AN EASTER DRAMA

written by
Evan Brammer
22 22
SCENE ONE: THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY Walk down the aisle and then break off and
take your marks on the stage. Two to the
POSITIONS: NARRATOR IS ON THE STAGE.
left and two to the right. Make sure to
DISCIPLES ARE IN THE REAR OF THE AUDIENCE.
kneel down.
PALM BRANCH WAVERS ARE SITTING IN THE AISLE
SEATS OF THE AUDIENCE. JESUS
PROPS: PALM BRANCHES Walk down the aisle towards the stage with
the disciples. Hang back towards the rear a
NARRATOR ONE little bit. Time your walk with the music so
Come to the center of the stage. that you reach the stage, turn around and
shake your head right when the music is
Welcome. Welcome. You
ending. When the music stops, freeze!
have arrived at a
special time. Palm SOUND: END SOUND
Sunday.
NARRATOR ONE
Point towards the gym door. Goes up to JESUS and points at him.
Even now, Jesus and his This man is a special
disciples are coming. man. He was born some
thirty years ago in a
SOUND: 01 TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
little town not far from
PALM BRANCH WAVERS here. He has lived an
On your cue “his disciples are coming” and honorable life; a life of
the music beginning, stand up and begin to service, of sacrifice, a
wave your palm branches in the air. Do with life without sin. And he
a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Yell, has come here, to the
“Hosanna” randomly but not all together. city of Jerusalem, the
city of his forefathers
3 DISCIPLES AND JUDAS, to celebrate the annual
MARY festival of Passover.
And, he has come to die.

33 33
Pointing to the people waving the branches. Listen to their words,
“Hosanna!” they say.
These people, these This word, “hosanna” it
hundreds of people literally means “save us,
waving their palm we pray!”
branches, they do not
understand. They have, Getting up very close to JESUS and pointing
in a very real way, out his grief-stricken face.
missed the point.
And yet, you can see it
He takes a palm branch and examines it. in his eyes, the tears,
the weeping…
You see, these palm
branches, are a …for they do not
political symbol. understand.

Waving the branch. EXIT STAGE LEFT

Theywave them over Jesus END SCENE ONE

like you would wave the
flag over some
conquering king. They
believe Jesus has come
to get rid of the Roman
soldiers and to set up
his kingdom.
This is their view of
the “coming one.” This
is their vision of the
Messiah; the Christ.
Putting his hand to his ear.
--
SCENE TWO: CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
POSITIONS: SEVERAL ANIMALS (SHEEP & GOATS)
ARE KNEELING NEAR A TABLE, WITH THEIR MASTERS
STANDING NEAR. BEHIND THE TABLE ARE TWO MEN
SELLING SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS.
PROPS: TABLE WITH MONEY BAG ON IT
SOUND: 02 CLEARS THE TEMPLE
ALL ACTING BEGINS WITH THE START OF THE MUSIC
JAMES & JOHN

44 44
Walk towards the animals on the far side of Walk to the center of the stage.
the stage and begin talking to their master.
Here we are, in the
PETER Temple of the Lord.
Walk towards the animals on the near side of Jesus came here as a boy.
the stage and start petting them, considering He learned under the
if you will buy them or not. great rabbis of the past.
He taught them as well.
JESUS
Pointing off stage.
Walk towards the animals on the far side of
the stage, shake your head in disgust. Then He knew this place and he
walk and do the same with those on the other knew whose spirit dwelled
side of the stage. Then those in the center. just inside the most holy
Right when the music hits the high point, of holies.
begin pushing the people away. Even your
disciples. After you’ve pushed them all And yet, as he arrives in
away, throw the table off the stage. this place that he
remembers he sees men
You dare to make my trading and selling. A
Father’s house a market “den of thieves” he calls
place. It is written it.
that this will be a
place of prayer, you It wasn’t that sacrifices
make it a den of weren’t to be purchased.
thieves. You just don’t And the money changers,
understand. It should be they were there to help
a place of prayer. those pilgrims that had
come from long distances
Shake your head and then freeze! to change their money
into the temple money so
NARRATOR 2

