June: The Perfect Time To Select a Christmas Production
- Marlene Dickinson
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
It’s June... so let’s talk about Christmas?!
Christmas feels far away.
The school year has wrapped. Summer camps are starting. Vacation calendars are filling. Christmas costumes, rehearsals, and set pieces are probably the last thing on your mind right now. But, as you know, the season arrives faster than expected.
Fall programming begins, classes and ministries ramp up, calendars fill, and suddenly you’re choosing a production, recruiting volunteers, casting students, and rehearsing a Christmas Musical all at once.
The "Future You” will be grateful for the decisions you make now.
Here a some questions to help you think all this through:
What Kind of Christmas Event Are You Producing?
Before scripts or songs, clarify the purpose.
Are you creating:
A school Christmas production?
A community outreach event?
A student showcase?
A fine arts competition piece?
A dinner theatre?
A Chapel or Worship enhancement?
The answer shapes everything that follows.
The best production isn’t necessarily the most impressive—it’s the one that best serves your audience, students, and ministry goals.
What Does Your Cast Look Like?
Ask:
How many performers will participate?
Experienced actors or beginners?
Experienced singers or beginners?
What is the ideal performance runtime?
How much rehearsal time is available?
A show that fits your students will almost always outperform a “better” script that doesn’t.
How Much Production Bandwidth Do You Have?
Consider:
Set needs
Costumes
A simpler production done well will always outperform an ambitious one that stretches your team too far. Working inside your means as you build bandwidth builds confidence and a successful track record.
Start Exploring Titles Early
Don’t wait until September.
Even if you’re not ready to decide, June is a great time to explore options, read scripts, listen to demos, and talk with your team.
Starting early gives you more freedom when fall arrives.
Here are some of our Christmas titles you can evaluate today:
A One Act Musical with Ensemble for all grades. Demanding roles for your most gifted upperclassmen. Can provide cameo opportunities for your youngest students. Under 1 hour.
A non-musical version of above. For 6 intermediate to advanced actors. No Ensemble. 16 Minutes.
A One Act Musical with Ensemble for Middle and Elementary Students. Under 1 hour.
A non-musical version. For 4 intermediate actors. No Ensemble. 10 Minutes.
Scene for 4 intermediate to advanced actors. No Ensemble. 6 Minutes.
Scene for 4 beginner to intermediate actors. No Ensemble. 6 Minutes.
(More Show Selection Help: “10 Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a ‘Christian’ Musical”)
The Gift of a June Decision
You don’t need every detail finalized.
You don’t need a rehearsal schedule, full cast, or complete volunteer team.
But if you can answer a few key questions now, you’ll enter fall with clarity instead of urgency.
This is your invitation to get the ball rolling now.
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