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Play Description:
This
25 minute musical play can be done as a complete play, skits,
read-aloud, or you can just sing songs.
A fun an engaging
multicultural
resource: introduce your class to West African stories.
No music or
drama experience needed. Grades 1-4.
Anansi is based on a
West African tale. It's the story of a very tricky spider who discovers a magic rock which
he uses to steal food from all the jungle inhabitants. The last laugh is on Anansi, of
course, but not before everyone has a chance to sing some fun songs about yams, dancing
mangos, and Anansi's mischief. Anansi has always been one of our favorite and best-selling
shows. It can be used merely as part of a Folk Tale or Trickster component of the
curriculum, but it lends itself naturally to multicultural aspects of social studies.
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock is a great
complement to your curriculum resources in elementary school language arts. |
Teacher Reviews:
"I used grades K, 1, and 2 (about 40
students in all.) They loved the music. Everyone came that day and night (we did two
performances) expecting to see your average 'cute' early primary show. Instead they saw
'the best show ever.' I heard that over and over. The next day students began asking when
our next show was and what grades would be doing it. That was wonderful. Your shows have
become a tradition at our
school."
---Judy Colligan, Teacher (Music), St. Joseph Catholic
School, Farmington, MO
Read More
Teacher Reviews
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National Education
Standards:
Fulfills National Arts
Standard 3 for Dance, 1 and 8 for Music, and 2, 3,
and 5 for Theater.
Fulfills National History Standard 4
for K-4.
Fulfills National Social Studies
Standard 1.
Casting:
Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
Use as many lions, rhinos, monkeys etc. as desired.
One student can easily play several roles if needed.
Note that all roles can be played by either boys or girls;
see our comments on page 31 of the Teacher's Guide.
Read the Script:
This
is the first one-third of the script:
CHARACTERS:
Anansi
Zebras
Lions
Rhinos
Monkeys
Elephants
Little Bush Deer
Storytellers
Chorus (comprised of all animals except Anansi)
All the action of the play takes place in a jungle---a backdrop with jungle
plants and animals can be used (see "Set and Staging" in the Teacher's
Guide). There is a large "rock" in the middle of the stage. On the backdrop
behind the stage there is a sign:
Warning! Magic Rock! If ANYBODY
says
"Isn't this a strange moss-covered
rock" they will fall asleep for exactly one hour. |
Song 1
ENTIRE CAST (sings as they march or dance up to stage):
It’s so hot
It’s so hot
Hot in the jungle in July
It’s so hot
It’s so hot
It’s so hot under African skies.
The monkeys are sweating
MONKEYS: It’s so hot!
The rhinos are fretting
RHINOS: It’s so hot!
The lions are betting it’s hundred degrees.
The monkeys are sweating
MONKEYS: It’s so hot!
The rhinos are fretting
RHINOS: It’s so hot!
Gazelles are gazetting there under the trees.
It’s so hot
It’s so hot
Hot in the jungle in July
It’s so hot
It’s so hot
It’s so hot under African skies.
(soft)
It’s so hot under African skies.
(loud)
It’s so hot under African skies.
(Entire CAST freezes, looking at audience, with the last note of the song.
It is important that the audience knows the song is over and can now
applaud. See "Turning on the Applause Sign" in the Teacher’s Guide.)
STORYTELLER (spoken): Long ago, on a very hot summer day, Anansi
the Spider was crawling through the jungle when he spotted something
very strange.
(ANANSI enters as STORYTELLER talks. ANANSI looks shocked
when he notices the rock.)
Song 2
ANANSI:
I know every tree in the jungle
I know each lion by its roar
I know every nook of the jungle
But I’ve never seen this before.
(ANANSI points directly at the rock on the word "this")
I know every inch of the jungle
So that’s why this is such a shock
This is quite a change
This is very strange
Isn’t this a strange moss-covered rock!
(ANANSI falls down, instantly asleep)
CHORUS:
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
Down he fell in sleep,
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
Slumbering so deep.
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
One full hour went by,
He woke up some
His head was numb
And he was wondering why
He was wondering why.
