN’S GOT TALENT

by Brian Yapko Copyright Notice

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this Work is subject to a royalty. This Work is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America and all countries with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations, whether through bilateral or multilateral treaties or otherwise, and including, but not limited to, all countries covered by the Pan-American Copyright Convention, the Universal Copyright Convention and the Berne Convention.

RIGHTS RESERVED: All rights to this Work are strictly reserved, including professional and amateur stage performance rights. Also reserved are: motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound recording, all forms of mechanical or electronic reproduction, such as CD-ROM, CD-I, DVD, information and storage retrieval systems and photocopying, and the rights of translation into non-English languages.

PERFORMANCE RIGHTS AND ROYALTY PAYMENTS: All amateur and stock performance rights to this Work are controlled exclusively by Christian Publishers. No amateur or stock production groups or individuals may perform this play without securing license and royalty arrangements in advance from Christian Publishers. Questions concerning other rights should be addressed to Christian Publishers. Royalty fees are subject to change without notice. Professional and stock fees will be set upon application in accordance with your producing circumstances. Any licensing requests and inquiries relating to amateur and stock (professional) performance rights should be addressed to Christian Publishers.

Royalty of the required amount must be paid, whether the play is presented for charity or profit and whether or not admission is charged.

AUTHOR CREDIT: All groups or individuals receiving permission to produce this play must give the author(s) credit in any and all advertisement and publicity relating to the production of this play. The author’s billing must appear directly below the title on a separate line where no other written matter appears. The name of the author(s) must be at least 50% as large as the title of the play. No person or entity may receive larger or more prominent credit than that which is given to the author(s).

PUBLISHER CREDIT: Whenever this play is produced, all programs, advertisements, flyers or other printed material must include the following notice: Produced by special arrangement with Christian Publishers.

COPYING: Any unauthorized copying of this Work or excerpts from this Work is strictly forbidden by law. No part of this Work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means now known or yet to be invented, including photocopying or scanning, without prior permission from Christian Publishers.

Copyright © Christian Publishers Printed in the United States of America All Rights Reserved

HEAVEN’S GOT TALENT A Competition By Brian Yapko 2 HEAVEN'S GOT TALENT

HEAVEN’S GOT TALENT A Christmas Competition By Brian Yapko

SYNOPSIS: A friendly competition takes place in heaven to determine which with be the Herald Angel who will announce the birth of .

CAST OF CHARACTERS (5 females, 6 males, 6 either; extras)

IN HEAVEN: ANGEL ANNOUNCER (m/f) ...... (1 line) (m) ...... Co-head angel. (17 lines) (f) ...... Co-head angel. (20 lines) (m) ...... An older experienced angel. (11 lines) (m) ...... An older experienced angel. (7 lines) CLARENCE (m) ...... A young angel. (10 lines) (f) ...... A young angel. (5 lines) ANGELICA (f) ...... A newly-arrived angel. (10 lines)

IN : JOSEPH (m) ...... (29 lines) MARY (f) ...... (21 lines) INNKEEPER (m) ...... (15 lines) INNKEEPER’S WIFE (f) ...... (13 lines) 1 (m/f) ...... (4 lines) MAGI 2 (m/f) ...... (4 lines) MAGI 3 (m/f) ...... (5 lines) EZRA (m/f)...... A shepherd. (10 lines) JETHRO (m/f) ...... A shepherd. (13 lines)

EXTRAS: Additional non-speaking if available.

DURATION: 15-20 minutes. This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. BRIAN YAPKO 3

PRODUCTION NOTES

SET: You will need to visually divide your stage in two: one side for heaven and the other side for Bethlehem. The set for heaven may be quite abstract. Paper clouds or some silver paper as a backdrop should suffice to show that this part of the stage is “heavenly.” The set for Bethlehem may be fairly spare, but will require at least two “inns” for Joseph to try to find room at, as well as a traditional stable/.

COSTUMES: Traditional angel robes for the angels, including halos and wings. Since heaven is presented in a non-traditional way, if robes are unavailable, the angels—especially Gabriel and Uriel—may wear white street clothes or business attire. Costumes for the Bethlehem characters should be traditional: Bedouin-style for Joseph, Mary, Innkeeper, Innkeeper’s Wife, and shepherds Ezra and Jethro, and exotic “wise men” attire for the Magi.

