They Saw Him First

Book excerpt: This set offers two fresh, imaginative presentations that are fun to perform and will get young people excited about being in the Christmas program. The plays can be easily adapted for use by groups of any size -- lines are easy to memorize, and performance time for each is approximately 20 minutes. Bartholomew, The Clueless Shepherd blends the wonder of the nativity story, a young boy's ambition, and a gentle dose of humor into a winning presentation. It tells the touching story of a shepherd boy who initially fails to notice the amazing things happening around him in Bethlehem. But with his father's guidance, Bartholomew gradually becomes aware of the miracle of Christmas and responds to God's eternal love. The Animals? Christmas Pageant recounts the events in the manger from the point of view of the animals -- and do they have personalities with attitude! Perfect for use with middle school or junior high youth, this play has six speaking and several non-speaking roles.