55 55
 they could pay the This scene is a flash back to a few days before the
temple tax. previous scene. Jesus and his disciple are in the
house of Simon the Leper when a woman, Mary (the sister
This wasn’t the first of Lazarus), begins to anoint Jesus’ head and his feet
with a very costly oil. Based upon: Mt 26:6-13, Mk
timeJesus cleansed the
14:3-9.
Temple. Just three
years before, at the INT. STAGE AREA THREE
beginning of his POSITIONS: A GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE STANDING
ministry, he had driven AROUND TALKING. SOME ARE KNEELING. SOME ARE
them out the first time. SITTING. JESUS IS IN THE CENTER, HIS
They did not learn. DISCIPLES ARE DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE GROUP.
ALL ACTORS ARE FROZEN IN THEIR POSTIONS.
Glances in the direction of JESUS.
LIGHTING: SPOTLIGHT HITS THE CENTER OF STAGE
ALL ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION.
AREA THREE.
JESUS
NARRATOR ONE
JESUS overturns the table.
Walks into the center of the spotlight.
This place, my house,
(softly, gently)
JESUS shakes his head. Four days before.

NARRATOR 2 Quickly kneels outside the spotlight.

Enters the scene.
SOUND: A SOUNDTRACK SOFT PLAYING MUSIC PLAYS
Morning, day two. IN THE BACKGROUND.

LIGHTING: THE STAGE GOES BLACK MARY MAGDALENE

MARY MAGDALENEwalks around the group holding
END SCENE TWO a jar of precious oil close to her, trying to
-- get into the center where JESUS is.

SCENE THREE: ANNOINTING OF JESUS

66 66
EVERY TIME SHE TRIES TO ENTER, PEOPLE CLOSE
THE GAP – BLOCKING HER.
She collapses onto the ground.
JESUS
Taking notice of MARY, JESUS pushes through
the crowd and kneels down in front of MARY –
much like you would kneel on one knee to help
a fallen child.
MARY MAGDALENE
MARY MAGDALENEstands up and breaks the jar of
oil over the head of JESUS. She then kneels
down lower and pours the oil over his feet
and wipes it up with her own hair.
ALL ACTORS FREEZE IN THEIR POSITIONS.
SOUND: ALL MUSIC STOPS.
NARRATOR ONE
Enters the scene, near MARY and JESUS.
(softly, gently)
This woman is Mary. She
is the sister of
Lazarus, whom Jesus
raised from the dead not
long ago. Every time we
see her she is at Jesus’
feet. When Jesus had a
77 77
meal at her house, she
sat at his feet and
listened while her sister
ran about frantically
trying to do things for
Jesus. It was said that
she chose the better
thing.
When her brother Lazarus
had died, she collapsed
at Jesus’ feet in sorrow.
And now, once again, we
find her at his feet.
This time however, she
has brought with her
something precious. This
oil that she is pouring
over his head and his
feet, it costs about a
year’swages. She is
anointing him, preparing
his body for what would
later come.
Look, as she wipes his
feet with her hair. It
is written that a woman’s
hair is her glory. Yet,
 she chooses to give that
glory up to honor him.
Kneels to the side so that the audience can
view the scene.
ALL ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION. MARY CONTINUES
TO ANNOINT JESUS. JUDAS STEPS CENTER STAGE.
JUDAS
(very loudly)
What is this? Do not
waste it.
Slightly tries to pull MARY away. Acts
though he can save a few drops of the oil.
We could have sold this
and given the money to
the poor. Why would you
waste such a thing.
ALL ACTORS FREEZE IN THEIR POSITIONS.
doesn’t care even a
little for the poor. He
is the treasurer. He
controls the money.
Pulling on JUDAS’S pockets.
His pockets are lined
with others gifts.
Every story has a hero
and its villain. Judas
is neither. He is the
tragedy of this story.
as He was called to be a
disciple of Jesus, one of
the few, one of the
twelve. But he does not
see things in black and
white, only in shades of
grey. Watch what happens
when your heart is grey.

