The Legend of the Star

THE LEGEND OF THE STAR
Adapted by Preoteasa Anita Lazar

CHARACTERS in order of appearance:
Stars
Narrator 1
Narrator 2
Scientist
Sailors
Twinkle
Archangel Michael

Mary
Joseph
Shepherds
Head Angel
Host of Angels
3 Wise Men

PROPS: Large Blackboard Compass
Telescope (or one made of construction paper)
Penlight flashlight for TWINKLE
Large cardboard stars to be held by the STARS.
Small star taped to a black stick for TWINKLE

Play begins with the STARS standing toward the back of a very dim stage, with their backs toward the audience. TWINKLE is off-stage-left. NARRATORS 1 & 2 are stage right.

NARRATOR 1: A long time ago, when the world was still very young, the stars were already a most important part of God's creation.

STARS turn around. Turn up lights as NARRATOR 1 continues.

NARRATOR 1: The stars had two very big jobs to do. First of all, they had to be bright. People depended on their light to hunt for food. Their second job, and this was just as important, was to be fixed. That was important because scientists could use a quadrant - which is something like a compass - to measure latitude from the stars.

SCIENTIST enters stage left, drops to his/her knees near center stage, and uses an angle from one of the STARS. SCIENTIST exits right as NARRATOR 1 continues.

NARRATOR 1: And SAILORS who were far from home could tell the direction to sail by studying the stars.

SAILORS enter left. One uses a telescope to look at one of the end STARS and gives directions to the others.

HEAD SAILOR: Come this way.

All Sailors exit right.

NARRATOR 2: So, it was very important that the stars should stay in their exact places. And they did. Even on cloudy nights, none moved because it just might happen that a little break in the clouds would come. If the stars weren't in their fixed positions, sailors might get mixed up in their directions and sail the wrong way. They might even wreck! So the stars were proud to be fixed stars.

NARRATOR 1: All but one.

TWINKLE enters stage left as NARRATOR 1 continues.

NARRATOR 1: Her name was TWINKLE, and she was just a little star. In fact, she was so little that she didn't even have a fixed position. So many other stars were bigger and brighter. TWINKLE just didn't seem to be needed.

TWINKLE moves mischievously in and out among the fixed STARS, trying to match her star with theirs as NARRATOR 1 continues.

NARRATOR 1: So TWINKLE just played around among the fixed STARS. Some of the big bright stars thought TWINKLE something of a nuisance. But others felt sorry for the little star that wasn't big enough or important enough or bright enough to have a fixed position. So they smiled at her as she went from one to another.

TWINKLE goes to stage right and stands at the end of the row of STARS.

NARRATOR 2: Then one day, God sent His ARCHANGEL MICHAEL to visit the Stars.

MICHAEL enters left with a raised hand.

MICHAEL: God has need of a STAR for a special task.

FIXED STARS clamor to volunteer.

STARS: Pick me! Pick me!

MICHAEL silences them with his upraised hand.

MICHAEL: No, each of you FIXED STARS is needed just where you are. People depend on you to always be in your same places.

MICHAEL looks around and then calls to TWINKLE.

MICHAEL: TWINKLE, come here!

TWINKLE peaks out from behind one of the large stars, then approaches.

MICHAEL: God has a very special job for you.

MICHAEL and TWINKLE exit right, MICHAEL explaining to TWINKLE her job, while NARRATOR 1 begins.

NARRATOR 1: TWINKLE got all excited and hurried with ARCHANGEL MICHAEL while he explained her new job. The other stars kept shining, bright and beautiful and fixed. But TWINKLE was sent down to earth. There a man and a lady were moving through the night, seeking a place to stay in a little town called Bethlehem.

MARY and JOSEPH enter from stage left; TWINKLE from stage right. TWINKLE goes to them.

NARRATOR 1: The big, bright stars gave them light, but TWINKLE came close.

TWINKLE lowers her penlight to guide their footsteps. Stage Crew moves CAVE to its correct position.

NARRATOR 1: She brightened the path so that the lady would not stumble and the man would not miss the little cave where animals took shelter.

TWINKLE leads MARY and JOSEPH to stage right to the cave, then TWINKLE exits stage right while the CHOIR sings.

CHOIR: "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

O little town of Bethlehem! How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in the dark street shineth, the everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

NARRATOR 2: After MARY and JOSEPH found the cave, TWINKLE got a new job.

Enter MICHAEL and TWINKLE stage right. They are talking. Meanwhile the SHEPHERDS and SHEEP enter from stage left and lay down just left of center stage in front of the stars.

