looking for a play

[kim vennerholm]

Dear fellow first grade teachers,
 
I am looking for a play for my class. I'm having a difficult time finding the right fit. Any ideas floating around out there would be greatly appreciated!
 
Thanks,
Kim Vennerholm
Madrona School
Grade One Teacher
Bainbridge Island, WA

[CHARLENE GRAY]

Ditto for me!


Charlene Gray

---

From: kjvenn...@hotmail.com
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com
Subject: looking for a play
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:59:28 -0800

[felipe...@comcast.net]

Hello Kim,

 

I am thinking about using an adaptation of The Nixie of the Millpond, but not quite sure. Looking for a second option.

 

Felipe Ferraz

felipe...@comcast.net

Sacramento, CA

916 642-6801

---

From: "kim vennerholm" <kjvenn...@hotmail.com>
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 11:59:28 AM
Subject: looking for a play

[Mrs. Giulietta Garland]

Hi All -

I posted a play on our yahoo group - The Golden Goose, which I did 3 years ago with a class of 20 (but you could certainly do it with a much smaller class).  I'm also looking for something that feels right.  I bought the Hawthorne Valley Harvest play collection when I was at Steiner College this past week and it has several good looking plays: The Devil with the 3 Golden Hairs,  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The White Snake, and The Six Servants.  It also has some really good looking plays for second grade.
I'm toying with writing a play of Puss in Boots (I've started it, but don't know if I'll truly have the time to finish).

Hope to hear from others about what they're doing for plays!
Giulie
Monterey Bay Charter School

--

“....We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”   ~Marianne Williamson

[Christine Waskowiak]

Hi Felipe,

The Nixie does seem to be a popular option.  Some colleagues of mine who have taken a couple of First Grades already have given me some alternative ideas.  They felt that to start a play like the Nixie of the Mill Pond or another one at this time of the year is pretty challenging - ideally one has already worked in many parts of such a play into the past few months' circles.  Since I haven't done this, I'm probably going to create my own seasonal play tying together many of the songs and verses we have done since day one.  I'll write a narrative that ties it together that the children will say chorally, with varying groups of children stepping forward to be autumn, winter, etc.  I think it's pretty important that a class play for grade one be as enjoyable and unstressful as possible, both for teacher and children!  The age spread in my first grade is big (an entire year) and while some of the children would probably really enjoy something 'meaty' in which they can shine, others are still incredibly dreamy and would benefit from simply being part of the larger group.  Good luck finding your way - this first grade 'thing' is a huge endeavor, isn't it?!

~ Christine

[Mary Elverhoy]

Hello all,

I am doing something similar to Christine.  I'm taking the rising first grade story I wrote last spring that has been our umbrella story this year and I'm writing a narrative for that.  Along with that they will do some songs, verses, movement, flute and beanbag that we've done through the seasons.  There will be a few new pieces to add to it all.

Mary

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From: chri...@sbcglobal.net
Subject: Re: looking for a play
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:05:45 -0800
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com

[kim vennerholm]

I am very appreciative of all the ideas that are being shared (keep sending them!). I was not able to connect to the yahoo group. It's been awhile, can you remind me about it and I'll try again.
 
Thanks!
Kim  

---

Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:41:47 -0800

Subject: Re: looking for a play

From: mbcs.t...@gmail.com
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com

[Mrs. Giulietta Garland]

Hi Kim - I sent you another invitation to the yahoo group.  I hope more people will participate in it!
Here's the Golden Goose Play:

This is one that I used 3 years ago with my former class - The Golden Goose by Howard Schrager.  It was alot of fun and, although I did have children speak some individual lines, you could certainly have them all recite everything in chorus very successfully.  It has lots of parts, too, so a larger class could do this one.