NARRATOR ONE (slowly,

annunciating every
Enters scene. word)
(softly, gently) It is not long before all
Judas sounds convincing, goes black.
doesn’t he? “Let us use LIGHTING: THE STAGE GOES BLACK
it to sell and give the
money to the poor,” he END SCENE THREE
says. And yet, he

88 88
 END ACT ONE He said, “He has a
furnished upper room in
--
his house. Go and tell
ACT TWO him that we will
celebrate the Passover
SCENE FOUR: THE LAST SUPPER/FEET WASHING
meal there. Prepare the
In this scene Jesus and his disciples have gathered meal in that upper room.”
together to celebrate the Passover meal. He institutes
the Lord’s Supper and teachesthe disciples to serve one And now they’re here.
another. This is their purpose. Based upon: Mt 26:17-
29, Mk 14:12-25, Lk 22:18-30. Gesturing to the whole group.
INT. STAGE AREA FOUR
You may have noticed that
POSITIONS: JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES LOUNGE everything that has
AROUND A LONG TABLE SITTING ON PILLOWS ON THE happened and will happen
GROUND, TALKING CHEERFULLY, EATING AND this week is special.The
DRINKING. ALL ACTORS ARE FROZEN. palm branches held
special meaning. Jesus’
LIGHTING: SPOTLIGHT HITS THE CENTER OF STAGE
zeal for his father’s
AREA FOUR.
house, did too. The oil
NARRATOR TWO did and so does this
Enters the scene. meal.

(softly, gently) The Jews would only

celebrate the Passover
At the end of yesterday, meal once per year to
Jesus had sent a couple honor the time when God’s
of his disciples to this Spirit passed over the
man’s house. whole of Egypt, striking
Points to one that is lounging around the down the firstborn of all
table. living creatures; except

99 99
 those that had faith in Thank you friends for
God… joining me here for this
last meal together.
Gesturing as though to touch the sides and
tops of a doorway. All the disciples respond with gasps, “What
does he mean by last meal?”
…demonstrated by
spreading the blood of a I know you don’t
sacrificial lamb on understand what is
their doorposts. happening and what will
Together let’s watch as happen, but you will. For
the disciples share one three years we’ve walked
final meal with Jesus, together and you have
just a day before his watched as I’ve fed the
trial and crucifixion. many, healed the broken,
Jesus knows it is and raised the dead. And
coming, but his of the thousands that
disciples do not have followed me, you
understand. have been my closest
companions. But one of
Day four. you is not of us.
Exits the scene. Turning and looking towards JUDAS
ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION. ALL CHARACTERS BEGIN Go and do what you must.
TALKING LIVELY FOR A MOMENT AND THEN JESUS,
WHO IS IN THE MIDDLE, STANDS UP HOLDING HIS JUDAS
CUP. Immediately gets up from the table and
JESUS quickly leaves the scene.

JESUS
Taking a loaf of bread in his hands.

1010 1010
 Thank you Father for SOUND: A SOFT SOUNDTRACK BEGINS TO PLAY.
this daily bread.
As the drink returns to Jesus, he once again
He breaks the bread into two pieces and hands stands up. This time, he takes off his outer
it to his two sides, Peter on his right and shirt and wraps a towel around his waist.
John on his left. Taking a bowl of water from off the table, he
goes to John and begins to wash his feet.
This bread is my body.
God has provided it and NARRATOR TWO
He will allow it to be (while Jesus washes
broken. It will be the feet of the
whipped, scourged, and disciples)
torn for you. As you eat As Jesus washed the feet
it, remember me. of his disciples, he made
himself to be lower than
Taking the cup in his hands, he lifts it to
them. Even though he was
the sky.
God, the Creator of the
Thank you Father for universe, he humbled
always providing for our himself to do the lowest
needs. of all jobs: washing
someone’s feet.
He takes a drink, turns and hands it to
Peter. As he did this, he
instructed his disciples
This is the blood, my to go and do the same for
blood,that is being others. The first will be
poured out for you. As last and the last will be
you drink it, remember first.
me.
LIGHTING: THE STAGE GOES BLACK
EACH OF THE DISCIPLES TAKES A DRINK AND THEN
PASSES THE CUP TO THE NEXT PERSON. SOUND: ALL MUSIC STOPS

