Facebook Pixel Skip to main content

📣SCRIPT SALE! Treat yourself to an easier Fall. Save 30% on 5+ perusal scripts with code SPRING30 before May 3 and head into summer stress-free.

The First Herald Angel

The First Herald Angel

by John Donald O'Shea

On the first Christmas Eve, a poor shepherd happens across a small child in the hill country about Bethlehem. To the shepherd's surprise, the child explains she is an angel practicing to be a herald angel so she can announce the Saviour's birth.

The shepherd, taken by the child's sincerity, believes the child's story, and asks to see the Saviour. The shepherd's wife, however, has her doubts.

Dramedy Character Study Holiday Young Audiences

Average Producer Rating:

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Running Time
About 25 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
5 Characters
1 M2 F2 Any Gender
Set
Unit Set
Length
15 pages
Free Excerpt

What to order?

Not sure what you need to order? Check out our pricing and ordering guide.

Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

5 Characters
1 M, 2 F, 2 Any Gender
MICAH [A] 53 lines
James’ guardian angel
JAMES [M] 36 lines
A shepherd
SUSANNA [F] 29 lines
James’ carping wife
ASREAL [F] 15 lines
An archangel, and Micah’s supervisor
LION [A] 21 lines
A mangy old lion

Praise for The First Herald Angel

Leigh Melville
St George’s Grammar School
Excellent addition to the programme for the end of year Carol Concert. A different take on the Christmas story with some humour. It went down very well with the audience.

More Plays Like The First Herald Angel

Romeo and Juliet (Modern English)

adapted by Craig Mason from Shakespeare

A modern English one act version of Shakespeare's tragic tale of star-crossed lovers.

The Robbed Reindeer

by Lindsay Price

Christmas is doomed! Santa's reindeer are missing their antlers. Without them they can't fly straight. Joe Mufferaw must save the day! Great audience participation.

It's Cinderella's first Christmas in the castle. But her step-sisters have a dastardly plan to ruin the holidays.

Strawberries in Winter

adapted by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt from Aleksander Chodzko

Jack Frost spins the tale of Poor Marouckla who is tormented by her mean stepmother and her horse-faced stepsister. Based on a folktale by Aleksander Chodzko.

Hansel and Gretel

by Shirley Barrie

An inventive re-telling of the Grimms' fairy tale. Puppetry, percussive rhythms, twists in language, and unique characterizations.

A Kidnapped Santa Claus

adapted by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt from L. Frank Baum

Plots and schemes are being hatched to kidnap Santa! That means no toys for good little girls and boys. Adapted from the story by L. Frank Baum.

From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Holiday Plays
Featured Plays

Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Holiday Plays

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays for…Holidays! The holidays are a perfect time to put on a play. And we don’t just stop at Christmas. Since the end of October is a particularly spooky time of year we’re also going to share some of our most spookiest stuff. Click the link and you’ll be taken to the webpage for each play. There you’ll get the details and read sample pages. All the best with your search! Deck the Stage Six short plays inspired by Christmas carols. Bittersweet moments. Laugh out loud comedy. And the weirdest 12 days of Christmas you’ve ever seen. The plays can be performed individually, or all together as a complete evening of entertainment. Humbug High: A Contemporary Christmas Carol A new take on the classic Dickens tale! Eddie Scrooge is 17 years old. He hates his parents and his classmates. His only goal in life is to make money and keep his heart ice-cold. This Christmas he’s about to meet the errors of his ways face-to-face. The Snow Queen Kai has been captivated by The Snow Queen. She is frozen in her heart and mind. Gerda will stop at nothing to find her sister. This is a magical theatrical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of a sister’s love, an ice cold heart, and a fantastical journey. A great winter themed alternative to traditional Christmas fare. Christmas In July Last Year has handed off the calendar to the New Year and is ready to hit the beach. The New Year is nervous but ready for the challenge. But something goes terribly wrong. Summer starts in November, Easter’s in February and Christmas is in July! The calendar days are all in a tizzy. The First Herald Angel On the first Christmas Eve, a poor shepherd happens across a small child in the hill country about Bethlehem. To the shepherd’s surprise, the child explains she is an angel practicing to be a herald angel so she can announce the Saviour’s birth. Great for concerts or assemblies. The Bottom of the Lake Dani’s out in the middle of the woods at night, alone, without a flashlight. She meets three girls from another camp, and they tell ghost stories to pass the time. A combination of ghost stories, urban legends, teen issues, romance, absurd comedy, and film noir, all in a single play! Close Encounters of the Undead Kind Is that a werewolf at the support group? A child vampire at the front door? A zombie boyfriend? With some close encounters of the undead kind, these plays are far from typical and humdrum! The plays can be performed individually or all together for a ghoulishly delightful evening. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow This new adaptation of the Washington Irving story is excellent for large groups and suitably spooky for Halloween! Icabod Crane is new to Sleepy Hollow and seems to fit right in. But not everyone is happy to see Icabod and they prepare a ghoulish surprise for him. The Haunting of Chip Lake Lodge Four seniors arrive at a country lodge for their prom. But things go askew from the start. They show up at the wrong lodge, their car won’t start, the phone goes dead, and disco music plays inexplicably. The lodge is haunted! It all leads to a bizarre prom night no one will forget. Shuddersome: Tales of Poe Specters, ghosts and ghouls come alive in this vivid theatrical adaptation of some of Edgar Allen Poe’s best-known works. His words rise from the page like corpses from the grave. Be careful. Do you hear that tap, tap, taping? Multi-length versions of the script to fit every need. Planning on performing one of these or another Theatrefolk play? Let us know all about it with pictures and highlights – we might even feature you on our site! Click here to submit your story.
Theatrefolk Podcast: Playwright John Donald O'Shea
Podcast

Theatrefolk Podcast: Playwright John Donald O'Shea

Episode 66: John Donald O’Shea, PlaywrightDon O’Shea has had quite the life leading up to his current role as playwright. Learn about his journey from law to playwriting. It is never too late to start writing!
Spread the Love: The First Herald Angel by John Donald O’Shea
Featured Plays

Spread the Love: The First Herald Angel by John Donald O’Shea

This week Lindsay and Craig spread the love for The First Herald Angel by John Donald O’Shea.
We accept

In addition to the above payment methods, Purchase Orders are accepted from US and Canadian Schools.

Info for your purchasing department