THE GOLDEN GOOSE

 

Cast of Characters:

Father

Mother

Eldest Son

Middle Son

Simpleton

Trees (Optional)

Little Grey Man

Innkeeper (Optional)

Innkeeper’s Wife (Optional)

Innkeeper’s Eldest Daughter

Second Daughter

Youngest Daughter

Parson

Sexton

Farmer #1

Farmer #2

King

Crier (Optional)

Laugh Provokers

Princess

Wine Drinker

Bread Eater

                                                                                                                      Simpleton Song

Scene 1 (Outside the house)

Father, Mother, Eldest Son, Second Son, Simpleton

Each steps forward as narrator introduces them

Narrator: A man, and a woman lived on the edge of a forest with their three sons, the eldest, who was very clever, the middle son, who was quite clever, and the youngest, who was called Simpleton, who was mocked and insulted at every turn, especially by his brothers.

(Brothers push, kick and insult him)

Eldest: Father I wish to go into the forest to chop wood.

Father: Go, my son, but take care. The axe is sharp so beware.

Mother: Take this good wine and sweet cake. A fine meal it shall make.

Eldest: Thank you, Mother. Off I go. I’ll be back before you know it.

 

Scene 2 (In the forest)

Little Grey Man: I’m so hungry and so thirsty. May I have some of your cake and wine?

Eldest Son: The more for you is the less for me. Be off with you, now let me be.

(Walks up to a tree and begins chopping, The axe flies up and cuts his arm.) The tree may be a child who delivers a karate style kick.

 

Scene 3 (Outside the house)

Father: What happened son? You’re back so soon.

Eldest Son: The axe flew up and cut my arm. (Moans)

Second Son: Let me go, then you’ll see that where he failed I shall succeed.

Father: Try your luck. Go and see if you are more successful than he.

Mother: Take this good wine and sweet cake. A fine meal shall it make.

Second Son: Thank you, Mother. Off I go. I’ll be back before you know it.

 

Scene 4 (in the forest)

Little Grey Man: I’m so hungry and so thirsty. May  I have some of your cake and wine?

Second Son: Little man, be off.  If I give some to you then I won’t have enough.

(Begins chopping. Soon the axe flies up and cuts his leg and he has to limp home.)

 

Scene 5 (Outside the house)

Father, Mother and 3 Brothers

Father: What happened son? What have you done?

Second Son: The axe flew right out of my hand. (Aside) I think it’s the work of that little grey man.

Simpleton: Father, please let me go and cut some wood. Where my brothers failed I shall make good.

Brothers: (Mock him)

Father: You know nothing about it. Leave it alone. You’re better off here at home.

Simpleton: (Begs) Father please, please, please, please…

Father: Since you insist, be on your way. Sometimes we must learn the hard way.

Mother: This cake baked in cinders and this sour beer is what you have for your good cheer.

Simpleton: Good-bye all, off I go………

Scene 6 (In the forest)

Little Grey Man and Simpleton

Little Grey Man: I’m so hungry and so thirsty. Please give me some of your cake and a drink from your bottle.

Simpleton: I have but cinder cake and sour beer, but you’re more than welcome to this poor fare.

(They sit down and share the meal.)

Simpleton: The cinder cake has become sweet, and the sour beer is now fine wine. Such a treat.

Little Grey Man: Since you have a good heart and are willing to share, you shall have good fortune and luck to spare. That old tree, there, cut it down. In the roots something’s to be found.

(Little Grey Man walks away)

Simpleton: (Chops at the roots of the tree until it falls) What is this? Oh I’ll be bound. A Golden Goose have I found.

(Picks up Golden Goose and sets out)

 

Scene 7 (An inn)

Innkeeper, Wife, 3 Daughters, Simpleton

Innkeeper: May I be of service? Do you need a bed?

Simpleton: Yes, a place to lay my head

(Daughters stare dazzled by the Golden Goose)

(Innkeeper gestures to a bed. Simpleton lies down and goes to sleep.)

Eldest Daughter: (Stealthily goes over to Golden Goose) A golden feather must I have. A golden feather shall I have. (Seizes the wing, but sticks fast.)

Second Daughter: I, too, must have a feather of gold, all my own to have and hold. (She leans over her sister and sticks to her.)

(Third Sister enters room)

Sisters #1 and #2: Stay away. Can’t you see? We’re stuck fast and can’t get free.

Youngest Sister: What you’re saying I don’t know. Why shouldn’t I get a feather too?  (She, sticks to her middle sister. The three sisters pass the night this way.)

