The Prodigal Son

This dramatic choral reading retells the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son. The younger son demands his inheritance, squanders it on reckless living, and finds himself destitute. Realizing his mistake, he returns home, expecting to be treated as a servant. Instead, his father welcomes him with open arms, celebrating his return. The elder son struggles with jealousy, but the father reassures him of his love and the joy of redemption.

The skit highlights themes of grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love.

Setting: Three stools are placed stage right, with a fourth stool for the narrator placed stage left. When characters speak, they face the audience; when they are "off-stage," they turn their backs. Actors wear biblical attire. The younger son should wear two garments: a fine robe over a tattered undergarment to symbolize his fall from wealth. The father sits in the middle, the elder son on his right, and the younger son on his left.

Beautifully written by former DramaShare member Myra Shofner, since deceased. We are proud that in 1999, Myra asked us to distribute her work.

Cast: 4

• Narrator
• Father
• Elder son
• Younger son (the prodigal)

Bible Reference:    Luke 15:11-32

Set:  bare

• Three stools are placed on the stage right, and a fourth stool, for the narrator, is placed on the stage left.
• Father sits in middle, elder on his right, younger on his left.

Lighting:  standard

Sound:     wireless mics if available

Song: none

SFX:  none

Costumes:

• Actors are dressed in biblical dress.
• The Younger son should  wear two garments – the top garment is  a nice robe and the under garment is one that is tattered and torn.

Props:      none

Special Instructions:

• When characters speak, they face the audience.
• When they are “off-stage” they turn their backs to the audience.
• Make-up and costuming are essential for this skit in order to show the age differences among the three characters.
• Lighting effects could be used to create a feeling of passing time.

Time:  7

Sample of Script

Narrator: A certain man had two sons.

Younger: Gimme. Gimme. Gimme. I want it all. Every bit of it. I want everything that’s coming to me. Right now.

Father: Son, it is all yours. Why do you ask for it? The house, the farm, the animals, the jewels. Everything I have is yours. What do you mean?

Younger: I mean I want you to divide the inheritance that will be mine when you die. I don’t want to wait for it. I want it now. I’ve got places to go and things to see. I have no time to waste.

Father: I can see there is no changing your mind. I’ll do what you ask. Where will you go?

Younger: Away from here. I want to be my own person. I want to have fun.

Narrator: And the father divided his living between his two sons.

Younger: Well, I’m splitting. So long, folks.

Narrator: So he traveled to another country a long way from home.

Younger: Man, this is the life – wine, women, and song. Nothing like it. It’s great to have money and friends. Drink up, everybody, the drinks are on me.

Narrator: But, it wasn’t too long before he had spent all of his money, literally wasted it on evil things.

Younger: What do you mean, my credit’s no good? I’ve spent thousands of dollars with you. Hey, man, don’t turn your back on me. Listen, my friend over there will stand good for me, won’t you buddy? (pause) Hey, don’t walk away; tell this man I’m okay. I’m good for it. Hey, where are you going?

Narrator: But when his money was gone, the young man found that his friends also deserted him. Before long he grew hungry and desperate.

Younger: (has shed his outer garment and is dressed in rags) This is really something - me, the one who had everything, here in the pig pen feeding the pigs for a few pennies a day. Why, I’m so hungry even this pig slop is beginning to look appetizing. Me – the son of the richest man in the country. (pause) Why, my father’s servants eat like kings. And I’m starving to death. (pause) Perhaps if I went back home and begged my father for forgiveness he would let me be his servant. (pause) Home? I didn’t realize what a wonderful place it was. And I threw it all away for – for a pig parlor!

Narrator: And so the young man left the pigs and started back home.

Father: It’s been so long since I’ve seen my son. (sighs) I sure would like to see him again. Every day I look down the road, hoping that he’ll return if only for a visit. (pause) But all that ever come this way are beggars. I see one coming down the road now. (looks toward the road) His walk looks familiar.

Want to see how the story unfolds? DramaShare members get this complete script— and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.