MICHAEL: Now, TWINKLE, cross the hills to where the SHEPHERDS are sleeping with their sheep. (Michael points to the Shepherds.) Your job is to wake them up so that they will pay attention to the ANGELS and hear their message.

MICHAEL exits stage right, while TWINKLE goes to where the SHEPHERDS are lying down. TWINKLE wakes each by tapping them with her star. Meanwhile, the HEAD ANGEL and the HOST OF ANGELS enter stage left and came to the shepherds.

SHEPHERDS: Oh, look at that STAR! [While pointing to TWINKLE] Look...there! [While pointing to ANGELS.]

HEAD ANGEL: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people. For this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

The SHEPHERDS jump up and move toward the right, led by TWINKLE, while the CHOIR sings and the ANGELS back away to the left. HOST OF ANGELS sits on the chairs; HEAD ANGEL stands. The SHEEP lay down in front of the STARS.

CHOIR: "The First Noel"

The First Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

As NARRATOR 1 begins, MICHAEL enters stage right and meets TWINKLE. They pretend to talk.

NARRATOR 1: After the SHEPHERDS arrived, MICHAEL came again and gave TWINKLE still another job. She was to go far away to where some wise men had been studying the prophecies - God's promises of what was to come. TWINKLE was to light up their minds and show them the way to Jesus. So TWINKLE darted off to where the WISE MEN were studying.

SHEPHERDS stay at the cave. TWINKLE darts off, up the center aisle, to the rear of the room, while the 3 WISE MEN enter from a side room & stop in the middle of the center aisle. They set their gifts on the floor.

WISE MAN 1: Oh, look at that great, bright star!

NARRATOR 2: Now WE know it wasn't a great star. It was just TWINKLE! But TWINKLE came down so close to the WISE MEN that she looked much larger than the great fixed stars which were very far away.

TWINKLE passes in front of the WISE MEN, pausing briefly, then moves slowly towards the stage while WISE MEN 2 begins.

WISE MAN 2: Look, it's moving!

WISE MAN 3: Let's follow it. Perhaps it will lead us to the King Who is prophesied in the old writings.

While NARRATOR 1 speaks, the WISE MEN pick up their gifts.

NARRATOR 1: So TWINKLE played around in the sky while the WISE MEN got together their clothes, their camels, and some gifts for the King. Then, TWINKLE guided them across the hills and valleys to BETHLEHEM.

TWINKLE leads the procession down the center, then stage left, and then stage right to the cave, while the CHOIR sings.

CHOIR: "We Three Kings of Orient Are"

We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
O, star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to Thy perfect light.

The NATIVITY TABLE is stage right. WISE MEN take turns offering their gifts as NARRATOR 2 speaks.

NARRATOR 2: So the SHEPHERDS worshipped, and the WISE MEN adored the Child, and offered Him their gifts.

ALL SING THE NATIVITY TROPARION:

Your Nativity O Christ Our God, has shown to the world the Light of Wisdom.
For by it those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star
To adore You the Sun of Righteousness.
And to know You the Orient from on high, O Lord Glory to You.

As NARRATOR 2 speaks, the SHEPHERDS go to their SHEEP and the WISE MEN walk up the center aisle to the back of the room.

NARRATOR 2: And even after the SHEPHERDS left and went back to tending their sheep, and the WISE MEN went back to their own lands, TWINKLE stayed around the crib and twinkled and sparkled and made the Baby laugh. Then one day, God sent MICHAEL with another message for TWINKLE.

MICHAEL enters stage right.

MICHAEL: Little star, God is very pleased with the way you have served Him and His Son. As a reward, you will always be close to Jesus. You will be a special symbol of Christmas and of happiness for all time.

NARRATOR 1: And so, today, TWINKLE is still seen darting playfully about the heavens. Of course, books say that shooting stars aren't stars at all, but meteors. But children and poets know that the shooting star is really TWINKLE, who comes to remind us to wish for happiness. For all true happiness is a gift of God and leads us to Him.

SAILORS & SCIENTIST quietly enter from stage right and stand by the cave.

NARRATOR 2: That's why children say when they see a twinkling star, "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." And that is why people make a wish when they see a shooting star.

NARRATOR 1: And that is why, each Christmas, thousands and thousands of trees are topped with beautiful stars - to remind us of the star that led the SHEPHERDS and WISE MEN to Jesus - and to remind us, too, that the happiness we wish for, the greatest happiness of all, is finding Him.

ALL: [ENTIRE CAST stands in place.]

Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, what a lovely guide your are!
Lead us with your gentle light.
Make our hearts and homes all bright.
With the love that Jesus brings,
God of God and King of Kings!

THE LEGEND OF THE STAR Adapted by Preoteasa Anita Lazar
CHARACTERS in order of appearance: Stars Narrator 1 Narrator 2 Scientist Sailors Twinkle Archangel Michael	Mary Joseph Shepherds Head Angel Host of Angels 3 Wise Men
PROPS: Large Blackboard Compass Telescope (or one made of construction paper) Penlight flashlight for TWINKLE Large cardboard stars to be held by the STARS. Small star taped to a black stick for TWINKLE Play begins with the STARS standing toward the back of a very dim stage, with their backs toward the audience. TWINKLE is off-stage-left. NARRATORS 1 & 2 are stage right. NARRATOR 1: A long time ago, when the world was still very young, the stars were already a most important part of God's creation. STARS turn around. Turn up lights as NARRATOR 1 continues. NARRATOR 1: The stars had two very big jobs to do. First of all, they had to be bright. People depended on their light to hunt for food. Their second job, and this was just as important, was to be fixed. That was important because scientists could use a quadrant - which is something like a compass - to measure latitude from the stars. SCIENTIST enters stage left, drops to his/her knees near center stage, and uses an angle from one of the STARS. SCIENTIST exits right as NARRATOR 1 continues. NARRATOR 1: And SAILORS who were far from home could tell the direction to sail by studying the stars. SAILORS enter left. One uses a telescope to look at one of the end STARS and gives directions to the others. HEAD SAILOR: Come this way. All Sailors exit right. NARRATOR 2: So, it was very important that the stars should stay in their exact places. And they did. Even on cloudy nights, none moved because it just might happen that a little break in the clouds would come. If the stars weren't in their fixed positions, sailors might get mixed up in their directions and sail the wrong way. They might even wreck! So the stars were proud to be fixed stars. NARRATOR 1: All but one. TWINKLE enters stage left as NARRATOR 1 continues. NARRATOR 1: Her name was TWINKLE, and she was just a little star. In fact, she was so little that she didn't even have a fixed position. So many other stars were bigger and brighter. TWINKLE just didn't seem to be needed. TWINKLE moves mischievously in and out among the fixed STARS, trying to match her star with theirs as NARRATOR 1 continues. NARRATOR 1: So TWINKLE just played around among the fixed STARS. Some of the big bright stars thought TWINKLE something of a nuisance. But others felt sorry for the little star that wasn't big enough or important enough or bright enough to have a fixed position. So they smiled at her as she went from one to another. TWINKLE goes to stage right and stands at the end of the row of STARS. NARRATOR 2: Then one day, God sent His ARCHANGEL MICHAEL to visit the Stars. MICHAEL enters left with a raised hand. MICHAEL: God has need of a STAR for a special task. FIXED STARS clamor to volunteer. STARS: Pick me! Pick me! MICHAEL silences them with his upraised hand. MICHAEL: No, each of you FIXED STARS is needed just where you are. People depend on you to always be in your same places. MICHAEL looks around and then calls to TWINKLE. MICHAEL: TWINKLE, come here! TWINKLE peaks out from behind one of the large stars, then approaches. MICHAEL: God has a very special job for you. MICHAEL and TWINKLE exit right, MICHAEL explaining to TWINKLE her job, while NARRATOR 1 begins. NARRATOR 1: TWINKLE got all excited and hurried with ARCHANGEL MICHAEL while he explained her new job. The other stars kept shining, bright and beautiful and fixed. But TWINKLE was sent down to earth. There a man and a lady were moving through the night, seeking a place to stay in a little town called Bethlehem. MARY and JOSEPH enter from stage left; TWINKLE from stage right. TWINKLE goes to them. NARRATOR 1: The big, bright stars gave them light, but TWINKLE came close. TWINKLE lowers her penlight to guide their footsteps. Stage Crew moves CAVE to its correct position. NARRATOR 1: She brightened the path so that the lady would not stumble and the man would not miss the little cave where animals took shelter. TWINKLE leads MARY and JOSEPH to stage right to the cave, then TWINKLE exits stage right while the CHOIR sings. CHOIR: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" O little town of Bethlehem! How still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in the dark street shineth, the everlasting Light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. NARRATOR 2: After MARY and JOSEPH found the cave, TWINKLE got a new job. Enter MICHAEL and TWINKLE stage right. They are talking. Meanwhile the SHEPHERDS and SHEEP enter from stage left and lay down just left of center stage in front of the stars. MICHAEL: Now, TWINKLE, cross the hills to