The church is holding auditions for its annual nativity play, and the director is praying for a calm, simple evening. Instead, they get a full-blown casting circus. One actor insists on playing all three wise men to maximize “stage stewardship,” another demands to be the Christmas tree (even though there isn’t one in the script), and someone drags in a reclining lawn chair to audition as Baby Jesus “with better lumbar support.”

As the chaos grows, an interpretive dancer wants to be the star—literally—and Santa wanders in, assuming he belongs at the stable. The director struggles to hold onto sanity and the biblical story at the same time. In the end, a quiet cast member reminds everyone that the nativity isn’t about showing off but about pointing people to Jesus. The director assigns everyone roles that actually serve the story, creating a cast list that looks odd on paper but beautifully Christ-centered in practice.

Theme

Serving with our gifts so that Jesus—not us—stays at the center. The skit highlights humility, teamwork, and the idea that every part of the body of Christ matters, whether it’s onstage or behind the scenes. The goal is not to grab the spotlight, but to use our gifts to point others to the Savior.

Characters

(7-12 adults)

• Narrator – Wry, observant, keeps the story moving and underlines the spiritual point at the end.

• Director – Slightly frazzled but kind; loves Jesus, loves theater, and desperately wants the nativity to stay about the Bible.

• Max – Overconfident actor who wants as much stage time as possible; volunteers to be all three wise men.

• Holly – Gentle, earnest, very attached to the idea of playing a Christmas tree.

• Lily – Musical theater heart; tries to turn everything into a song.

• Gabe – Intense “artsy” type; wants to do a modern interpretive dance as the star.

• Brad – Relaxed, slightly lazy; brings a reclining lawn chair to audition as Baby Jesus.

• Dana – Aspiring writer/director; wants to turn the nativity into a deep multi-part drama with flashbacks.
  Sam – Dressed as Santa; well-meaning, a bit clueless, wants to be included and helpful.

• Faith – Quiet but grounded; gently refocuses the group on Jesus and serving where needed.

When

Modern-day church during the week before Christmas, at a casual evening casting call and rehearsal.

Props & Costumes

• Clipboard and pen for the Director

• Simple sign: “NATIVITY CASTING CALL”

• Plastic crown and small gift box (for a wise man)

• Toy sheep or stuffed animal

• Small fake tree and/or Christmas tree costume

• Reclining lawn chair

• Santa hat and beard for Sam

• Simple “baby doll” later placed in the manger (optional)

Why

Key verse:
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4–5)

This verse reminds us that the church is like a body: many different parts and gifts, but all united in Christ. The skit uses the chaotic casting call to show that every role—big or small, seen or unseen—matters when it points to Jesus instead of to ourselves.

How

The stage is a simple church multipurpose room or sanctuary platform arranged for auditions:

• Center: table with clipboard, a few scripts, and a “NATIVITY CASTING CALL” sign.

• Around: a few chairs for actors, random props (tree, crown, lawn chair) visible.
  Actors can play up their personalities and improv small reactions, as long as they keep the story moving and land the final message reverently.

Time

7 minutes