PROPS

Cell phones to serve as “H-phones” for select angels A small prop harp A water bottle covered in strips of brown paper for an authentic look A sign reading “Heaven’s Got Talent” A or electric Christmas star Papers for Clarence, Ariel, and Angelica to read their descriptions of Jesus (scene 5) Doll for baby Jesus Magi gifts of , , and Two shepherd staffs

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. 4 HEAVEN'S GOT TALENT

MUSIC & SOUND CUES

Harp music for entrance of Gabriel and Uriel and entrance of angels in last scene. Angel bells for Clarence in scene 4. Faux television theme music. Cell phone ringtone. Clip-clop sound for Magi entry. Sheep bells for re-enactment by the shepherds. Accompaniment for “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

SCRIPTURE: : 8-20, KJV.

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. BRIAN YAPKO 5

1 SCENE 1 2 Heaven 3 4 ANGEL ANNOUNCER: (Offstage in the dark.) Attention, all angels. 5 Attention, angels. Please report to the Angelic Fellowship Hall 6 immediately for an important announcement. That is all. 7 8 ANGELS gather onto the elevated section of the stage, which will 9 serve as the Angelic Fellowship Hall. As they gather, things are said 10 like, “Hey, Ariel!” “Hey, Michael!” “New halo?” While ANGELS are 11 mulling around, CLARENCE wanders in looking confused. 12 13 CLARENCE: Why is everyone here? Did I miss something? 14 ARIEL: Didn’t you hear? Gabriel and Uriel are going to make a big 15 announcement. 16 CLARENCE: Right on! (He high-fives her and takes out his H- 17 phone to text a friend.) 18 19 The ANGELS are excited about the announcement. What could it 20 be? Some chat. Some text on their H-phones. One says a little too 21 loudly, “I got a text saying, ‘Meet me at the Pearly Gates!’ ” During 22 the hubbub, a young angel, ANGELICA, walks in and introduces 23 herself. 24 25 ANGELICA: Hi, everybody. I’m new here. 26 27 Some of the ANGELS are focused on their H-phones and ignore 28 her, but MICHAEL, an older angel, greets her enthusiastically. 29 30 MICHAEL: Welcome to heaven! I’m Michael. What’s your name? 31 ANGELICA: (Sadly.) I don’t have one yet. 32 MICHAEL: I see. Well, let’s call you Angelica until the big Boss 33 gives you your name. Hey, everybody! This is Angelica. She’s 34 new. 35 ANGELS: (Ad-lib) Hey! Welcome, Angelica! Nice to meet you! 36 (Etc.) 37 MICHAEL: Come on, Clarence. Off the phone, and greet heaven’s 38 newest angel.

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. 6 HEAVEN'S GOT TALENT

1 CLARENCE: Hey. 2 ANGELICA: Hey. 3 MURIEL: (A motherly angel.) Greetings, my dear. I’m Muriel. I’ll 4 help you get the hang of things. 5 6 ANGELICA sees many of the ANGELS return to their H-Phones. 7 8 ANGELICA: I didn’t know that angels had cell phones! 9 MICHAEL: Pffft. I wish they’d never been invented. Angels don’t 10 talk with each other the way they used to! (He walks away.) 11 MURIEL: (With a little laugh.) Oh my dear, they’re not cell phones, 12 like on earth. These are H-phones. “H” for heaven. 13 ANGELICA: Oh! Do angels Tweet? 14 MURIEL: (Points to one of the ANGELS.) Angels don’t use Twitter, 15 dear. We play the harp. 16 17 Harp music plays as GABRIEL and URIEL enter. All the ANGELS 18 snap to attention. 19 20 ANGELICA: (Whispering to MURIEL.) Who are they? 21 MURIEL: That’s Gabriel and Uriel— who help oversee 22 things here in heaven. And every so often they go to earth to 23 make announcements to the human children of God who live 24 there. 25 GABRIEL: My fellow angels, Uriel and I are pleased to announce 26 a unprecedented in the history of the world. We are 27 going to witness the birth that has for so long been foretold! 28 URIEL: (To GABRIEL, bursting with excitement.) Can I tell them? 29 GABRIEL: Go ahead. 30 URIEL: Angels! In less than one earth day, we are finally going to 31 see the birth of the blessed one, Jesus Christ! 32 VARIOUS ANGELS: (Ecstatic, cheering. Ad-lib.) At last! Finally! 33 Why didn’t you tell us before?! 34 MICHAEL: We need to get ready! What should we do? 35 ARIEL: I need to get my wings done! 36 URIEL: No, Ariel—this has nothing to do with vanity. This is about 37 God’s love for all of creation, and especially for the children of 38 Adam and Eve, who have waited centuries for this day.

