How to Prepare for a Holiday School Play

Preparing Your Lines

Read over your lines. When you first get your role in the early months of school, read over your lines. The main characters, such as Santa, Jesus, or Frosty the Snowman will have more lines than a minor character like a tree. So, you should dedicate more time to memorizing your lines if you play a large part in the play. Read over your lines and recite them frequently to memorize them in time. You can ask a classmate in the play or another person to help you. They can recite the line above yours, which allows you to practice your cue to start speaking your lines.

Pay attention to the lines just above yours. In the script, you will see characters interacting with you, or characters that appear before you. Check the lines above yours and memorize the last few words of them. These are your cues to start speaking or enter the stage to do so. If you can, annotate the script like this so that you pay attention to these lines. Underline or highlight the script.

Pay attention to the practices. If you have music classes in elementary school, these are usually held every few days each week, as they are mandatory classes. For middle and high school, you have probably attended a drama club or a thespian club. During these practices, do your best to recite your lines as if you were doing the play. Don't recite it in a monotone voice or make a low effort. As you get accustomed to your lines, add some words that you will emphasize. Practice making exaggerated expressions that go along with your character. This is also a good time to establish good relations with your fellow acting classmates since they will be interacting with you during the show.

Memorize the songs. In a holiday musical, there will be songs intertwined with the characters' lines. The songs are usually carols or religious songs, as well as novelty songs if it's a children's play. Read over the lyrics and sing along with your classmates. If you know how to read music, try reading the sheet music and match the tone of it with your voice. There might be a person playing an instrument (usually a piano) near the stage, and you will have to match your voice with the music. Examples of Christmas songs in plays include "Away in a Manger", "Deck the Halls", "Feliz Navidad", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", and "Twelve Days of Christmas".

Preparing the Costumes

Buy your costume. You will have to get your costume before the date of the play arrives. Try getting it at least a month earlier than the play's date in case anything goes wrong (e.g. the costume's the wrong size, the wrong costume got shipped, the fabric breaks). You can get costumes in person, but buying them online is a simpler option. If you aren't old enough, you may need a guardian to purchase your clothing items. Get a costume that has good reviews. You should also measure yourself to choose the correct size measurement on the website. Make sure the fabric is durable, which means it doesn't easily tear apart. Especially if you're moving around (e.g. running, dancing) during your play, you don't want your costume to accidentally rip while you're doing so! Some costumes you may need include an angel costume, a Jesus costume, a Christmas tree costume, a Mrs. Claus costume, an elf costume, a Grinch costume, a Santa costume, or a snowman costume.

Try it on. You don't want to try it on the day of the play, since you may find that it is uncomfortable to wear. Try it on as soon as you purchase it, or when it arrives. Put it on and check the mirror. Is it too large? Do my pants sag down or touch the floor? Or, is your shirt uncomfortably tight? Is it uncomfortable to move in your clothing? If you said yes to one or more of these questions, you should consider changing your costume. If the quality is very bad, you should buy a new one, or make one yourself out of the clothes you have at home.

Get the accessories. Certain characters will need accessories. Of course, Santa needs his trademark beard and his hat. Frosty the Snowman needs a pipe and a black silk hat. An angel will need a halo headband and wings. These may come with your costume, or you may have to get them separately. Find these at a craft store or a costume store. You can also purchase these online. If you aren't old enough, you may need a guardian to purchase your clothing items.

On the Day of the Play

Wear your costume to school if the play is in the morning. If the play is during the first class of the day, wear your costume to school. You might not have time to change from your regular clothes to your costume, so wear your costume to school. You can put on the accessories later if it's more comfortable to do so.

Change out of your clothes. If your play is later than the first class of the day, you will have to change out of your regular clothes. During the allotted time for changing, go to the bathroom or locker room and change. Next, go into the mirror and see if your costume is put on correctly. Did you button up or zipper up everything? Did you put on a belt? Are one of the edges of your shirt sticking out? Fix your clothing while you are in the mirror to avoid embarrassment once you come up stage. You can also ask a friend to make sure nothing is wrong with your costume.

Calm yourself down when you are waiting for the play to start. Before you come on stage, listen to a relaxing song, or hum its tune. Take deep breaths to make sure you are mentally prepared for going on stage. Remember, it's ok if you accidentally mess up your lines! You can improvise your lines (no one in the audience will know what the actual line was), or you can cut it short. You can also start over your line if you stuttered or mispronounced a word. When the play is starting, think of a relaxing memory in your head and repeat it until it's your turn to go onstage.

Look at the wall if you are scared. Many people have stage fright, which makes it hard for them to concentrate while saying their lines. Some may forget parts of their lines or forget their cue entirely, leading to awkward moments. When it's your turn to go on stage, look at the audience for a brief second and focus your attention entirely on the back wall. Don't look down if you are nervous; you don't want to remind yourself that people are staring at you. Plus, they aren't likely to mean; they just want to see you and your talents. The people who come to see your play are most likely peers, friends from other schools, parents, and family members that want to see you happy during this play. It may also help to look at friendly people, such as your siblings or parents in the audience. They will probably reassure you and decrease your anxiety. Also, people won't likely remember if you messed up during the play. They will likely have forgotten all about it once the play ends.

Sing the holiday songs confidently. Remember, you've practiced for months for these songs, and it's unlikely that you'll mess up. Even if you sing an incorrect note or lyric, not many people will hear. They will only hear the main chorus of people singing the correct lyrics, so if you mess up, you're fine. Plus, they are fun songs to sing. Keep your cool and stay relaxed when you sing. In fact, tensing up when singing may stiffen your vocal cords, making your voice hoarse and unpleasant. Relax as much as possible; it's a fun holiday play to appreciate the holiday spirit with family. You will probably get a holiday break after this play (and maybe a party if you're in elementary school).