ANANSI:
I wonder, I wonder what’s happening to me
I was just taking a short walk
This is quite a change
This is very strange
Isn’t this a strange moss-covered rock!
(ANANSI crashes down again in slumber)
CHORUS:
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
Down he fell once more,
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
Sleeping like before.
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
One full hour went by,
He woke up some
His head was numb
And he was wondering why
He was wondering why.
(As ANANSI wakes up, ZEBRAS dance in)
Song 3
ZEBRAS:
We are wise old Zebras
We’ve got wise old zebra stripes
You should listen to us
And take our wise advice.
CHORUS: Listen to them, listen to them!
We are wise old Zebras
We know wise old zebra stuff
If you listen to us
Then you’ll be wise enough.
It’s a magic rock, magic rock
We know it sounds absurd
CHORUS: Sounds absurd
Magical rock, watch your talk
Don’t say
CHORUS: Don’t say
Don’t say
CHORUS: Don’t say
Don’t say
ZEBRAS and CHORUS:
Don’t say those magical words!
ANANSI: You mean the words, "Isn’t this a strange moss-covered…?"
ZEBRAS (interrupting): SHHHHHH!
We are wise old Zebras
We’ve got wise old zebra stripes
You should listen to us
And take our wise advice.
CHORUS: Listen to them, listen to them!
It’s a magic rock, magic rock
We know it sounds absurd
CHORUS: Sounds absurd
Magical rock, watch your talk
Don’t say
CHORUS: Don’t say
Don’t say
CHORUS: Don’t say
Don’t say
ZEBRAS and CHORUS:
Don’t say those magical words!
(ZEBRAS dance off)
STORYTELLER (spoken): Anansi was delighted to learn of the magic
rock, and he came up with a clever trick. You see, Anansi loved the food
of the jungle, but he did not want to do any work to get it. He’d rather take
somebody else’s, so he went to the home of the Lions.
ANANSI: Good afternoon, Lions. What are you doing on this hot day?
Song 4
LIONS:
We like the yams
We like the yams
That’s all we can say
We work so hard
Out in our backyard
Digging yams all day.
We like to roar
We like to stretch
We like leg of lamb
We like the sun
We like to have fun
But we’d rather have a yam.
Anansi the Spider
Your tricks are well-known
You’d rather steal our yams
than find some on your own.
We like the yams
We like the yams
That’s all we can say
We work so hard
Out in our backyard
Digging yams all day.
(spoken): This is our yam-digging music! Oh we like this!
(LIONS dig and dance as the CHORUS sings)
CHORUS:
They like the yams
They like the yams
That’s all they can say
They work so hard
Out in their backyard
Digging yams all day.
Anansi the Spider
Your tricks are well-known
You’d rather steal their yams than find some on your own.
LIONS:
We like the yams
We like the yams
That’s all we can say
We work so hard
Out in our backyard
Digging yams all day.
LIONS and CHORUS:
We work so hard
Out in our backyard . . .
LIONS:
. . . digging yams all day.
(This concludes the first one- third of the
script.)
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|
fretting
degrees
gazelles
nook
slumbering
numb
absurd
yam |
stroll
mango
polka
jig
appeal
woe
mongoose
shrewd |
Vocabulary
From Stage Directions
backdrop
shocked
instantly
pantomime
parenthesis
intentionally |
Song
List:
Click on the song name to hear samples in
mp3 format. Please note that
internet song samples have low fidelity and rest assured that the CDs we
sell sound much better. Problems hearing the music? Visit our
Audio Help page.
More Teacher Reviews:
"The CD was fantastic---so easy
to learn from and then perform with! And the
teacher guide really helped with play production, costumes, and sets. The children
gained immensely in self-confidence, poise, and self-awareness. It was truly
remarkable. Parents were so impressed at the level of quality we achieved in the
performance. Some children said that doing the play was the highlight of their
school year!"
