Angels in the Outfield

A lighthearted, slapstick-style Christmas play that blends the excitement of a Little League championship with the wonder of the manger scene. While the star pitcher boasts of never being beaten, three bumbling teammates named “Angel” prove that not everything goes as planned on the ballfield—or in rehearsal for the church Christmas concert!

The action bounces between a mimed baseball game and a Sunday School rehearsal, where Mrs. Miles patiently guides the kids toward the true focus of Christmas: the birth of Christ. Humor, chaos, and heartfelt moments lead to a final manger scene where the message of Luke 2 comes alive.

Style & Suitability:

• Fun, slapstick humor with baseball antics and lively kids’ dialogue.
• Recommended for churches with larger groups who enjoy energetic, comic productions.
• Requires some mime practice for baseball action and enough rehearsal time to balance both scenes

Cast: 20 (+ or -)

• 8 speaking parts (baseball scene)
• 9 speaking parts (Christmas concert scene)
• Ump and Mrs. Miles offstage voices
•  base runner(s), no spoken lines
• as many actors as possible for manger scene
• Any number of actors beyond 20 can be used, (although some doubling up of roles could reduce the number of actors). If more children are available some of the Rehearsal dialog could be done by those not in Baseball segments.

Bible Reference:  Luke 2

Set:

• May be elaborate or totally plain. Could use a backdrop of baseball field to be alternated with backdrop of church gym
• NOTE the transition from baseball diamond to church gym could be done with lighting, with use of a curtain or simply announced

Lighting:  spotlight would be helpful

Sound:  wireless mics if available

Song:  none

SFX: 

• noise of ball hitting glove, bat hitting ball

Costumes:

• Baseball actors should have some form of uniforms
• When baseball players go to rehearsal scenes they drop baseball glove and pick up some small item such as a star, shepherds crook, angel wings, etc.
• Those actors who are only in Manger scene could have full traditional costuming

Props:

• manger scene
• ball gloves
• baseball bases
• star, shepherds crook, angel wings, etc. for use in manger scene

Special Instructions:

• time needs to be spent on miming throwing and catching ball to make it look real, also for actors watching “as one person” as the unseen ball goes back and forth and is hit and flies out across the field. For further mime information see our “DramaClub Training manual” at the “Training” link on the DramaShare website.
• Action switches back and forth between the baseball field and the church gym.
• All baseball action is mimed, and some miming practice will be needed as the ball is “thrown” around the field, and is hit.
• The Umpire, the catcher, and the batters, (as well as Mrs. Miles), are unseen, their presence is “at a downstage location”. Their voices are offstage.

 Time: 40-45 minutes

Sample script:

Download Sample Script: Angels in the Outfield

Note on Sample
This play blends two settings: a slapstick-style Little League game and a Sunday School Christmas concert rehearsal. The excerpt below includes dialogue from both parts of the script so you can see the humor and the biblical heart of the story.

(in darkness Ump’s voice is heard)
Ump voice: Steerikkeee Three! Batter is out! Side is retired; we go to bottom of the 9th inning.

(lights up, actors take positions on the field)
Pitcher: Well, I hope you guys are thankful that I, your ace pitcher, have hit another homerun this game—for a total of three! Plus, I’ve pitched another no-hitter, seventh of the season, if anyone’s keeping score.

Shortstop: How could we not keep score? You’re also your own game-day announcer!

(the Angels in the outfield chase a dropped ball, colliding and fumbling comically)
Pitcher: Will you three Angels pick up that ball? The inning is about to start!

(lights fade—actors drop baseball gloves and pick up Christmas props, moving into rehearsal. Offstage voice of Mrs. Miles is heard.)

Mrs. Miles: Thank you all for volunteering for our Christmas concert. Remember, this isn’t just another program—it’s one of the most important outreach events of the year.

Second: Outreach? Since when is a Christmas concert outreach?

Mrs. Miles: More unchurched people attend services at Christmas than any other time of year. This may be the only time they hear about Jesus. That’s why we give it our very best.

Child 1: So if we want the concert to really matter, we’d better pray about it, right?

Mrs. Miles: Exactly! None of us can do this on our own strength. But with God working in us, even something small—like a children’s Christmas play—can have eternal impact.

Download Sample Script: Angels in the Outfield

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