Musical Play: “Character Matters”

Complete Script & Audio: $45 (other items also available)

What is this? An easy, flexible, 30-minute musical play for grades 1-5. Comes with the script, audio recording (with both a vocal and instrumental version of each song), and a teacher's guide. No music or drama experience needed!
Story & Content Funny script ✓ Catchy tunes ✓ Flexible casting ✓ Dumb jokes
This hilarious play brings together a whole cast of well-known fairy tale characters to explore the essentials of character education. Learn more!
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    • - For this play, the sheet music is a Piano/Guitar Score (includes melody, notated accompaniment, and chord symbols).

Synopsis

Welcome to the weekly meeting of the Fairy Tale Advice Council! Led by Rapunzel, a Handsome Prince, and a (recovering) Wicked Witch, the council offers help in character-building to famous folk creatures. In this bestselling, non-preachy show, the Big Bad Wolf learns the Golden Rule, Cinderella gets help in managing her anger, and Jack and the Giant discover their differences are cool. Will Humpty Dumpty take responsibility for his fall? Can Baby Bear forgive Goldilocks -- and will Goldilocks apologize, or just take the porridge and run?

Preview the script and songs!

Key Concepts

  • The Golden Rule (treat others as you want them to treat you; put yourself in another's shoes)
  • Have the courage to do what you think is right
  • Difference and tolerance: don't judge a book by its cover
  • Patience
  • Regret and forgiveness
  • Responsibility
  • Role models
  • Kindness and caring
  • Listening
  • Honesty
  • Dealing with anger and bullies
  • Thinking ahead

Filled with humor and fantastic songs, Character Matters is a non-threatening and wildly fun way to spark classroom discussion about character issues and conflicts (when, for example, should you be honest and when should you avoid hurting someone's feelings?). And, like all of our plays, this show can be used to improve reading, vocabulary, reading comprehension, performance and music skills, class camaraderie and teamwork, and numerous social skills (read about it!) -- all while enabling students to be part of a truly fun and creative experience they will never forget!

Aligned with national standards! View the standards and vocabulary. 

Publication Info

Authors: Ron Fink (Composer) and John Heath (Book and Lyrics)

ISBN:
978-1-886588-32-5

© 2005
Bad Wolf Press, LLC

18 reviews for Musical Play: “Character Matters”

  1. Jessica (verified owner)

    <p>I think the content is wonderful here. I love the lessons the students learn while they are singing and playing. While I really love the content, this is far from my favorite play at Bad Wolf Press. I'm not sure if it was the style of music, or what, but it just was not as catchy as others plays I've put on. I would actually recommend Character Matters II over this one. </p><p>This play still teaches students about character, which is a very important topic, so I would still recommend it!</p>

  2. Jennifer (verified owner)

    <p>The play was cute, funny, and really taught a message! It was perfect for our 2nd graders to perform for the entire school and their families.</p>

  3. Leslie (verified owner)

    We used this play for Summer Camp, and it was great. I love the flexibility of casting, and the music was simple enough for the kids to learn quickly.

  4. Elizabeth (verified owner)

    <p>My second grade class performed Character Matters in the Spring this year. It was the perfect play for 7 and 8 year olds. The lyrics were so funny and the kids understood every lesson being taught. The parents and other classmates at our school loved it. Thank you for that universal play that everyone can understand.</p>

  5. Gaspar (verified owner)

    <p>My 3rd grade class performed this play last week for the students and families. Everyone loved it! It was perfect for the beginning of the year. We also bought another play for the end of the year. I've been doing Bad Wolf Press plays for 10 years and just love them. Thank you!</p>

  6. Vickie M. (verified owner)

    <p>I just completed putting on our school musical this year using the Character Matters play and songs. I had 61 kids in grades 3-5 and everyone loved the performance! The kids related well to the fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters and the parents and grandparents laughed at the clever jokes woven within the script and songs! It was a wonderful experience for all of us and the best part is that the kids learned even more about what it means to have good character!</p>

  7. Meagan (verified owner)

    We've just started using Character Matters with our 1st through 3rd graders and they can hardly wait for our once-a-week practice time. This play is perfect for children who need a fun, entertaining way to think about and practice grace and courtesy. I highly recommend it! We've done other Bad Wolf Press plays in past years and both the children and their parents love them. Thank you!

  8. Meagan (verified owner)

    We love having the sheet music to accompany the play. Some children like to really take ownership over the songs and music and seeing the words and notes helps them with this process. It's also nice to be able to hear the vocalists and then just the instrumental versions.