1111 1111
 END SCENE FOUR the miracles, the
healings,they have
--
misunderstood. Father,
SCENE FIVE: PRAYER IN THE GARDEN/JESUS IS give them the
ARRESTED understanding they need.
In this scene Jesus and his three closest disciples Gets up and notices the disciples are
(Peter, James & John) go up into the garden of
sleeping.
Gethsemane to pray. Jesus prays for hours while the
three fall asleep. When he is done praying, Jesus
Wake up! Don’t sleep.
wakes the three but then is arrested by the Chief
Priests being betrayed by his disciple Judas. Based
Pray that you do not fall
upon: Mt 26:36-56, Mk 14:32-51, Lk 22:39-53. into temptation.
EXT. STAGE AREA FIVE Returning to prayer. The disciples fall
POSITIONS: JESUS IS SEEN KNEELING AND PRAYING asleep again.
TO GOD WITH GREAT ENERGY AND EMOTION. LYING What you have asked me to
AROUND HIM ARE PETER, JAMES AND JOHN ASLEEP. do, Father, I will do it
ALL ACTORS ARE FROZEN IN POSITION because I know that this
LIGHTING: SPOTLIGHT HITS THE CENTER OF STAGE is your desire, but it is
AREA FIVE not easy. I choose your
will and not my own.
SOUND: A SOFT SOUNDTRACK PLAYS QUIETLY IN THE
BACKGROUND ALL ACTORS FREEZE IN THEIR POSITIONS.
ALL ACTORS BEGIN MOVING. NARRATOR TWO
JESUS Enters the scene.
(Praying with a lot Jesus struggled in prayer
of emotion) to God over what he knew
Father! They just do would happen next.
not understand. Though he was and is God,
Everything I have done, Jesus was also human. In

1212 1212
 his humanity he cried trial. All the while, the Jews call out for his death.
out to the only one that Not wanting to upset the masses, Pilate condemns Jesus
to death by crucifixion, which is then carried out by
would understand: his
the Roman soldiers. Based upon: Mt 27:32-56, Mk 15:21-
father. 41, Lk 23:26-49.

Here comes Judas. EXT. STAGE AREA SIX

ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION. POSTIONS: JESUS IS STANDING BEFORE PONTIUS

PILATE IN THE CITY. THERE IS A CROWD OF
JUDAS PEOPLE ALL AROUND.
(with Chief Priests)
LIGHTINGL: SPOTLIGHT HITS THE CENTER OF STAGE
Walks towards Jesus, bows before him and then AREA SIX
kisses him on the cheek.
PONTIUS PILATE
CHIEF PRIESTS Are you the King of the
(holding back Jews?
Peter, James and
John from CROWD
retaliating) (Erupts)
Take him away. He’s not our king. You
LIGHTING: THE STAGE GOES BLACK are our king.

END SCENE FIVE PONTIUS PILATE

(motioning to the
END ACT TWO
crowd for silence)
-- Are you their king?
ACT THREE JESUS
SCENE SIX: TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION Stands in silence
In this scene Jesus is brought before the Chief PONTIUS PILATE
Priests, King Herod, and then Pontius Pilate to stand