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. BRIAN YAPKO 7

1 CLARENCE: Where will Jesus be born? 2 MURIEL: And who are his parents? 3 GABRIEL: (Pointing Downstage into the aisle.) Look down to earth. 4 Do you see what I see? That man and woman riding a donkey 5 past ? 6 URIEL: That’s Mary, the young woman God has chosen to bear 7 this child. And that’s Joseph, the man who has stood by her and 8 will marry her. 9 ARIEL: Where are they going? 10 GABRIEL: To Bethlehem to be counted in Caesar’s census. You 11 see, Caesar has issued a decree that the whole 12 Roman world must be counted... 13 14 Continues droning as we cut to Bethlehem. 15 16 17 SCENE 2 18 Outside Bethlehem 19 20 AT START: JOSEPH and MARY enter. 21 22 JOSEPH: (Singing.) “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see 23 thee lie...” 24 MARY: Joseph, are we there yet? 25 JOSEPH: Only two more furlongs, Mary. How do you feel? 26 MARY: Oh, a little achy and kind of thirsty, but I can make it. I feel 27 very blessed. 28 JOSEPH: Here’s some water for you. 29 MARY: Thank you, beloved. (She drinks a sip.) Truly, I’m very 30 grateful to God! Even if we had to leave , I get to be 31 here with you. And our son will be born in the City of ! 32 JOSEPH: Well, I would rather have stayed in Nazareth, but Caesar 33 did issue that darned decree... 34 MARY: Don’t cuss, Joseph. 35 JOSEPH: Sorry, Mary. And Bethlehem is where my family is from. 36 They say I’m descended from King David. And when this little 37 guy is born, he’ll be from the house of David too. 38 MARY: (Sudden pain.) Ow! Joseph, I need to lie down somewhere.

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. 8 HEAVEN'S GOT TALENT

1 JOSEPH: Hang on, Mary. We’re almost there. I’ll take care of 2 everything. 3 MARY: Will we find a place to stay? 4 JOSEPH: I pray to the Almighty that we do. They say Bethlehem 5 is awfully crowded for the census. 6 MARY: I trust God. There will be a place for us and for the child 7 who will be born (Oof!) very, very soon! 8 9 10 SCENE 3 11 Back in Heaven 12 13 GABRIEL: (Claps hands sharply because he’s been monitoring the 14 .) Angels, you heard Mary. The baby is coming soon! 15 We only have a few hours left to make a decision about which of 16 you angels will serve as the Herald Angel—the one who travels 17 to earth to announce the ’s birth. 18 URIEL: I know that all of you are anxious to be chosen as the 19 Herald Angel, but only one of you can be selected. 20 ANGELICA: How will you decide who it gets to be? 21 URIEL: A very good question, my dear. Gabriel, would you care to 22 answer that? (URIEL and GABRIEL exchange a look of pleasure 23 at presenting their brilliant idea.) 24 GABRIEL: There will be a competition which Uriel and I will judge. 25 Whoever can best describe the true meaning of the birth of 26 Jesus will get to be the Head Herald Angel. 27 CLARENCE: (Fist pump.) Yes! A competition to be Herald Angel! 28 I’ve been waiting for this! 29 MICHAEL: Count me in! (MICHAEL holds up a sign that says, 30 “Heaven’s Got Talent.” Theme music plays.). 31 GABRIEL: Stop that! Put that sign down. This is not about the fame 32 of the Herald Angel. It’s about the glory of Jesus Christ. Love 33 doesn’t need big signs. It needs a true and tender heart. 34 MICHAEL: (Chagrined.) Why don’t you do it, Gabriel? You are an 35 , after all!

