The Christmas Pageant is held every year during our Christmas Eve (December 24) service. This is a fun, inclusive event that gives all our younger members an opportunity to shine their unique light and participate in our community traditions.
Goals of the Christmas Pageant
Goal One: Lead formational programming for children and youth to help them connect with their community & the message of the Nativity story.
- Assign roles appropriate to individual interests & skills
- Establish realistic expectations & priorities among adult helpers
- Engage in formational discussion & activities alongside rehearsal
- Include non-performing children in meaningful ways
Goal Two: Perform a Nativity play that shares the Christmas message in a meaningful and entertaining way with the larger congregation.
- Ensure choreography and rehearsal prioritizes visibility
- Ensure choreography and rehearsal prioritizes correct use of microphones
- Effectively equip adults & older youth helpers to assist and run pageant
Rehearsal & Programming Time
Rehearsals will take the place of “children’s programming” on Sundays in December from 11:30-12:30 following the 10am service.
Children who will not be performing in the pageant will still be included in the programming via discussion, arts and crafts, and other activities.
Rehearsal time will include formational programming, prop making, practice using the microphones, choreography, costuming, and line reading. Each child’s inclusion will be tailored to their role, interest and readiness.
Performers are encouraged to attend all rehearsals, but will be included regardless of how many rehearsals they attend. We will also have “day of” roles for any young people attending the pageant service but who have not rehearsed.
Casting
The Christmas pageant is written each year to accommodate our unique individual performers.
Each performer should share with Lily, either via email or in person on Casting Day (Novembr 24), the following information:
- Whether there is a specific character they want to play (not guaranteed)
- Whether there is a specific costume element or prop they want
- Whether they are comfortable memorizing lines
- How much of a speaking role they want (anywhere from no lines, shared/group lines, one or two solo lines, or many solo lines)
- Whether they have any other performance skills they want to share (singing, dancing, etc.)
Participants who don’t wish to perform can also be included in “backstage” roles such as tech, props, choreography, etc.
Casting information must be sent to Lily at lily@saint-marks.com by Wednesday, November 27.
Schedule
Sunday, November 24, 11:30-12:30 (post-10am service) – CASTING DAY
Sunday, December 1, 11:30-12:30 post-10am service – REHEARSAL 1
Sunday, December 8, 11:30-12:30 post-10am service – REHEARSAL 2
Sunday, December 15, 11:30-12:30 post-10am service – REHEARSAL 3
Sunday, December 22, 11:30-12:30 post-10am service – REHEARSAL 4
Tuesday, December 24, 2:00 – DRESS REHEARSAL | 3:00 – PERFORMANCE
