The Source Of Life

(Available in English y español)

What if everything you were taught challenged everything you believed?

The Source of Life is a thought-provoking Christian drama exploring the tension between education and conviction, curriculum and conscience. Set across two timelines—one in a modern high school and the other in a college classroom two decades earlier—this powerful play follows a teacher caught between his professional obligations and personal beliefs.

As Professor Avery navigates the mandated teaching of evolution, he confronts memories of his journey as a young teacher-in-training and the compromises that shaped his career. Through spirited debate, sharp humor, and honest reflection, the characters wrestle with the ultimate question: Where did life begin—and who decides what we teach about it?

Perfect for church drama teams, Christian schools, or youth discussions, The Source of Life invites audiences to consider not just the origin of life, but the courage it takes to speak truth in a world that demands silence.

Cast number: 16 (m or f) Some roles could be consolidated
College group: (professor is middle age all others early college age)
Professor Winston , Young Stan Avery, Adam, Stacy, Ron, Alex, Bev, Cory, Danny, Gale

High School group: (Old Avery (now a teacher) 30-40’s, others mid teens-ish) Old Stan Avery, Tracy, Taylor, Bobby, Reggie, Morgan, Mel

Bible Reference: Genesis 1

Set:  dual set
High School set is open,
College set is (preferably scrim) able to be isolated

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting: standard

SFX: none

Props: book

Costumes:

High School group current day clothing
College group reflects a time 2 decades previous

Special Instructions: none

Time: 35

Sample script:

Adam, Stacy, Ron, Alex, Bev, Cory, Danny, and Gale walk onstage, talking.

Adam:
OK guys, deep breath, it’s EL time.

Gale:
EL time?

Stacy:
Evolution Lecture time. I take it you are new to Honest Ave’s class. I didn’t catch your name.

Gale:
Yes, I am new to the class. My name’s Gale. And who is Honest Abe?

Stacy:
Hi Gale, I’m Stacy. And it’s Honest Ave, not Honest Abe. That’s the name we call our illustrious professor… behind his back of course. His name is Stan Avery—thus, Honest Ave.

Adam:
And I’m Adam. Seems like every other sentence from Prof. Avery starts with, “I have to be honest with you.” So we call him Honest Ave.

Ron:
Kinda like, you know, Honest Abe, but with a local twist. And I’m Ron.

Alex:
Alex here, Gale. Honest Ave isn’t so bad—a good teacher in his own way—but every lecture is set up to push his pet subject… evolution.

Bev:
I’m OK with that, actually. Evolution has been proven, so what’s the biggie?

Cory:
Proven by who, Bev? And where is the proof?

Bev:
Come on, Cory, you and your religious friend Danny here have this lame story about “in seven days God created.”

Danny:
In six days, actually, Bev. If you remember, on the seventh day God rested.

Bev:
Whatever, Danny.

Adam:
Here comes Honest Ave now. Let’s look like we’re interested.

(Avery enters through the door.)

Old Avery:
Good afternoon, students. Welcome to a new semester. I have to be honest with you...

(All the class tries to keep a straight face.)

Old Avery:
I am excited and looking forward to the time we will spend together, exploring The Source of Life.

(Lights off. A tight spot on Avery while other actors freeze.)

Old Avery:
Honest? If I was honest, I’d admit I hate being a teacher, teaching things some overpaid expert two hundred miles away says we have to teach.
Funny… back when I started college I was so excited about the idea of being a teacher. But once I got into teacher training, I found out there were certain expectations… and guidelines.

(Lights down on school set. Lights up on scrim set.)

Young Avery, Tracy, Taylor, Bobby, Reggie, Morgan, and Mel are seated.
Professor Winston is standing in front, speaking.

Winston:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to your first day at the College of Education.
I am Professor Winston, and I will be your resource person throughout your time here at the college.
The occupation of educator is perhaps the most noble of all pursuits—a career in which you should, and will, have the greatest single impact on forming the thinking and belief system of the next generation.
Education is truly an intricate and diverse profession. Therefore, strict and stringent parameters of acceptable content and delivery must be established—and adhered to.
To do otherwise is to have divergent thinking within the classroom and among society as a whole.

Bobby:
Excuse me, Professor Winston, I’m Bobby. Isn’t it society’s goal to foster new, independent, and innovative thinking in young people?

Winston:
A very good point, Bobby… but the answer to that would depend on the subject matter at hand.
Questioning and following new paths is admirable, but society does not benefit from tilting at windmills either.

Bobby:
Tilting at windmills, sir? I’m afraid I don’t understand.

Winston:
Oh my, you people are young, aren’t you?
It’s a metaphoric illustration alluding to a character, Don Quixote, in a book written back in the 1600s.
Quixote sought out windmills, lance at the ready, believing the windmills were evil giants.
Likewise, too often the younger generation goes off fighting battles that are dead and forgotten.

Reggie:
In a different time with different armies, the battle and the outcome may be very different.

Winston:
Don’t forget that I am the general in this army. Foot soldiers need to be very careful not to come across as leading the way.

Morgan:
Is there to be no individualism in teaching?

Winston:
If you want individualism, then perhaps you should start your own school system.

Mel:
No opportunity for unique technique or...

Winston:
I think we’ve heard enough from you first-day professionals!

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