The New Guy

CAST OF CHARACTERS

(The cast is listed in order of the size of the part. This does not take into consideration any solos that a character may have to sing.)

CARSON: A young man with leadership experience and musical knowledge who is hired to lead the church band and take them to the competition of church bands. He starts out focused only on winning and seems very self-serving. He gets saved and there is a radical transformation at the end. The largest part by far.

CAMILLE: This girl is talented and she knows it. All she can think about is winning and getting to sing. She can be funny at times, but she should not be too comical. There is a real person just beneath the surface crying for help. She goes thru a big change.

BETSY: A typical teen but when it comes down to business, she knows how to share, and pray and be a vessel of the Lord.

SCOTT: A self-appointed leader in the group. Notices things, and tends to talk a bit much about them.

RACHEL: You wonder if anyone could be this sweet. She likes everyone and really tries to keep a positive attitude.

IVY: A soloist who loses her solo to someone else. She goes through some emotions but comes out with a good and shining attitude.

SONIA: Also sings and is a little rough around the edges. Like Scott, she tends to speak her mind and needs to be careful.

DE ANN: The new girl who joins the band. She is a country gal from the south. She talks and sings with a twang in her voice. Very comical.

TODD: The piano player who is full of wisdom. He always knows the right thing to say.

BLAKE: The clown…always making a joke. Play this character for laughs.

CHARLIE: From the hip-hop culture, dresses the part, and does rap. Talks cool.

VINCE: The former leader who is only in the opening scene.
KRISTI: A silly young teenager. Only a few lines.
HAYDEN: A band member with only a couple lines.
MELODY: Another young teenager with only one line.
EXTRAS: Other band members.

Excerpt:

SCOTT: (Approaching Todd who is at the piano.) What did you think
of the new guy?

TODD: Probably too early to call that one. He seems to know the
music and he directs well. I could follow him with no problem.

SCOTT: I don’t know about him.

TODD: Nobody knows about him. We have to give the guy a chance.
Just think how he must feel walking in to something like this. He
doesn’t know anybody, and probably only just looked at the music for
the first time. He obviously has talent. He just has to get to
know us and we need to get to know him.

SCOTT: I kept thinking that something was wrong, and then it hit me
toward the end of the session: He never opened in prayer. Vince
always opened in prayer.

TODD: Well, that could have been an oversight. I’m sure he was
nervous. If he forgets again, somebody should remind him. Then if
he says he doesn’t believe in it or something, well then we can deal
with that.

SCOTT: Doesn’t believe in it?!

TODD: I’m sure that won’t happen.

SCOTT: How can a Christian not believe in prayer?

SONIA: (Entering) Who doesn’t believe in prayer?

SCOTT: The new guy.

SONIA: What!?

TODD: Hold it right there! That’s how rumors get started! Don’t
go starting something like that! That is totally not what I said!

SONIA: What are you guys talking about?

SCOTT: Carson didn’t start or close in prayer.

SONIA: And so you think he doesn’t believe in it?

SCOTT: I didn’t say that, Todd did.

TODD: Now wait a minute! All I said was…now I don’t even remember
how I put it!

SONIA: Todd, it can happen to anyone. So he forgot to pray… it
happens. I wouldn’t crucify the guy before we even give him a
chance. You know better than that.

SCOTT: Yeah, you know better than that.

TODD: Scott! Oh brother.

BLAKE: (Entering) Hey, is that new guy lame or what?

TODD: I’m not even having this conversation. I’ll see ya later.
(He exits)

SONIA: I’m right behind ya!

SCOTT: Me, too. (They exit)

BLAKE: What did I say? (He follows.) Hey, anybody in the mood for
some chocolaty goodness?

(Betsy and Rachel enter)

BETSY: I’m sure going to miss Vince. He was such a good leader!

RACHEL: This new guy seems real talented, though, don’t you think?

BETSY: I’m just having problems adjusting. It is hard to change
like this… and without warning or time to adjust.

RACHEL: So, we will have the adjustment time now. I’m going to miss
Vince, too, but there is nothing we can do about it. We have to
switch gears. Vince says this guy is even better than he is, so we
might end up with somebody really good.

BETSY: I hope you’re right.

RACHEL: I kind of like him.

BETSY: Oh, you like everybody.

RACHEL: So, what’s wrong with that?

BETSY: Nothing, I guess. It just seems odd.

CAMILLE: (Enters) Hello girls. What did you think of Carson?

RACHEL: I thought he was nice.

CAMILLE: I feel so much better about the competition now. You heard
Vince…. This guy is even better than him. I hope he whips us into
shape. We just gotta win that competition!

RACHEL: Why do we just gotta win?

CAMILLE: Rachel, you don’t want to win?

RACHEL: Sure I do. But it’s not the most important thing.

CAMILLE: I’ll have to think about that one. Has anyone heard
whether or not Carson has a girlfriend?

RACHEL: What difference does that make? Again… not a priority.

CAMILLE: Oh, I don’t know why I even bother talking to you! (She
exits.)

BETSY: That girl is walking around on another planet.

RACHEL: She just needs to think about what she is saying. I’m sure
if she thought it over; she would realize what is most important.

BETSY: There you go again. I suppose you like Camille, too.

RACHEL: What’s not to like?

BETSY: I guess I need to be more like you. Look, here comes Carson.
(Carson enters talking on the phone) Maybe we can get to know him
better. Oh… I see he is on his cell phone.

RACHEL: Let’s go. We need to give him some privacy. (Rachel exits
and Betsy goes to a chair in the back and picks up her bible. She
can’t help but notice Carson as he is talking rather loud.)

CARSON: Yeah… I think it went pretty well. Hard to know this soon
in the game. (Betsy crosses with her bible upstage and overhears his
conversation without him seeing her.) They have talent, but there
is something missing. I think I will call some people and see if I
can bring in some more singers. What they really need is something
to really give it a kick. I know some people who can give some of
that to them…. Besides one Hispanic chick, this is a pretty white
bunch and the music is bland. I’ve been in these competitions before,
and if you have a more diverse group, it goes better for you. Well,
we can’t mix up the colors, but we can bring in some different
musical styles.….. Well, yes, talent does play a big part. But you
have to play all the angles. It is really important that I get this
one right….. Well, all I really need to do is whip this group into
shape and make sure we win this competition. Doors will open for me
all over the place once that happens. (He exits still talking.
Betsy comes downstage and looks after him and then she sits in a chair
close by and bows her head in prayer.)

BETSY: Father, forgive me for listening in on Carson’s conversation
just now. But perhaps you arranged for me to hear it so I could
pray for him. I do lift him up to you. From what I just heard, it
sounds as if he could be in this for his own gain. I don’t want to
judge him, but I do pray that his desire would be to bring You glory
and not himself. If there is work that needs to be done in his
heart, Lord, I pray that you would accomplish it, in Jesus name, Amen.