  9. Pamela Hanief (verified owner)

    Another successful show with my second graders! This show is so much fun and our parents really got involved with costumes for their child's fairytale character. Administrators loved the literary connections, and the great message. Great for the high level readers, but available parts for every level as well. I never have to worry about anything objectionable with a Bad Wolf musicals because over the 15 years I have been using them they have always been top notch. Thanks again for assisting in the journey of providing students opportunities to be creative.

  10. Lincoln K-8 (verified owner)

    All the 4th graders performed in either play. Parents, staff, and students loved the messages given in both plays.

  11. Jjmv (verified owner)

    I bought the audio files as my children are in this play. I wish they were iTunes or other media format as they are harder to organize on the cell phone for rehearsals with my kids but they do the job.

  12. Connie Holman (verified owner)

    My school really enjoyed the play Character Matters. The script was engaging and easy to memorize for my 2-5 graders. The music was interesting and easy to remember. A couple of songs need a little updating, but it was overall a fantastic play. I can't tell you how many parents and teachers told me that I did such a great job and the kids should take it on the road! I feel a lot more confident on putting on another play next year! Character Matters II here we come! Thank you for providing us with such a great musical. It was an amazing success!

  13. subtiger (verified owner)

    This is our first time to use a play that is from a professional organization like Bad Wolf Press, we used to write plays by ourselves, but there's a big problem, finding good music and songs for kids, we've been struggling with this for a while. occasionally, a Canadian friend recommended Big bad wolf to us, so we could have a such wonderful time this summer, all the kids were happy and even months later, many of them still sing the songs form this play. Thanks a lot!

  14. LTD4Kids (verified owner)

    The children enjoyed Alice's Adventures with Idioms so much we decided to give Character Matters and Character Matters 2 a go. We presented both shows on the same night with an intermission in between. This gave us a chance to give each of the children more to do. We were worried at first about them learning 20 songs instead of 10, but they had no problem at all. The children loved the songs and they are so easy to learn. The show and the songs are clever and the children also learned a lot about character and how to act in different situations. The audience loved it too. They were so impressed they gave the children a standing ovation. This is the second time we have used Bad Wolf Press plays and we loved them. The children have a lot of fun putting them on and they are very entertaining for the audience as well. Highly recommended.

  15. Stacy Carignan (verified owner)

    Great script, great songs! The play was easy to adapt to a larger class and we were able to combine two 4th grade classes to perform, it was a fantastic show!

  16. Patricia Monk (verified owner)

    It's FABULOUS! We are taking it slowly, learning one song every week. We are following your suggestions to not let the kids know which parts they've been assigned to yet. We are practicing each scene together and everybody practices every part. I've bought costumes and decided which props and costumes the children will create. Everyone is involved, everyone has a part, and it's fabulous!

  17. Rosie DLG – 1st Grade Teacher (verified owner)

    I have been using Character Matters for the last 12 years. My students and parents love it. I have a collection of costumes and props. Parents look forward to our first grade muscial every year.

  18. Sue V. (verified owner)

    Character Matters was so appropriate for my first graders! We waited until the end of the year so most of the students could read and they loved it. Every time we mention a fairy tale from the musical, they all start singing. It gave us a good platform to discuss traits of character that apply to our own lives. I have used Bad Wolf Press with upper elementary students and I knew I would find what I needed for first graders.

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The Show

We want you to know what you're getting, so the cast list and first third of the script are available here! Bad Wolf shows are written for flexibility and can be edited however you like to meet the needs of your actors, school, curriculum, parents, astrological chart, latest whim, etc. If you have questions about the portions of the script not shown, please contact us.

Casting

Flexible casting from 11-40 actors. Use as many Princesses, Mice, Friends, etc. as desired. Actors can easily play several roles, or a single role can be divided between multiple actors. All parts can be played by any gender.

CHARACTERS:

Rapunzel
Prince
Witch
Little Red Riding Hood
Wolf
Princesses
Papa Bear, Momma Bear, Baby Bear
Goldilocks
3 Little Pigs
Cinderella
Cinderella's mice
Humpty Dumpty
Dumpty's Friend
Magic Mirrors
Jack
Giant

and a CHORUS composed of all students who are not playing roles on stage at the time.

Script

This is the first one-third of the script.

(Entire CLASS faces the audience and sings:)

Song 1

Listen to a sample!

HALF CLASS:

We've got a show
A story that features
Fairy tale folk
And fairy tale creatures.