1313 1313
Motions to a soldier. THREE SOLDIERS TAKE HOLD OF JESUS AND BEAT
HIM, PUSHING HIM BETWEEN THEMSELVES AS THEY
SOLDIER DO. THIS HAPPENS FOR A FEW MINUTES.
Punches Jesus across the face.
SOLDIERS ONE AND TWO
JESUS Taking a hold of Jesus, throws him down to
Falls over. the ground. Taking turns, each soldier pounds
nails into Jesus’ wrists and ankles. When
ALL ACTORS FREEZE IN THEIR POSITIONS. they are finished, they hoist Jesus upright
NARRATOR 2 by each taking an arm.
Enters the scene. JESUS
Pontius Pilate could not Stands in a way to make it seem that he is
find any fault in him. hanging on a cross.
Jesus was an innocent
LIGHTING: THE STAGE GOES BLACK
man.
END SCENE FIVE
Yet, he feared the Jews.
He feared an uprising. --
And so, he set another SCENE SEVEN: THE BURIAL
prisoner free and
sentenced Jesus to die. In this scene Jesus’ disciples take his body down from
the cross, wrap it in clothe for burial and then lay it
Kneels out of the way. in the borrowed tomb of another man. Based upon: Mt
27:57-61, Mk 15:42-16:1, Lk 23:50-56.
PONTIUS PILATE EXT. STAGE AREA SIX
Beat him. And then kill
POSITIONS: JESUS REMAINS STANDING IN THE
him.
POSITION THAT HE WAS IN AT THE END OF THE
Walks away. LAST SCENE.
LIGHTING: THE SPOTLIGHT HITS JESUS

1414 1414
SOUND: A POWERFUL SOUNDRACK PLAYS IN THE SOUND: ALL SOUND STOPS
BACKGROUND.
END SCENE FIVE
NARRATOR ONE
--
Entering the scene.
SCENE EIGHT: THE RESURRECTION
Three hours later.
In this sceneMary and others go to the tomb early in
THE PETER, JAMES AND JOHN WITH MARY COME TO the morning to anoint Jesus’ body with spices, but
discover he is not there. Jesus has risen from the
THE CROSS TO BRING DOWN HIS BODY. PETER AND
grave! He appears to the women and then to the
JAMES STAND BEHIND JESUS, JOHN STANDS IN disciples, commanding them to “go into all the nations
FRONT. MARY MAGDALENE STANDS TO THE SIDE. and make disciples. Based upon: Mt 25:1-10, Mk 16:1-11,
Lk 23:56-24:12.
JESUS
EXT. STAGE AREA SIX
(looking up towards
Heaven) POSITIONS: THE LARGE BLANKET THAT REPRESENTS
Forgive them Father! THE TOMB IS LYING FLAT ON THE GROUND.
LIGHTING: THE SPOTLIGHT HITS THE BLANKET
(shakes head)
They do not understand! SOUND: A SOFT, SOOTHING SOUNDTRACK PLAYS IN
THE BACKGROUND
Allows his head to fall down, in a sense,
giving up his spirit. Immediately, keeping MARY MAGDALENE
body in the cross position, falls backwards Approaching the blanket, grabs the edges and
into the disciples hands. very dramatically pulls it away to reveal
that Jesus is no longer there.
THE PETER, JAMES AND JOHN LIFT JESUS UP FROM
THE CROSS. ANOTHER DISCIPLE, MATTHEW, (moving from side to
SPREADS A GIANT BLACK BLANKET OVER JESUS’ side in confusion)
BODY AS THEY LAY HIM ON THE GROUND. What? I don’t
understand. Where is he?
LIGHTING: THE STAGE GOES BLACK

1515 1515
ALL ACTORS FREEZE IN THEIR POSITIONS. JESUS
NARRATOR TWO Walking towards MARY MAGDALENE in Stage Area
Six. He takes her in his arms, hugging her.
Enters the scene.
Don’t worry Mary. Death
When Jesus came into
could not hold me and
this world, the world
will not hold you…
did not understand who
he was. They (turning and facing
misunderstood his the audience)
purpose. …any of you.
When he died on that You may not understand
cross, the disciples now, but you will. The
still did not whole world will
understand. How could understand.
their Lord, whom they
had followed for three I am the way, the truth
years, just die. and the life. To know me
is the reason you were
(shaking head) born.
They just didn’t
understand. LIGHTING: FADE TO BLACK
SOUND: ALL SOUND STOPS
But we do. We know the
end of that death was END SCENE EIGHT
not the end of the story.
END ACT THREE
LIGHTING: HITTING JESUS STANDING IN STAGE
END OF PLAY
AREA ONE
ACTORS RETURN TO MOTION

1616 1616