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. BRIAN YAPKO 9

1 GABRIEL: Yes, well, I’ve already had my turn at big 2 announcements. For one thing, I got to tell Mary that she was 3 going to carry the . (Reminiscing.) She accepted it so 4 serenely—completely obedient to the will of God. 5 URIEL: And I already had my turn by coming to Joseph in a dream 6 to let him know that Mary’s pregnancy was part of God’s design 7 and that she was guilty of no wrongdoing—that the child’s birth 8 would be a miracle. 9 GABRIEL: Michael, I’m disqualifying you, too, because of that little 10 wrestling match you got into with Jacob that time. “I will not let 11 thee go, except thou bless me...” (Genesis 32:26). That was a 12 pretty big deal. 13 MICHAEL: (Snaps fingers.) Darn it. 14 URIEL: (Looks down to where JOSEPH and MARY are waiting.) 15 Oh my heavens! Angels! We have to hurry. Joseph and Mary 16 have almost arrived in Bethlehem! 17 ANGELS: (Wave and ad-lib calling to earth.) Hey, Mary! Looking 18 good! You got this, Mary! (Etc.) 19 MURIEL: Don’t do that! They don’t know we’re here yet. 20 MICHAEL: Muriel’s right. Time to focus on the Herald Angel 21 competition. What does the birth of Christ mean to us and to all 22 of creation? 23 24 ANGELS say, “Hmmmm” and start pondering. 25 26 27 SCENE 4 28 Back in Bethlehem 29 30 AT START: JOSEPH and MARY go to one of the inns and JOSEPH 31 knocks. 32 33 JOSEPH: Hello? Is anybody home? We’re looking for a place to 34 stay for the night. 35 OFF-STAGE VOICE: Go away. There’s no room at this inn. 36 JOSEPH: But my wife is pregnant! 37 OFF-STAGE VOICE: Try two doors down.

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. 10 HEAVEN'S GOT TALENT

1 MARY: Joseph, I’m frightened. What if we can’t find shelter? It’s 2 cold, and it’s getting dark. (Sudden pain.) Ooof! 3 JOSEPH: Hold on, Mary, hold on. We’ll find a place! (He gets on 4 his knees and prays.) Lord, we ask for your divine mercy. Help 5 us to find shelter so my beloved Mary can give birth to this child 6 of . 7 MARY: Joseph, I think I heard something. (Points to other inn.) Try 8 that one. 9 JOSEPH: (Knocks on the door.) Hello, is anybody home? We need 10 help! 11 INNKEEPER: (Answering the door.) You woke me up! I’m sorry, 12 my friend. All of my rooms are full. 13 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: (Comes to the door.) Did I hear knocking? 14 INNKEEPER: You did, my dear. 15 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: (Hard of hearing.) What? 16 INNKEEPER: Yes, Stella! You heard knocking! 17 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: Haaarold, don’t shout at me! I’m not deaf! 18 Come back to bed. Tell them we have no room! 19 INNKEEPER: You heard her. I’m so sorry. 20 JOSEPH: But can’t you see? My wife is pregnant and about to give 21 birth. We’ve been through so much already, traveling all the way 22 here from Nazareth. We need somewhere to stay that’s warm 23 and safe. 24 25 While JOSEPH and the INNKEEPER talk, angel bells ring which 26 direct our attention Upstage to the ANGELS. In mime, GABRIEL 27 sends CLARENCE to earth. CLARENCE whispers in the ear of the 28 INNKEEPER’S WIFE, who cannot see or hear him. 29 30 CLARENCE: (To INNKEEPER’S WIFE, in a stage whisper planting 31 the idea.) What about the stable? 32 JOSEPH: We need a place where a baby can be cleaned and 33 swaddled and fed. 34 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: (The mind trick worked.) Haaarold! I just 35 thought of something. We can help these nice people even 36 without a room. What about the stable? 37 INNKEEPER: (Skeptically.) The stable?