Simpleton: (Awakens) Well now, off I go with my Golden Goose in tow.

 

Scene 8 (The countryside)

Simpleton  with the 3 sisters following along willy-nilly encounter the parson.

Parson: You naughty girls. Shame on you! Running after a young man as you do. (Seizes  youngest by arm and tries to pull her off, but he, too, sticks fast and must follow along.)

Sexton: Ho, your reverence, where are you going. Remember soon we’re having a Christening.(He pulls at the parson’s sleeve, and now he, too, is held fast.)

Parson: (Sees laborers hoeing in the fields nearby) You over there, can’t you see, we need your help to set us free.

(2 laborers come running. No sooner do they begin pulling on the sexton than they, too, stick fast. Now all 7 trail along behind Simpleton and the Golden Goose.)

 

Scene 9 (Outside the King’s palace)

King and Princess sitting on Thrones

King: My lovely daughter, Princess Anne is so serious she’s never laughed. So I put forth this decree that whoever makes her laugh she shall marry.

(Simpleton hears the decree and heads towards the castle with his train.

Princess: (Bursts out laughing) Something like this I’ve never seen. Ha ha ha, ho ho ho he he he he. (Train of 7 exits)

Simpleton: Now that I’ve made her laugh, may I have her hand?

King: Yes, but no. First you must find me a man who can drink a cellarful of wine.

Simpleton: A cellarful of wine?

King: Yes, a cellarful of wine.

Simpleton: (Ponders) Ah, yes, the little grey man, ah yes. He will help in my distress. thinks of the little grey man.

 

Scene 10 (The forest, in the same place he had felled the tree Simpleton finds a man with a sorrowful face)

Simpleton: What troubles you, my friend. It breaks my heart to se you thus.

Man: You’ve never known a thirst like mine. I’ve just drunk a whole barrel of red wine. But to me it’s like a drop of water on a hot stove top.

Simpleton: I can help you, come with me. The king’s wine cellar shall you see.

 

Scene 11 (The King’s Cellar)

King: Drink, drink to your heart’s content. Empty every barrel of its contents.

Man: (Drinks with gusto. King is amazed and dismayed.)

Simpleton: He’s emptied every barrel of its charge of wine. Wouldn’t you agree that now it’s marrying time.

King: Yes, but no. First you must find a man who can eat a mountain of bread. I hereby decree that all the flour in my kingdom, just as I have said, shall be baked into a mountain, a mountain of bread.

Simpleton: (Ponders) The little grey man, ah yes, he’s helped before in my distress.

 

Scene 12 (The forest)

Simpleton: (Finds man with agonized expression on face pulling a belt tight around his waist.) What ails you, man, you are in pain. What will make you glad again?

Man: An oven full of rolls did I just eat. Yet that is like a crumb to me. In order that I not feel the pain, I tighten this belt around my waist.

Simpleton: Come along. You shall be fed. (Aside) And I the princess surely wed.

Scene 13 (The Palace)

King: Eat, eat of this bread mountain, but you must eat it all, that's for certain.

Man: (Eats with loud noises. King is amazed and dismayed.)

Simpleton: Your majesty, he's eaten every bit of bread. Will you make good on what you've said?

King: Yes, but no. First bring me a ship that sails both on land and sea. Then, on my life, you shall have my daughter for your wife.

Simpleton: A ship that sails on land and sea. (Aside) I'll need my friend to give help to me.

Scene 14 (The Forest)

Simpleton: I need a ship that sails both on land and on sea. Is there not a way that you could help me, please?

Little Grey Man: Because you once were kind to me, gave me eat and drink when I was hungry, here is a ship that both sails on land and on sea.

Simpleton: How can I ever thank you?

Little Gray Man: No need to, just go.

 

Scene 15 (The Palace)

King: What's this I see, a ship that really sails both on land and on sea.

Simpleton: Yes, your majesty, I've fulfilled your command and now you cannot deny me your daughters hand.

