CAST OF CHARACTERS

Michael Turner Music Minister
Amber Teen Girl
Elaine Teen Girl
Carey Teen Girl
Catherine Teen Girl
Debbie Teen Girl
Jarrod Teen Boy
Ted Teen Boy
Chris Teen Boy
Matt Teen Boy
Randy Teen Boy

THE SETTING: The youth room; The music room

PROPS: One set headphones with music media

Scene I

(As the scene opens, a small youth choir consisting of Amber, Elaine, Carey, Catherine, Ted and Jarrod are being led in song. The leader is the music minister, Michael Turner. This is a regularly scheduled youth choir practice).

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                        (After the song has ended, Michael addresses the choir)

Michael:          Very good job. That was a good practice. (Pause)
                       Hey, before you all leave, the Lord has laid something on my heart that I want to share with you.

Elaine:             (Holding up her hand with her thumb and index finger held close together). Short share?
                      Or (spreading her arms widely apart) Loooonnnnggg Share?

Michael:          Short share.

Jarrod:            Good answer.

Michael:          I want to do a youth trip to Florida this summer.

Ted:                Excellent!

                      (Everyone is excited, high fives go around the room and everyone starts talking)

Elaine:             (Speaking loudly to Amber) Can you say “BEACH”

                      (As Elaine and Amber hop up and down, Ted and Jarrod start talking about surfing and swimming. Catherine and Carey are more                               reserved than the other two girls, but they are obviously also excited)

Michael:          (Trying to speak over the noise, to no avail) BUT, I am going to need your help.

                       (There is no change in the volume or excitement of the young people. The excited chatter about the beach continues.)

Michael:          I want to do a youth CHOIR trip.

                       (The room gets silent, as the young people hear the word “CHOIR”).

Carey:             (Disbelief) Choir trip?

Michael:          Yes, a musical drama…(hoping to see an excited reaction but getting none)…on tour.

Carey:             (Imitating Elaine) Can you say “BUSTED”.

                       (Everyone starts talking again, they are not happy anymore. Elaine raises her hand and then speaks to Michael).

Elaine:             We are still talking about going to the beach though… right, Mr. T?

Amber:            Definitely…beach, right?

Catherine:        No chance, Mr. T.

Michael:          Why not?

Catherine:        No interest, that’s why not.
                       Look around you, there are only six of us who are willing to sing.

Jarrod:            (Speaking to Ted, about Ted) And only five who actually can.

***************************************************another example below

Jarrod:            Just one second, Mr. T.
                      Look, everyone just give me a couple of minutes to talk to Mr. T. Please, just calm down, go back to your seats and I will get this straightened out.
                      (The group grows quiet)
                      Please.

Chris:             You’ve got three minutes, bro. If nothing changes we are gone. (Pause)
                      And what about putting the rap song in the program? If we don’t get at least one rap, we are out.
                      (Turns to the others) Right?

                      (Karen, Debbie, Matt and Randy all express their agreement)

Randy:           That is right, dude. If we don’t get to do a rap we are OUT!

Jarrod:           OK, but you are going to have to sit back down and give me five minutes instead of three. (Pause)
                      Go ahead…sit down.

                      (As most of the group works their way back to their seats, Michael is getting impatient with the situation.)

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Karen:           When I…(points to Debbie) When WE signed up for this trip, it was really just so that we could go to the beach. We did NOT want to sing.                      And honestly, we are still looking forward to going to the beach, but I really have had a good time being in here, singing with you.
                     Thanks Carey… and Catherine.
                     Thanks for asking us to be a part of it.

                    (Catherine goes over to Karen and hugs her and as the girls are all hugging and sitting back down, Chris stands up).

Chris:           Alright. Choir is not my thing…

                   (Matt jumps to his feet and interrupts)

Matt:           Chris is a rapper!

                    (Chris looks at Matt and Matt slinks back into his seat)

Chris:           Choir is not my thing. But, you know what? Music is.
                    Not just music, but music to the King.
                    This whole choir thing has taught me something about singing. (Pause)
                    It really does not matter what I am singing. It doesn’t matter if I am singing rap or if I am singing choir-boy music, as long as I am singing in the                     reign. Singing in the reign of my Lord, Jesus.

                    (Chris looks up and raises his hands)

                   (Catherine stands up and starts to sing, solo and unaccompanied. Beginning softly) “I love you Lord and I lift my voice, to worship you…”
                  (The entire choir then one by one begin to join in.)

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