Marco Polo (1254 - 1324), the great Venetian traveler who spent much of his life in Cathay, was imprisoned in Genoa in 1296. During the 3 years he languished in jail, he dictated to a fellow-prisoner an account of his fantastic journeys into the mysterious East. 

In this Polo described how he actually saw, in a remote village in Persia, the tombs of the magi who went to Bethlehem to adore the Christ Child.

For the plot of this play Marco Polo's report is blended into the Biblical account of the birth of the Christ Child. Bits and pieces of ancient legends and customs of the times are added.

A Strange New Star examines the prophecies concerning Christ's birth. It is a retelling of the different events that led the shepherds, the Magi, and others to worship the birth of the King in the manger. The play reaches its culmination as Simeon rejoices over seeing Jesus's presentation at the temple. He rejoices that he did not see death until He has seen the Messiah. Simeon is then escorted into glory.

There is a God, who answers the prayers of man. When He came down to earth as the Christ Child born in Bethlehem, a host of angels told the shepherds there in the fields how to find Him. A great star guided wise kings to His side. 

But, now, in this present age of turmoil and confusion, tragedy, pestilence and war, it is almost impossible for any man to find his way to Bethlehem and to God, unless another man becomes his guide.

The Vital Signs tells the age-old Christmas Story a new way, by showing how
the ancient prophets of Israel foretold—in prophecies filled with signs and
wonders—that God would send the Messiah. And, to show that these vital signs
came true when the Christ Child was born in Bethlehem.

In Appalachia, right before Christmas, as family prepared for the celebration. During the preparations, several legends concerning Christmas traditions are told. All these stories take place on Christmas Eve, Holy Night, the night before our Savior was born. This play skillfully tells the stories of the poinsettia, the Christmas tree, and the best story of all, the story of the Nativity. The audience rejoices as a life gone wrong is reformed through the story and hears a repentant sinner pledge to read the Bible so he'll know the best, and true story of how our Savior came to earth.

Three Dreams and a Dance begins in the throne room of Herod the Great. It gives a glimpse into the supposed thoughts and emotions of Herod as he meets the wise men coming in search of the Christ child. Prophecies foretelling the wonderous birth are shared. An account of the shepherds being greeted by the angel choir also is reported to Herod. 

The plot moves to the manager scene where the audience is enthralled once again by the miraculous birth. The story ends as people from many walks of life come to worship the newborn king.

Christmas At Hungry Bear Mountain is set in rural Appalachia around 1914 in the weeks before Christmas. The opening scene shows Aunt Lizzie preparing some eggs to trade for sewing later on, while sending her niece off to church services. Lizzie hurries through the preparation in order to hide some trouble health symptoms from her niece. An accident at the church brings bad news to Lizzie and she is forced to not only call for a doctor but to confide to the new pastor some anger she harbors toward God.

Later, as Lizzie recovers, play rehearsals for a nativity play occur on her front porch. That is so the niece doesn't have to leave Lizzie alone. But, after rehearsal, Lizzie "sees" various characters from the play, Anna, Simeon, an angel, and the three wise men, come to her and encourage her to return to faith in Christ.

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This play tells the story of the nativity from the point of view of the Star of Bethlehem and what it saw and possibly experienced. Interspersed with the narration are hymns, many Christmas hymns and some praise hymns. It is a story which isn't often told but will delight audiences of all ages.

Dear Caesar Agustus is a delightful tale retelling the story of the Navity from the viewpoint of the Innkeeper. At various times Eben, the innkeeper imagines a letter to Caesar Agustus telling him of events at his inn in Bethlehem. The climax of the story occurs when Eben starts a letter telling of God coming to the inn as baby, although as the King, too. Before finishing the letter, Eben realizes that a letter isn't necessary. Soon, the whole world will know that Jesus is King!

Jan van Bol, an elderly American artist of Dutch descent, famous as a painter of landscapes, dreams of knocking at the gates of heaven, only to have Saint Peter tell him he has never painted anything to honor his Creator, who gave him his talent.
When he wakes, van Bol vows to undertake a series of paintings on the life of the Christ, starting with his birth in Bethlehem. He asks his sister Margaretha to read from the Bible all the passages that record the holy event.
As Margaretha reads, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and many other biblical characters mentioned (and some who are not) appear on stage in a series of mini-scenes.
Then van Bol, working day and night, "paints" these persons on his enormous canvas. He depicts the shepherds, the host of angels, the three kings, all gathered in the Bethlehem stable to adore the Christ Child and to present Him gifts. Van Bol calls his painting The Adoration.
 

Gus McGraw, the prosperous and frugal proprietor of the general store in Three Creeks, is alone in his one-room shop--thinking mainly of making money. He is busy readying his merchandise for what he hopes will be a rush of customers from the nearby sawmill and the turpentine still. After all, it is payday at the mill, and, Christmas Eve. Gus anticipates many sales, big profits, as soon as the mill whistle blows for closing time. He stokes his pot-bellied heater with more wood, sweeps up the floor, re-dusts the counter, re-shines the large red apples he has on display as well as the smaller apples hidden under the counter. He opens a fresh box of peppermint candy, counts the sticks and places them in the showcase. Now and then Gus happily sings snatches of "Dixie."