Here's some quick tips on how to be the best Christian drama actor for skits at church.
Commit to the character fully
If you don't do anything else, do this one thing: Commit fully to your character!!!
Doing the part without full commitment, perhaps because you think the skit is stupid or you think you will look silly if you fully commit - actually makes the actor look awful and can possibly ruin the message and purpose of the skit.
SO, above all else, put everything into the role you've been given. For your sake, the sake of the rest of the actors, the sake of the writer and director of the skit, the sake of the other features to come after you, the sake of the audience, and of course, for the sake of our Loving God who you're trying to share with others.
It's interesting how if you do something silly while standing outside of church as people walked in, you will look like an idiot and embarrass yourself. HOWEVER, the great thing about acting is... it's acting... and the actions you do are not you. This means you can literally do the exact same 'silly' thing you would have been ridiculed over, but this time in the context of a skit, while playing a character other than yourself - you won't be judged as a nincompoop. (maybe the character will be, but not you!)
Half-hearted performances stand out, and you actually draw more attention to yourself as people do not get lost in the story as much and notice you as... you. So while intuitively trying to protect yourself from looking silly but not going all in on the character, you can actually end up making yourself look silly!
A half-hearted performance is where the actor isn't really acting at all. Delivering lines with no emotion, with no expressions matching the words being said, with minute token actions/movements. Soft voices or even giggling while saying all the lines. Imagine watching a movie where the lead actor did these things all the way through. Very distracting and not enjoyable.
Full-hearted performances, where you show the emotions of the character, and have expressive dialogue and actions, are not noticed as you blend in with everything else happening in the story.
Give it your all!
Learn your part
If you can, learn your lines, see our 'tips for remembering lines'. It's so much better when the audience isn't distracted by a character that is reading or fumbling through their dialogue.
Understand your character
Try to understand your character and why they are speaking and behaving the way they are scripted. It will help you learn your lines and help you if you lose your lines or if something unexpected happens and you need to carry on unscripted for a bit - you'll know what your character would say/do - and the audience, not knowing the script, may not even notice somethings deviated form the script.
Understanding your character will help you speak and behave like them in a convincing manner too.
Listen
Listen to the drama director/writer. They see the whole vision and know what needs changing to make it best. Getting requests to alter your performance is normal, and don't take it personally. Often a script can be interpreted differently to how the writer intended a line to be delivered.
And don't talk while in a group rehearsal, especially while the director is talking to the group, or a section of the group. Pay attention, get the job done.
Obey the Script
Don't go changing the script/actions without approval from the director/writer. You can give suggestions, or ask to try something (a good director will let you have a go at your idea, or have a reason why you idea won't work).
Rehearsal is the only time to mix up the script, if you do. Never change it up in the live performance - which is tempting if you've rehearsed it a 'million' times and the joke is no longer funny. The audience hasn't seen it a million times though.
If you intentionally deviate from the rehearsal's acting and dialogue - it will possibly be the last time you're offered an important role for you're demonstrating you can't be trusted to tell the story that is needed.
Watch you don't speak too fast
It's common to speak your lines too quickly in a performance. Think about it as you act, and take it as slow as naturally practical so the audience can compute what you're saying and what it all means. Especially for the older and younger audience members. There' no point racing through your lines if no one understands the lines and thus gets lost on the story line. Slow down.
Don't hide anything
Make sure everything important you do on stage is done so the audience can see what's happening. This not only includes the rule of always facing the audience while speaking you lines (or at least side on), but also, when interacting with objects or moving around the stage, try not to do things that obstruct the audiences view. Walk behind someone, not in front when moving on the stage and you don't have the lines. Decide which hand is best to use to perform an action that gives the audience the best view. Sometimes the best way to face while acting to show an audience is not 100% natural.
Dedicate your performance
Being a christian drama or skit, dedicate your performance to God. It's for his glory. It's to help others come closer to God. The skit and your performance in it my very well be a key stepping stone in someones journey to coming to know Jesus love for them. What an honor! Someones eternity may be influenced by your actions!