{"id":17821,"date":"2014-12-22T17:08:03","date_gmt":"2014-12-22T22:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitright.pmss.net\/?page_id=17821"},"modified":"2019-08-01T15:02:26","modified_gmt":"2019-08-01T19:02:26","slug":"christmas-nativity-play","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/staging.pinemountainsettlement.net\/?page_id=17821","title":{"rendered":"CHRISTMAS Nativity Play"},"content":{"rendered":"
Pine Mountain Settlement School
\nSeries 16:\u00a0Special and Annual Events<\/h5>\n

CHRISTMAS NATIVITY PLAY\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

TAGS: Christmas Nativity Play ; Pine Mountain Settlement School ; Christmas ; Nativity ; theater ; Ethel de Long Zande ; Mary Rogers ; Chapel ;\u00a0play scripts ; theater ; plays ;<\/p>\n

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The Christmas Nativity Play\u00a0has been in continuous performance since the first presentation of the Play in the\u00a01920s. It is generally performed the second weekend of December.<\/p>\n

Ethel de Long Zande, the author of the original script for the play said the following:<\/p>\n

Pine Mountain’s Nativity Play is a compilation of passages of Scripture, hymns and carols, and dialogue partly original and partly inspired by certain old miracle plays, notably the Second Shepherd’s Play from Towneley. This play is echoed in the complaints of the shepherds about their hard lives, and in the offering of gifts to the Christ Child, where not only the sense but the rhythm of the lines is close to the source. This dramatic weaving together of homely talk, stately scripture, and [the]\u00a0familiar music was made by Ethel de Long Zande, founder, with Katherine Pettit, of the Pine Mountain Settlement School. It has bee performed annuallysincee the school’s founding in 1913.<\/em><\/p>\n

Although the setting has become more formal, with the building of our stone chapel, the early performances were equally moving. They were staged in “The House in the Woods,” our only gathering place at the time. It was a roof and a floor with only the forest around. The shepherds wore raincoats turned inside out, the prophets and kings, homespun striped blankets. But Mary’s mantle was blue from the first and the babe and manger were real. Our independence of “fotched-on” resources accounts in part for the moving simplicity of the play which the neighborhood, no less than the school \u00a0family, cherishes as a traditional rite. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Evelyn K. Wells<\/em><\/p>\n

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Nativity Play, 1930’s [?]<\/p><\/div>THE CHRISTMAS NATIVITY PLAY SCRIPT I<\/strong><\/p>\n

The following is a working copy of the Nativity Play script prepared for participating students and community in the 1940s. \u00a0Ethel de Long Zande<\/a>, who was the author of\u00a0the original script gave a simple telling of the events surrounding the birth of Christ that has not changed in the succeeding scripts. The de Long script of eight pages is elegant in its simple language and ease of presentation and powerful in its minimalism and inclusion of the audience in the telling of the birth of Christ. The fundamental script\u00a0has not been changed throughout its many annual performances. This early 1930’s copy\u00a0has a cover with a John Spelman III linoleum block print of the Chapel which signals its printing\u00a0in the mid to late 1930’s.<\/p>\n

\"nativity_play_cover.jpg\"

Christmas Nativity Play Script, 1930’s. Cover. nativity_play_cover.jpg<\/p><\/div>\n

In the late1940’s another play-script booklet was prepared and the drawings of Mary Rogers, a Pine Mountain staff member, were added.<\/p>\n

PMSS Christmas Nativity Play Script. 1940’s, with drawings by Mary Rogers – Cover<\/p><\/div>\n

The\u00a0CHRISTMAS NATIVITY PLAY SCRIPT II<\/a><\/strong> was offered for sale to any who wished to replicate the play for their audiences. It is the same play as represented in the 1930’s play-script but contains an introduction about the origin of the play and the exquisite drawings by Mary Rogers.<\/p>\n

\"christmas_989b\"<\/a>

Nativity Play. Interior of Chapel decorated for play with native hemlock and other greens. View toward left chancel. c. 1940s. [christmas_989b.jpg]<\/p><\/div>\n

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CONTENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction [nativity_play_intro.jpg]<\/strong>
\ngeneral suggestions ; setting ; lights ; costumes ;<\/p>\n

Page 1 [nativity_play-001.jpg]<\/strong>
\nCast of 16 characters ; congregation sings and reads from Scripture ;<\/p>\n

Page 2 [nativity_play_002.jpg]<\/strong>
\nVerses from Scripture are recited\u00a0;<\/p>\n

Page 3 [nativity_play_003.jpg]<\/strong>
\nVerses from Scripture are recited\u00a0; congregation sings ; The Shepherd Scene begins ;<\/p>\n

Page 4 [nativity_play_004.jpg]<\/strong>
\nThe Shepherd Scene : shepherds discuss hard times\u00a0and the Star and its meaning\u00a0;<\/p>\n

Page 5 [nativity_play_005.jpg]<\/strong>
\nThe Shepherd Scene ; The shepherds see the Star ; the Angels sing ;<\/p>\n

Page 6 [nativity_play_006.jpg]<\/strong>
\nThe Shepherd Scene ; the shepherds leave their flock to visit the Messiah ; The Manger Scene begins ; Mary sings a lullaby ;<\/p>\n

Page 7 [nativity_play_007.jpg]<\/strong>
\nThe Manger Scene ; the shepherds bring gifts and kneel before Mary and the baby ; a blind boy’s sight returns after touching the baby ; the Kings sing ; the shepherds leave ;<\/p>\n

Page 8 [nativity_play_008.jpg]<\/strong>
\nThe Kings come forward singing and offering gifts ; congregation sings chorus ; a shepherd re-enters with child and mother ; congregation sings ; Simeon prays ; congregation sings, places gifts at manger, and leaves church ;<\/p>\n

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GALLERY – 1930’s script of NATIVITY PLAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t