King: Youre right my son, youve earned the right. You shall rule and have her for your wife.                                                                                                (All Celebrate)

[Felipe Ferraz]

Hi Christine,

Thanks for your ideas. Yes, First Grade is huge. Good luck with your play!

Felipe

[Lisa Archer]

I enjoy hearing what others are doing for their class plays, I have just started writing a play for my class based on the book we are now reading, Puck the Gnome by Jakob Streit. For some reason this story seems to fit the social dynamics in my class so I thought it would make a good play. The mischievous tricks Puck plays in the beginning meet the silliness of some of the students while the story is also good for owning up to mistakes and apologizing, and consequences for the evil Proll and his minions who are always being mean.  It  has enough characters so I can make sure everyone has a part (even if some are non-speaking). I intend there to be a lot of choral speaking, with a couple individual speaking lines for most characters ( I have a class of 16 students). I'll post it when I finish it, but here's the start:

Chorus:

In days of old, in caverns deep

Where one finds gold, a gnome did sleep

His name was Puck, one foot turned back

The other front, yet both on track

And so he walked both back and forth

From west to east from south to north.

 

The other gnomes thought he was strange

And often called him silly names

But Puck knew not what they did say

Until he heard this one fateful day:

 

Gries and Grum:

Puck is the ugliest gnome we say

Each foot faces a different way

We laugh at him and he doesn’t know

He is so dumb he is so slow.

 

Chorus:

When Puck heard this he was so sad

He cried and cried he felt so bad

His tears dropped on a friendly snail

Who thought the rain was a summer gale

 

Snail:

What’s wrong dear Puck? Why do you cry?

Why does rain fall from thine eye?

 

Puck:

They all make fun of me I hear

And my two feet they think are queer.

 

Snail:

I have a trick to stop their talk

Come with me for a very slow walk

 

Chorus:

And so the snail shared her fine trick

With her gluey slime they would make lips stick

And so Gries and Grum while fast asleep

Had their lips glued shut without a peep

A drop of slime shut their lips fast

And in no time their nap had passed.

When they awoke and tried to speak

They could only hum and sometimes squeak

The snail and Puck fell to the ground

Laughing so hard at the funny sounds.

------

So that is the start - As I go along I may have to make it shorter, but thought you might enjoy the beginning.

  -Lisa

[Christine Waskowiak]

What a wonderful idea, Lisa! The Puck stories are great. Good luck
with your play!
Christine

[Giulie]

OMG!  This is wonderful, Lisa! After reading some of the ideas shared here, I began to think about how to incorporate some of the songs and verses that we already know into a play.  Since many of them have to do with gnomes and animals, I started thinking of Puck , since we just started reading it too. Thank you for sharing - I look forward to seeing more!

Giulie

Sent from my iPhone

[Feli McCabe]

We did 'The Owl and the Pussycat' with a group of 8.  It was short and sweet, and felt right for our group but might not apply to a larger group.

Enjoy!

Fehlya

[CHARLENE GRAY]

I am delighted to be getting emails again from the AOT group. Somehow I cannot figure how to log in to the site, (maybe Guille could help me if this gets in?)

14 in my class at Highland Hall in Los Angeles. I am not familiar with Puck, but just read another: Gnome Tenderfoot also by Jacob Streit, to my class, and they absolutely loved it. It is a recapitulation of the cycle of the year and the festivals. It would also make a good foundation for a class play. Lisa, yours was an inspiration!   


Charlene Gray

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Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:03:18 -0800

Subject: Re: looking for a play

From: felim...@gmail.com
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com

[Mrs. Giulietta Garland]

Hi Charlene - I'll send you another invite.  Then you should be able to log on with no problem.
Giulie

[Mrs. Giulietta Garland]

Hi Lisa -

How's it going with your play?  I'm fiddling with the same story - I wonder if we can share?
I'd hoped to have more time than I've had lately - I'm finishing the last semester of work toward my clear credential and it is taking more of my time than I'd expected.
Hope everyone is enjoying the last months of 1st grade!!
Giulie

[kim vennerholm]

Hi all,
 
Giulie, I love the start of your play. Are you feeling stuck or out of time? I've decided to do Stone Soup (a musical). It's basically two lengthy songs with some short spoken pieces. It's fun and rhythmic. We will add in a little flute, movement, and dance. After the play we will have stone soup with the families of our class. I don't have it on my computer but if anyone is interested I could scan it from school.
 