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. BRIAN YAPKO 11

1 CLARENCE: (Stage whispers to the INNKEEPER.) What a good 2 idea. 3 INNKEEPER: (He can’t see or hear CLARENCE either.) Hmmm. 4 That’s a good idea, Stella! They can stay in the stable! 5 6 CLARENCE returns to GABRIEL and URIEL, who high-five him for 7 a job well done. 8 9 JOSEPH: The stable? Oh, no... 10 MARY: Joseph, please say yes. I must lie down. The baby is close. 11 INNKEEPER: Just follow me. (Motions.) Right this way. 12 13 They slowly walk over to the manger. 14 15 JOSEPH: (Disappointed at how lowly it is.) Oh, I see. 16 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: Now, dearie, don’t fret. I know it’s nothing to 17 look at, but with a couple of throw pillows and some flowers... 18 MARY: Don’t apologize. It’s perfect. I love animals! Where could 19 we be safer than among the creatures who are also part of God’s 20 creation? (Grabs stomach.) Ohhh, I think it’s almost time... 21 JOSEPH: (Jittery.) Is there a midwife who can help? 22 INNKEEPER: (Looks at his wife.) Stella? 23 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: Eh? 24 INNKEEPER: Stella! They want a midwife! 25 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: Don’t shout, Harold! (To MARY.) You need 26 a midwife? You’re looking at her! (Appraises MARY.) You’re not 27 quite ready, dearie. We’ll get you some water and check back in 28 an hour or so... (They leave JOSEPH and MARY alone by the 29 manger.) 30 31 32 SCENE 5 33 Back in Heaven 34 35 URIEL: Well, I’m glad we checked in with the holy family! Now that 36 Mary is in the stable, the time is getting close.

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. 12 HEAVEN'S GOT TALENT

1 GABRIEL: Time to light the Star of Bethlehem. Star keeper? Are 2 you out there? (He shouts to the sound booth.) Time to light the 3 Star of Bethlehem! 4 ANGELIC ANNOUNCER: Roger, boss! Now lighting the Star of 5 Bethlehem! (A beautiful, glowing star is illuminated. Or it could 6 be the Christmas tree which will be up by the side of the altar.) 7 ANGELS: (Ad-lib) Oooooh! Aaaaah! 8 MICHAEL: Gabriel, we’re running out of time! 9 GABRIEL: Don’t worry, Michael. God’s timing is always perfect. 10 But good point. Let’s focus on our Herald Angel competition. 11 Angels, what do you have to say about the birth of Jesus? 12 Clarence, you begin. 13 CLARENCE: (Reading what he wrote.) “Jesus: the Savior. Jesus, 14 the little baby who will be born in a manger in Bethlehem, comes 15 from the house of David and will one day be the new King of 16 Israel—the wonderful counselor who will teach love and trust 17 and bring us into a new age of brotherhood and sisterhood.” 18 19 The ANGELS applaud. 20 21 URIEL: Very good, Clarence! Now how about Ariel? 22 ARIEL: (Reading what she wrote.) “Jesus: the Messiah. This baby 23 will be the long hoped-for Messiah who comes to humanity to 24 release people from sin so that all humans may be reborn to a 25 new and right relationship with God, the parent and creator of 26 all.” 27 28 The ANGELS applaud. 29 30 GABRIEL: Oh, that’s lovely, Ariel. OK, we have one more to hear 31 from. How about you, Angelica? 32 ANGELICA: (Reading nervously.) “Jesus Christ: our Lord. The 33 Christ child is the very Son of God—the Word of God made flesh. 34 Jesus Christ is God—and proof that God so loves the world that 35 he has given humanity the gift of his own beloved son, that they 36 may finally have eternal life.” 37

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. BRIAN YAPKO 13

1 The ANGELS are silent for a moment with awe. Then they suddenly 2 applaud. Some dab their eyes. 3 4 GABRIEL: (To himself, quoting 11:6.) And a little child shall 5 lead them... 6 ANGELICA: Was that OK? 7 MURIEL: (Dabs her eyes, hugs ANGELICA.) That was very good, 8 honey. 9 URIEL: I must say, all of your statements were very true and good. 10 We’ll need a few minutes to deliberate and make a decision. 11 MICHAEL: Angels, come look! While we were talking, Mary has 12 had her baby. Jesus has been born! 13 14 The ANGELS murmur “Praise God,” “Happy birthday, Jesus,” 15 “Wonderful!” etc. 16 17 18 SCENE 6 19 Back in Bethlehem 20 21 JOSEPH: (Looking up to heaven.) Thank you, dear Lord. (Looking 22 proudly at MARY holding Jesus.) Happy Birthday, precious one! 23 24 The INNKEEPER and INNKEEPER’S WIFE rush in. 25 26 INNKEEPER: Did we miss the blessed event? 27 JOSEPH: It’s OK. See? (JOSEPH steps back to reveal MARY and 28 baby Jesus. JOSEPH takes the baby and shows him to the 29 INNKEEPER, INNKEEPER’S WIFE, and audience. There is 30 applause for the birth of Jesus.) 31 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: I’m sorry we weren’t here, dearie, but you 32 seem to have done a fine job delivering this child for your wife! 33 Praise God, he looks like a strong, healthy baby. 34 INNKEEPER: What have you decided to name him? 35 JOSEPH: (Puts his arm around MARY.) Jesus. His name is Jesus. 36 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: I’ve never seen a baby with such kind eyes.

