Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: http://read.jwpepper.com/i/519438
PRODUCTION NOTES In His Presence by Deborah Craig-Claar The production requirements for the optional dramatic script In His Presence are modest and flexible. The simple story can be easily conveyed through suggested scenery, colorful costumes, and a few hand props. The focus should always be on the characters. These brief production notes are offered to help you bring the story of In His Presence to life for your church and community. Set In His Presence takes place in a modern day Army barracks in a foreign country. Kyle's room can be easily suggested with a basic wooden table and chair; there is a single-bulb utility lamp that must actually work on the table. If you would like to design a more realistic setting, you can add a military-style bed and locker. There must also be two additional writing desks and chairs placed in a separate stage area for the various historical characters who appear during the production. De- pending upon your performance space, these two tables can either be directly be- hind the barracks set on a raised platform or placed on the opposite side of the stage. The desks must accommodate scenes from a wide variety of time periods so should be extremely basic and plain. Props The required props for In His Presence should be able to be collected from indi- viduals or found in thrift shops. The trunk should be large enough to hold several dozen books and various papers and notebooks. It should be carefully filled with these items, placing the books referred to in the script on top. Make every effort to find/buy actual copies of The Story of My Life by Helen Keller and Corrie's Christmas Memories by Corrie ten Boom. (You may need to make them appear a bit worn if they are brand new.) The caroling book and the Bibles should also show some wear and tear. Both writing desks must have sheets of paper and writ- ing utensils. (Make certain that the paper and especially the writing utensils are pe- riod-appropriate; this will necessitate having multiple writing props on the tables.) Cailtin's crayon drawing and her folded paper star should be large enough to be seen from the back of the audience. Lights In His Presence can be performed without any special theatrical lighting. If this is your choice, then the "literary characters" that appear on stage whenever Kyle reads their work aloud will enter and exit their scenes. However, it will certainly prove very advantageous to isolate the two writing desks in light, allowing the var- 129 For Preview Only