OTHER HALF of CLASS:

Trying to live
And deal with each other
Like you and me
They soon will discover

ENTIRE CLASS:

Character matters
You must care how you act
Character matters
As a matter of fact
Character matters
'Cause you are what you choose
Character matters
It's one thing you can't lose.

HALF CLASS:

Jack stole the goose

OTHER HALF:

I think he needs mentoring

HALF CLASS:

Goldilocks, no!

OTHER HALF:

She's breaking and entering

HALF CLASS:

Poor Little Red

OTHER HALF:

We're gonna need tissues

HALF CLASS:

Wolf's gonna lie

OTHER HALF:

He clearly has issues.

ENTIRE CLASS:

Character matters
You must care how you act
Character matters
As a matter of fact

Character matters
Cause you are what you choose
Character matters
It's one thing you can't lose.

(STUDENTS sit in a large semi-circle around stage, facing the audience. RAPUNZEL, PRINCE, and WITCH walk to the front and address the audience.)

RAPUNZEL: Hello. I'm Rapunzel. From the fairy tale.

PRINCE: And I'm a handsome prince.

WITCH: And I'm a formerly evil witch. We're here today to moderate the monthly meeting of the Fairy Tale Advice Council.

PRINCE: Each month the council gathers to give advice to fairy tale characters.

RAPUNZEL: That's right. Everyone finds themselves wondering how to act or what to do in certain situations.

WITCH: Even those of us in folk stories.

PRINCE: Take me, for example. Why am I always the "handsome" prince? Why can't I be the "witty" prince? Or the "talented" prince? Or the "artist formerly known as prince" prince? It's frustrating.

RAPUNZEL: I'm sorry you feel that way. But you really are quite handsome.

PRINCE: Yes, that's true.

WITCH: And now it's time for the meeting of the council. But first...donuts! (SHE waits, but nothing happens. SHE tries again.) Donuts! DONUTS!

RAPUNZEL (pause): Um, I don't think there are any donuts.

WITCH: What? I'm sure somebody was supposed to bring them. Maybe they're not here yet. Well, who's first on the list?

PRINCE (reading from clipboard): First up today is Little Red Riding Hood.

(LITTLE RED, her FRIENDS, and the WOLF come to the front of the stage.)

WITCH: So, Little Red, what seems to be the problem?

LITTLE RED: My friends and I caught Mr. Wolf trying to eat my grandmother.

PRINCE (to WOLF): Is that true?

WOLF: I can't help it. It's my job.

FRIEND #1: How could you do that?

WOLF: I was thinking I would start with her toes.

FRIEND #2: That's not what we mean. You know it's wrong to eat people.

LITTLE RED: Especially beloved grandmothers.

WOLF: Eating people is wrong? Why?

FRIEND #1: Haven't you ever heard of the Golden Rule?

WOLF: Is that like the infield fly rule?

LITTLE RED and FRIENDS: No!

Song 2

Listen to a sample!

LITTLE RED and FRIENDS:

Stop stop stop Mr. Wolfie
Think before you act
Stop stop stop Mr. Wolfie
Don't make Grandma your snack.

Think think think Mr. Wolfie
Walk in Grandma's shoes
How how how would you like it
If Grandma swallowed YOU?

LITTLE RED, FRIENDS, and CHORUS:

The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
Oh it's a very useful tool
To figure out what you're to do

The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
At work and play, at home and school
Treat others like you want them to treat you.

LITTLE RED and FRIENDS:

Woh woh woh Mr. Wolfie
Don't it get your goat?
When when when people see you
As just a nice fur coat?

Think think think Mr. Wolfie
Walk in Grandma's shoes
How how how would you like it
If Grandma swallowed YOU?

LITTLE RED, FRIENDS, and CHORUS:

The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
Oh it's a very useful tool
To figure out what you're to do

The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
At work and play, at home and school
Treat others like you want them to treat you.

(THEY exit. RAPUNZEL, PRINCE, and WITCH come forward.)

RAPUNZEL: So, Prince. Who's next on the list?

(A PRINCESS jumps up with two other PRINCESSES, raising hand, shouts:)

PRINCESS #1: Oooh, ooh! Take us, take us!

WITCH: And who are you?

PRINCESS #2: We're princesses!

PRINCE (looking at his clipboard): Hmmn. Nope, I'm sorry. It's not your turn.

PRINCESS #3: Pleeeeeeeeeease!

RAPUNZEL: Sorry, my dear. Be patient. Everybody will get a chance.

PRINCESSES: But we're PRINCESSES!

(THEY sit down)

PRINCE: Next up are Papa Bear, Momma Bear, Baby Bear, and Goldilocks.

