HOLIDAY SHORTS – A COLLECTION OF PLAYS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Seven short plays for both children and adults written around various festivals and the holidays such as Chanukah, the Chinese New year and Christmas. The entire evening of Holiday Shorts may be done in approximately 60 minutes, or one or several plays may be performed individually. Together, there are about 35 roles. No play calls for more than seven actors. The use of puppets is encouraged.
Anansi and his children: An African folk tale about how the fantastic children of Anansi save him when he is swallowed by a giant fish.
Dreidel: A lovely Jewish children’s play set around the festival of Chanukah. A grandparent tells his young granddaughter, Rachel the story of a miracle, that occurred when he was just eight years old. It tells how he accidentally broke his Dreidel that he had carefully made for Chaunkah, and how he was unable to get clay to make another. Until a miracle happened.
First Christmas: A married couple spends their first Christmas together and, despite various setbacks, they discover that their love for each other is all that they need to make Christmas special.
Gifts of the Magi: an adaption of the famous O.Henry tale. A beautiful story about how a poor young couple give up their prized possession to be able to buy each other the perfect Christmas gift.
The Nian: set at the Chinese New Year, a folk tale that tells of how the terrible Nian was banished forever from China by a clever couple that arrive unexpectedly at a terrified village and how the Chinese New year is celebrated every year because of this.
O, Tannenbaum: – a young boy finds his voice at summer camp which brings him closer to his taciturn grandfather.
Yes, Virginia: a young girl isn’t sure that Santa Claus exists anymore.
Performance History:
December 2015 – The Overseas American Army as part of their Christmas plays
Howard S. Billings High School, Quebec, Canada – 2018
Department of Theater Lafayette College, PA, USA – 2019
Read more about playwright Evan Guilford Blake. Other plays by Evan.
Recently, Evan’ story My Father’s Robe was published online in Wisdom Crieth Without. This is a traditional story, a very gentle piece that I think will appeal, especially, to those who have aging parents.
Author: Evan Guilford-Blake
Genre: Christmas, festival and plays for the holidays for both adults and children. Includes plays to celebrate the African Kwanzaa and the Chinese new year.
Type: Collection of short one act plays
Length: The entire evening of Holiday Shorts may be done in approximately 60 minutes, or one or several plays may be performed individually.
- Anansi and his Children – nine minutes
- Dreidel -Twelve minutes
- First Christmas – Six minutes
- Gifts of the Magi – Twelve minutes
- The Nian – Eight minutes
- O, Tannenbaum – Eleven minutes
- Yes, Virginia – Eight minutes
Number and ages of actors: Together, there are about 35 roles. No play calls for more than seven actors. The use of puppets is encouraged.
- Anansi and his Children: 2w (any age), 2m (1 20-50, 1 any age), 1 either (any age), 2 children (1 girl, 1 boy)
- Dreidel: (1m (80), 1w (45-50), 1 either (50+), 2 children (girl, 8; boy, 8)
- First Christmas: 1m (54); 1w (37)
- Gifts of the Magi: 2w (early 20s, 30+), 1m (25), 3 either
- The Nian: ( 1m (30+), 3 either (2 any age, 1 40+), 2 children (1girl, 1 boy)
- O, Tannenbaum: 3w (30s, 60s, 30-65), 2m (35-50, 60s), 1 child (boy, 10)
- Yes, Virginia: 1m (28-35), 3 either (any ages), 1 child (girl, 8)
Suitable for: All ages
Set: Simple – staging with a few simple furnishings can easily be achieved
Level of difficulty: 7/10 – crowd control if the entire show is performed
Cost is $17 for the whole collection
Copyright © 2009 as an unpublished dramatic work by
Guilford-Blake corporation. © Off The Wall Plays July 2014 as a published work
Like this play? Other seasonal and festival plays:
A manger carol – nativity play
Santa’s holiday – South African Christmas play script
A Contemporary Christmas carol – modern day Scrooge