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. 14 HEAVEN'S GOT TALENT

1 INNKEEPER: (Yawning.) Come on, Stella. We’ll leave you young 2 folks in peace now so you can have some quality time together 3 as a family. 4 INNKEEPER’S WIFE: (Yawning as well.) Time for bed. You get 5 some rest, too. We wish you God’s peace. 6 MARY: God’s peace to you both. 7 INNKEEPER: (Looking up as they leave.) Wow, that star’s bright! 8 JOSEPH: (Hears clip-clopping and looks up in alarm.) Do I hear 9 horses? (Squints into the distance.) Someone’s coming. Who 10 are those people? 11 MARY: (Holding baby Jesus close.) Who is it, Joseph? 12 JOSEPH: Three people! On camels! Looking very, very exotic! 13 14 MAGI 1, 2, and 3 enter. 15 16 JOSEPH: (Nervously.) Good evening, fellow travelers. To what do 17 we owe the pleasure? 18 MARY: Who are you? Have we done something wrong? 19 MAGI 1: Oh no, my lady. You can do no wrong. You are full of 20 grace and blessed is your child. We are Magi from the East. 21 MARY: Magi? 22 MAGI 2: Students of life’s mysteries. Some call us “seekers of 23 wisdom.” We come from afar to pay homage to your son, the 24 ruler of the Jews. I bring gold to the baby King. 25 MAGI 3: I bring frankincense to the newborn Messiah. 26 MAGI 1: And I bring myrrh to this holy one! 27 JOSEPH: Why did you come here? 28 MAGI 3: We saw the star and followed it to this stable. It was the 29 star that guided us. 30 MAGI 2: We thought it was leading us to Jerusalem, to that double- 31 dealing King Herod... 32 MAGI 3: But it finally led us here to Bethlehem—to the birth of the 33 Messiah. And now may we present our gifts? 34 MARY: Oh, my. Of course. I don’t know what to say. 35 36 The MAGI present their gifts to the Christ child.

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. BRIAN YAPKO 15

1 SCENE 7 2 Back in Heaven 3 4 The ANGELS are bursting with excitement. 5 6 VARIOUS ANGELS: (Ad-lib.) The Messiah! The Messiah has just 7 been born. We should be there! We must go to Bethlehem. 8 GABRIEL: Patience. I have not yet announced the winner of the 9 competition. (Suddenly his H-phone rings. He listens for a 10 moment and looks up at the cross. He is talking to the Biggest 11 Boss of All.) You heard them? Are you sure? Yes, Boss. 12 13 GABRIEL whispers to URIEL, who looks slightly flustered, takes off 14 her halo, and fans herself with it. 15 16 URIEL: (Clears her throat.) We, ahem, have it from the highest 17 Authority—right from the top—that each one of your tributes was 18 wise and wonderful. For Jesus is indeed the Savior, the 19 Messiah, and the Lord. 20 CLARENCE: What does that mean? 21 GABRIEL: That means that all three of you—Clarence, Ariel, and 22 Angelica here—shall be Herald Angels, and the rest of us shall 23 come to earth as one host to announce the birth of Jesus Christ. 24 VARIOUS ANGELS: Are we going to Jerusalem? To ? To 25 the Emperor? To King Herod? 26 GABRIEL: No. The powers of the world will learn the meaning of 27 Jesus Christ’s soon enough. 28 URIEL: Angels, we shall not go to the cities and the kings, but to 29 the lonely hills of . And there our Herald Angels will share 30 the good news with the shepherds of the field. 31 32 33 SCENE 8 34 Back in Bethlehem 35 36 AT START: JOSEPH and MARY have received the gifts of the 37 three MAGI. The INNKEEPER and INNKEEPER’S WIFE return. 38

This perusal script is for reading purposes only. No performance or photocopy rights are conveyed. Thank you for reading this free excerpt from: HEAVEN'S GOT TALENT by Brian Yapko.

For performance rights and/or a complete copy of the script, please contact us at:

CHRISTIAN PUBLISHERS LLC P.O. Box 248 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406 Toll Free: 844-841-6387 - Fax 319-368-8011 [email protected]

Top View