Kim
Madrona School
Bainbridge Island

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Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:28:06 -0700

Subject: Re: looking for a play

From: mbcs.t...@gmail.com
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com

[Mrs. Giulietta Garland]

Hi Kim - That sounds like a lot of fun.  I wrote a version of Stone Soup for a "reader's theater" play for my 3rd grade class last year.  Such a good story.
I was inspired by Lisa's choice to do Puck the Gnome with her class.  I just finished reading it to my class and they loved it and I could see how it would be a great play.  But, yes, I'm running out of time to get it written and produced.  Still working on it, but if Lisa has hers done, I'd love a peek!!
Giulie

[Lisa Archer]

Hi all,

  Unfortunately I have only gotten a little farther with it than I had intended and am no realizing it will have to be a shortened version of what I had hoped. My spring break is not until the week after Easter when I intend to do more work on it. I just introduced this first scene with them this week, and they love it so far, although it does already seem long in the narration. Am trying to figure out how to cut back some on that in the next scenes, so that is part of why I am stuck. Here is where it has come since I first sent it out (not much further I am afraid). You are free to wrok on it from there and make the rest your own.

  -Lisa

Puck the Gnome

So Gries and Grum while fast asleep

Had their lips glued shut without a peep

A drop of slime shut their lips fast

And in no time their nap had passed.

When they awoke and tried to speak

They could only hum and sometimes squeak

The snail and Puck fell to the ground

Laughing so hard at the funny sounds.

 

Then Puck ran off to play more pranks

He tricked some gnomes on a river bank

A rock, a splash, “A fish, a fish!”

To trick them all was Puck’s deep wish

But his next throw hit a gnome in the head

“Ouch! Ouch!” cried the gnome,

Puck wished he were dead.

 

He ran off to find some place to hide

But what he saw next opened his eyes wide.

 

Proll:

Watch out you stupid, turtle-slime-licker

Find me some strawberries and make it quicker

I’m tired so a nap I’ll take,

but they’d better be here when I awake!

And they’d better be sweet,

or you’re dead meat!

 

Puck

Oh hateful Proll, what can I do?

How can I get the better of you?

Din is so nice but you are mean

You’re the meanest gnome I’ve ever seen!

 

Chorus:

While Din went off to find strawberries

Puck found something that made him merry

Rancid, repulsive, rotten wood

With smelly mushrooms, it  looked so good

To Puck that is, a scheme was forming

How to trick Proll without any warning

When Din returned then fell asleep

To the ripe strawberries, Puck did creep.

They smelled so good; they were so yummy,

Most of them ended up inside Puck’s tummy

But the last he left mixed with his smelly “treat”

So that odious Proll would have something to eat.

 

Proll

 

That was a nice nap now where is my meal?

Where did Din put it, that stupid old seal?

 

Chorus

Oh what a trick! Oh what a surprise!

Picking up the strawberry was not very wise!

 

Proll

Pee-yew! How disgusting! How gross! How obscene!

DIN! I won’t let you get away wit this scene!

 

 

 

 

---

From: Mrs. Giulietta Garland <mbcs.t...@gmail.com>
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012 2:54 PM

[Mrs. Giulietta Garland]

Hi Lisa - Thanks for this.  I was actually stuck on the Proll part and haven't gotten any further either.  Here's my version that comes after that first part that you wrote (so well, by the way!):

 

Puck:

My gnome brothers always laugh at me

But I taught them and now they’ll see

Hmmm…What  prank can I play now?

 

Chorus:

Puck walked forward and then a little bit back

Through the forest, always on track

He came to a stream where some gnomes were fishing

And thought of the next prank for which he was wishing

 

Puck:

I’ll show them a fish! (tosses a “stone” into the stream)

 

Chorus:

The stone made a splash like a fish

The gnomes thought they had gotten their wish

 

Three Gnomes:

A fish!  Where is it?

