Jarrow's script was "almost entirely based on Hubbard's own writings and the church's literature",[8] though Jarrow was also influenced by critical journalistic accounts.[2] He also drew on the "awkward woodenness of Christmas pageants — the fact that children are often made to say large words that don't sound natural coming out of their mouths."[3] Timbers said they chose to stick to Church of Scientology primary source material for background on the script because "We thought that the best way to satirize the Church of Scientology was to let the Church speak for itself."[10] During production, the creative team worked with cast members to educate them about the play's background. "Kids shouldn't just be saying things that they don't understand.