---Linda Turnbull, Teacher, (K-2nd grades), Ho'ala
School, Wahiawa, HI
"Quick and easy. The kids loved
the lyrics and always asked to practice. We only
performed for ourselves but their sense of accomplishment was huge. Lots of
'back-patting' and complements when we swaped roles. Great self esteem building
for the kids and tear-jerking for the teacher (me!) No fuss, no stress."
---Jenni Clark, Teacher (3rd grade) Eufaula Elementary,
Eufaula, AL
"The kids loved it! I used two
classes and everyone had a part. It was so easy to
organize. The kids had so much fun. All the students feel so successful when
everyone is clapping for them. My second graders were exposed to a variety of
vocabulary that they may not otherwise have been interested in."
---Buffy Esquibel, Teacher (2nd grade), Preston School,
Rialto, CA
"I liked the catchy tunes, easy to learn songs, and the literature-based
cross-curricular
connections. The show involved everyone, form the shy one to the star. We're still
singing those tunes."
---Jane Bishop, Teacher, (1st-2nd grades), Broadwater
School, Helena, MT
"It was a unique experience that cleverly wove the messages and concepts through
word and song. You would have been so proud of our children as they worked with
me during recess to develop the unique choreography that added to the splendor of
your creation. Children realized it was OK to let their inhibitions go. Many discovered
a hidden talent for song, acting and dance. Everyone had so much fun working in the
multilevel experience. We all laughed a great deal!"
---Jane Aikens, Teacher, (5th-8th grade), St. Maria
Goretti School, Schiller Park, IL
"My class's final performance
of Anansi is tonight. They are dynamite! With my
experience, their talent, and a fantastic musical to do the whole show was really
brought to life!...Thank you so much and keep writing because what you've done is
exactly what I've been looking for."
---Justin Hoffman, Teacher (2nd grade), Wagon Wheel
Elementary, Trabuco Canyon, CA
"It was adorable! The children
really enjoyed performing the play for the entire school."
---Jackie Brondstater, Teacher (2nd grade), Powhatan
School, Boyce, VA
"This happens to be one of my
favorite storybooks and it came to life beautifully in
the genius songwriting and play formatting. The kids had fun and learned some great
lessons too."
---Kim Chase, Volunteer Parent/Teacher (2nd/3rd grade)
Concord School, Oak Grove, OR
"This was a GREAT play for K-3
to perform because it was all song...few lines
to learn!"
---George Rhodes, Teacher (2nd/3rd) Sedgewick School,
Blue Hill, ME
Buy The Show
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Are Two of You Planning to Put
the Play on Together?
If you ask us, we always suggest having just one class put on a play. We
think each kid is more involved, and we think it's easier for you to deal with a smaller
number of students.
But lots of teachers
disagree with us. They've been happily doing the plays together for years.
In fact, Amy Anderson, the teacher who does four musicals a year (and she talks about this on our home page) thinks two classes
together is the way to go.
Then what do I need to
purchase? Think of a musical play like a library book. Only one teacher
may "check out" (i.e. put on) the play at a time. If another teacher wants to
produce the music play that you purchased in a separate production and at a later
date, you may loan out your original plan and student copies.
Your "library" needs two copies of the play for two teachers to
put on the play at the same time. If a teacher wants her class to put on the play with
your class, she needs to buy her own copy of the play. For three or more teachers
to produce a play together, purchase three copies for your "library" and Bad
Wolf extends a Site License for all the teachers and
classes at your school.
But why can't I just
make extra copies of the play? If copies are made for a class other than
the purchasing teacher's, it's an infringement of U.S. copyright law.
Yikes! Bad Wolf likes to toe the line where Uncle Sam is concerned, so we offer a discount
on the purchase of multiple copies of the play.
If you are 2 teachers putting on the
play together...................................$60
* Includes 2 copies of the book and CD (save almost $20 off of
buying
them separately) so each of you has a CD and
book to work with.
* Free bonus: We'll throw in our famed
"Earthworms on Parade" CD. Y'know,
that's the one with the six goofiest songs
about earthworms ever written
($9.95 value.)
* Includes the right to reproduce the
script for the students in both of
your individual classes.
Questions?
Call or email Ron Fink at (888)
827-8661 or ron@badwolfpress.com
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