Next time, let’s grab it!

 

Chorus:

Puck laughed and he became bold

He threw the biggest rock that he could hold

 

(The rock hits one of the gnomes)

Napp:

OW!  My poor head!

 

(Puck starts to run away)

 

Two Other Gnomes:

There’s the rascal – look, it’s Puck!

We’ll go to the king and he’ll be out of luck!

 

 

Chorus:

Puck ran away and quickly hid

He felt so bad – he really did!

 

Puck:

It was an accident – I didn’t mean it

But if I tell, they won’t believe it!

I’ll hide inside this old tree stump

And hope his head won’t get a lump!

 

Chorus:

Along came Proll and his servant, Din

Proll was always yelling at him!

 

Proll:

Get me some strawberries and get them quick

And no sour ones, they make me sick!!

[Lisa Archer]

Here's more I've written today. Still more to go and trying to figure out where to end things, and what point I want to make for the children, so there is still more to be done, but I have at least made it to the assembly. The poem in the middle is something one of my former students (who is now a senior in high school) wrote with his mom in 2nd grade. The children made up gestures to this and loved presenting it at a grades assembly, so I decided it would be a good poem to add in, but you may want to leave it out to shorten things:

(Slapstick chase scene - Proll waking and chasing Din, Puck coming to Din’s rescue so Proll ends up hitting himself…)

 

Chorus:

After Puck helped poor Din escape from Proll

(Who they both agreed acted like a troll)

Puck admitted to what he had done

How it was his fault, how he was the one.

 

Din

Now Proll  thinks I played the trick

What will I do? I feel so sick!

 

Puck

I’ll protect you. I’m your friend

We’ll stick together until the end

 

Chorus

Puck would be brave

His friend he would save

At the Gnome Assembly that night

He would face his fright

And confess to his sin

To help his friend Din

 

 

 

 

Scene 2 (Gnome Assembly with King)

 

Chorus of gnomes (with gestures)

(Connor McGreal’s  poem How Gnomes Make a Living)

 

Biddle Beddle we save our metal

We work most all the time

No one ever will find our treasure

We have a secret mine.

 

We’re smarter than you think we are

We’re gnomes of an ancient line

We’re strong and united

None braver you will find

 

Biddle Beddle we save our metal

We work most all the time

No one ever will find our treasure

We have a secret mine.

 

We’re deep down in the earth you see

The gems we keep are fine:

Rubies, gold and emeralds

We polish ‘til they shine.

 

Biddle Beddle we save our metal

We work most all the time.

No one ever will find our treasure

We have a secret mine.

 

To see us you must look carefully

For people of our kind

Can vanish like a rainbow

To colors in your mind.

 

 

Gnome King (with attendants)

 

Welcome dear gnomes both one and all

To our Spring assembly in this great hall

We must ready ourselves to do our work

To give all seeds new birth on earth

In peace and friendship we must be

For seeds grow best when there’s harmony.

 

Gnome King

Is there any grievance someone wants to air?

Or is there something funny someone wants to share?

 

Proll

Oh Honored King! I hate to say

A terrible thing happened to me today

I’d kindly, …gently…  asked my friend Din

To bring me strawberries, ‘cause I am so thin (sucks in stomach)

Yet he played a trick that will make you sick

Giving me berries covered in stinky slime and rotting sticks! (acting this out)

 

(The gnomes all laugh)

Gnome King

Thank you Proll, as you can see

Your story made us laugh it was so silly!

---

From: Mrs. Giulietta Garland <mbcs.t...@gmail.com>
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012 4:42 PM

[kim vennerholm]

Hi all,
 
I'm sure you are all filling your days with second grade thoughts! I was not able to attend training this summer and am using CDs by Eugene Schwartz along with other sources to gear up. If any of you have some gems for the second grade year to share... block rotations, songs, verses, anything- I would love it!
 
With warmth and appreciation!
Kim
Madrona School 
Bainbridge Island, WA
 

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Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:04:27 -0800

Subject: Re: looking for a play

From: mbcs.t...@gmail.com
To: aotg...@googlegroups.com