Bethlehem's Big Night: A full-length musical Christmas play with additional yuletide sketches

by Martha Bolton

(Lillenas Publications). Most nativity plays or musicals are rather straightforward and humorless not so with this tender and humorous full-length Christmas Nativity script. Noted humorist Martha Bolton takes the age-old Christmas story and introduces some genuine characters like the two innkeepers' wives who vie for customers with their "vacancy" and "no vacancy" signs. Music by Bill Wolaver matches Martha's lyrics to a tee. The tee can stand for "townspeople" who make up a chorus and have speaking lines. Also includes five holiday-Christmas sketches: "The Scrooge Patrol," "The Sweatshop," "Tree Top," "Shopper Stopper," and "I Did It All Myself." This 45-minute presentation makes a great choice for church services, dinner theatre, or entertainment for any kind of seasonal event. Song contents: Bethlehem's Big Night * No One Special * No One Special (reprise) * You're Welcome Here * Right Here in Bethlehem * When You Make Room for Him * Jesus, Welcome to Your World * Finale (including "O Come All Ye Faithful" and a reprise of "Bethlehem's Big Night")

116 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 1995

About the author

Bob Hope's first female staff writer, working for the legendary comedian in the 1980s and 1990s. She has received nominations for an Emmy, a Dove, and a WGA Award. The author of 88 books, including her newest, Dear Bob... Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the GIs of WW2, which was awarded the Christian Market Book of the Year and the AWSA Memoir of the Year at the Golden Scrolls 2021. She was also named AWSA Member of the Year for 2021. Martha is also a prolific playwright with shows playing in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Two of the musicals are based on her novels, Josiah for President and The Home Game. Martha has also written for Phyllis Diller and numerous other comedians.