where the SHEPHERDS are sleeping with their sheep. (Michael points to the Shepherds.) Your job is to wake them up so that they will pay attention to the ANGELS and hear their message. MICHAEL exits stage right, while TWINKLE goes to where the SHEPHERDS are lying down. TWINKLE wakes each by tapping them with her star. Meanwhile, the HEAD ANGEL and the HOST OF ANGELS enter stage left and came to the shepherds. SHEPHERDS: Oh, look at that STAR! [While pointing to TWINKLE] Look...there! [While pointing to ANGELS.] HEAD ANGEL: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people. For this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." The SHEPHERDS jump up and move toward the right, led by TWINKLE, while the CHOIR sings and the ANGELS back away to the left. HOST OF ANGELS sits on the chairs; HEAD ANGEL stands. The SHEEP lay down in front of the STARS. CHOIR: "The First Noel" The First Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay. In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep. As NARRATOR 1 begins, MICHAEL enters stage right and meets TWINKLE. They pretend to talk. NARRATOR 1: After the SHEPHERDS arrived, MICHAEL came again and gave TWINKLE still another job. She was to go far away to where some wise men had been studying the prophecies - God's promises of what was to come. TWINKLE was to light up their minds and show them the way to Jesus. So TWINKLE darted off to where the WISE MEN were studying. SHEPHERDS stay at the cave. TWINKLE darts off, up the center aisle, to the rear of the room, while the 3 WISE MEN enter from a side room & stop in the middle of the center aisle. They set their gifts on the floor. WISE MAN 1: Oh, look at that great, bright star! NARRATOR 2: Now WE know it wasn't a great star. It was just TWINKLE! But TWINKLE came down so close to the WISE MEN that she looked much larger than the great fixed stars which were very far away. TWINKLE passes in front of the WISE MEN, pausing briefly, then moves slowly towards the stage while WISE MEN 2 begins. WISE MAN 2: Look, it's moving! WISE MAN 3: Let's follow it. Perhaps it will lead us to the King Who is prophesied in the old writings. While NARRATOR 1 speaks, the WISE MEN pick up their gifts. NARRATOR 1: So TWINKLE played around in the sky while the WISE MEN got together their clothes, their camels, and some gifts for the King. Then, TWINKLE guided them across the hills and valleys to BETHLEHEM. TWINKLE leads the procession down the center, then stage left, and then stage right to the cave, while the CHOIR sings. CHOIR: "We Three Kings of Orient Are" We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. O, star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright. Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to Thy perfect light. The NATIVITY TABLE is stage right. WISE MEN take turns offering their gifts as NARRATOR 2 speaks. NARRATOR 2: So the SHEPHERDS worshipped, and the WISE MEN adored the Child, and offered Him their gifts. ALL SING THE NATIVITY TROPARION: Your Nativity O Christ Our God, has shown to the world the Light of Wisdom. For by it those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star To adore You the Sun of Righteousness. And to know You the Orient from on high, O Lord Glory to You. As NARRATOR 2 speaks, the SHEPHERDS go to their SHEEP and the WISE MEN walk up the center aisle to the back of the room. NARRATOR 2: And even after the SHEPHERDS left and went back to tending their sheep, and the WISE MEN went back to their own lands, TWINKLE stayed around the crib and twinkled and sparkled and made the Baby laugh. Then one day, God sent MICHAEL with another message for TWINKLE. MICHAEL enters stage right. MICHAEL: Little star, God is very pleased with the way you have served Him and His Son. As a reward, you will always be close to Jesus. You will be a special symbol of Christmas and of happiness for all time. NARRATOR 1: And so, today, TWINKLE is still seen darting playfully about the heavens. Of course, books say that shooting stars aren't stars at all, but meteors. But children and poets know that the shooting star is really TWINKLE, who comes to remind us to wish for happiness. For all true happiness is a gift of God and leads us to Him. SAILORS & SCIENTIST quietly enter from stage right and stand by the cave. NARRATOR 2: That's why children say when they see a twinkling star, "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." And that is why people make a wish when they see a shooting star. NARRATOR 1: And that is why, each Christmas, thousands and thousands of trees are topped with beautiful stars - to remind us of the star that led the SHEPHERDS and WISE MEN to Jesus - and to remind us, too, that the happiness we wish for, the greatest happiness of all, is finding Him. ALL: [ENTIRE CAST stands in place.] Twinkle, Twinkle, little star, what a lovely guide your are! Lead us with your gentle light. Make our hearts and homes all bright. With the love that Jesus brings, God of God and King of Kings!