300th Anniversary

Drama Resources

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Full Production Dramas

  1. "Life is Great. Yea!" by Donald Parker.
    Seven scenes based on historical records portray the life of Ted Studebaker in Vietnam. Five men, six women, sixteen pages.
  2. "Winds of Change" by Evelyn M. Frantz.
    A Brethren family struggles with personal and political challenges in 1776. Five men, two women, twenty-four pages.

Short Dramas

  1. "Alexander Mack and the Beginning of the Brethren Peace Position" by Michael Witmer.
    Shortly after the Thirty Years War, Alexander Mack and others meet for Bible study to learn what the scripture teaches about the Christian response to fighting. Six adults, three pages.
  2. "Dan West and Peace through Cows" by Michael Witmer.
    Dan and friends express their concern for hungry people in Spain and Dan proposes a possible solution. Four adults, three pages.
  3. "John Kline and his Loyalty to God's Peaceable Kingdom" by Michael Witmer.
    Conflict arises from John's work ministering to and offering medical assistance to supporters on both sides of the Civil War. Five adults, one teen, four pages.
  4. "Dirk Willems, Anabaptist Martyr" by Michael Witmer.
    Dirk Willems, while running from deputies, escapes across thinly frozen ice but returns to rescue a deputy. Five adults, three pages.
  5. "Counting the Cost Today" by Michael Witmer.
    Ted Studebaker and Anna Mow visit a teen who is struggling to write a faith statement prior to baptism. Three adults, one teen, four pages.
  6. "Yes, Come and See!" by Mary Alice Dick.
    Friends discuss the 300th anniversary and their faith with each other and non-Brethren acquaintances. Five teens, three pages.
  7. "Who Are the Brethren?" by Delbert Blickenstaff.
    A Church of the Brethren member describes Brethren involvement in service to a newspaper reporter. Two adults, one and one half pages.
  8. "The Prodigal Surrenders" by Lorele Yager.
    The prodigal son realizes he cannot be fully alive while living apart from his father. Two adults, children dressed as pigs, a few teens, two pages.
  9. "Faithful -- Yesterday, Today and Forever" by Diane Hall.
    A Brethren family from the past returns to visit the church today. Nine adults, six teens, ten pages.

Monologues

  1. "Brethren Beginnings: Surrendered to God" by Larry Glick.
    Alexander Mack chats with 21st century Brethren about his early life in Germany. One half page.
  2. "Brethren Beginnings: Transformed in Christ" by Larry Glick.
    Alexander Mack tells 21st century Brethren about the influence of Anabaptists and Pietists on his new group of believers. Three-fourths page.
  3. "Brethren Beginnings: Empowered by the Spirit" by Larry Glick.
    Alexander Mack describes the first baptism to 21st century Brethren. One page.
  4. "Ted Studebaker: Man of Peace in the Midst of War" by Robert D. Kettering.
    Ted tells why he joined Brethren Volunteer Service instead of the military and describes some of his experiences in Vietnam. Six pages.
  5. "John Kline: Martyr Missionary" by Robert D. Kettering.
    Brother Kline describes his early life, his occupations, his work as Annual Conference Moderator and his experiences during the Civil War. Six pages.
  6. "Savior of my Soul: In Remembrance of John Naas" by Robert D. Kettering.
    John describes his desire for faithfulness, his early association with Alexander Mack and his followers, his work as a minister, his encounter with a Prussian recruiting officer, the conflict at Krefeld, his journey to America and his passion for lost souls. Six pages.
  7. "Surrendered, Transformed, Empowered: A Journey" by Mary L. Helfrich.
    A woman struggles when her vision of ministry does not coincide with the revelation of her true calling. Two pages.

Other drama resources

  1. "One Man's Witness: Ted Studebaker in Vietnam" by David Radcliff.
    This dramatic reading traces the life of Ted Studebaker, from his early years in Ohio through his service in Brethren Volunteer Service in Vietnam, to his death in April 1971 at the hands of North Vietnamese soldiers. For three readers.
  2. "We have seen the enemy...." by David Radcliff.
    Based on Ephesians 4:1-6 and other New Testament texts related to Christian unity and conflict resolution. A skit for four (young) actors highlighting the root causes of conflict--whether in war time or in high school--and inviting Christians to take a different approach.
  3. "Of Frogs and Men" by David Radcliff.
    A conversation between graduating college friends, one heading into his career, the other into volunteer service.
  4. "Anna and the General" by David Radcliff.
    A story about peace from the life of Church of the Brethren leader Anna Mow. For two readers.

Unless otherwise noted, copyright © 2006 by the Annual Conference Anniversary Committee of the Church of the Brethren, New Windsor, Maryland. All rights reserved. Church of the Brethren congregations are entitled to copy all materials in this collection for congregational worship. Permission for all other uses by all other parties should be directed to the Annual Conference Office at 500 Main Street, PO Box 188, New Windsor, Maryland, 21776-0188. Material from Brethren publications and interviews are reprinted here by permission. Acknowledgments for all other sources are printed with the resources.