(THEY come up to the front of the stage)

WITCH: So how are things in the woods?

BABY BEAR: Terrible. We caught HER (points to Goldilocks) eating my food and squishing my chair and sleeping in my bed.

MOMMA BEAR: She was so cute all tucked up in the covers.

BABY BEAR: She was drooling on my pillow!

GOLDILOCKS: I'm really sorry. I was lost. It was cold. And everything of yours was JUST RIGHT.

PAPA BEAR: We've been telling Baby Bear that he needs to learn forgiveness.

Song 3

Listen to a sample!

PAPA and MOMMA BEARS:

You've gotta forgive her
You can't bear a grudge

BABY BEAR:

She ate all my porridge
She ate all my fudge!

PAPA and MOMMA BEARS:

You've gotta forgive her
And move on ahead

BABY BEAR:

I'd rather stay angry
And eat her instead.

GOLDILOCKS:

Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
I'm so sorry
Ly, ly, ly, ly
I made a mistake
Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
Can you forgive me?
Please give me a break.

PAPA and MOMMA BEAR:

You gotta forgive her
Forget about lunch

BABY BEAR:

But look in the parlor
My CHAIR is all crunched!

PAPA and MOMMA BEAR:

You gotta forgive her
And stop seeing red

BABY BEAR:

I'd rather stay angry
And sit on her head.

GOLDILOCKS:

Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
I'm so sorry
Ly, ly, ly, ly
I made a mistake
Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
Can you forgive me?
Please give me a break.

GOLDILOCKS and CHORUS:

Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
I'm so sorry
Ly, ly, ly, ly
I made a mistake
Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
Can you forgive me?
Please give me a break.

BABY BEAR:

I gotta forgive her
She's filled with regret
I know she is sorry
Forgive and forget

ALL THREE BEARS and CHORUS:

We learned a good lesson
Forgivingness rocks
We gotta forgive her
And change all the locks
We gotta forgive her
Forgive Goldilocks.

GOLDILOCKS: (BEARS sing background "oooh")

Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
I'm so sorry
Ly, ly, ly, ly
I made a mistake
Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
Can you forgive me?
Please give me a break.

GOLDILOCKS, BEARS, CHORUS:

Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
I'm so sorry
Ly, ly, ly, ly
I made a mistake
Ly, ly, ly, ly, ly
Can you forgive me?
Please give me a break.

(THEY exit. RAPUNZEL, PRINCE, and WITCH come forward.)

PRINCE (reading off clipboard): Okay. Three Little Pigs, you're up.

(THEY come forward, along with the WOLF---the same wolf as in Little Red)

PIG #1 (to PIG #3): I'm telling you, you're taking this house-building thing way too seriously.

PIG #2 (to PIG #3): Yeah. Mellow out, man.

PIG #3: Am I the only responsible pig around here? Look at this wolf. (points to Wolf) Don't you think he wants to eat us? Don't you think we need a nice, strong house made out of bricks to keep him out?

WITCH: Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt. (to Wolf) But aren't you the same wolf who was trying to eat Little Red's grandmother?

WOLF: Well...yes. What's your point?

RAPUNZEL: Her point is that we thought you had learned a lesson about this sort of thing, about the Golden Rule.

WOLF: Oh I did. Really. I'm just filling in for the Wolf in this story...he's got a cough and isn't able to huff and puff today.

PRINCE: You're a sub?

WOLF: Sure. You know, helping out a friend in need. I thought you'd be proud.

PIG #3: Does that mean you're not going to try to eat us?

WOLF: Oh, no. I'm still going to give it my best. Try hard. Persevere. I'm kind of a role model, don't you think?

PIG #3 (to other Pigs): See?

PIGS #1 and #2: Relax!

Song 4

Listen to a sample!

PIG #1:

Not bricks
Not bricks
They're way too heavy, dude
Use straw
Use straw
We'll finish fast then grab some food.
We'll grab some food.

PIG #2:

Not bricks
Not bricks
That's too much work you fool
Use sticks
Use sticks
We'll finish fast then hit the pool.
We'll hit the pool.

PIG #3:

Oh, I've got to do what I think's right
Straw and sticks are just too light
Only bricks are strong enough
To withstand Wolfie's huff and puff
So call me names but I won't bite
I've got to do
Got to do what I think's right.

WOLF:

Not bricks
Not bricks
They're way too strong and tough
Not bricks
Not bricks
I guess I'll leave now in a huff.
Leave in a huff.

PIGS and CHORUS:

Oh, I've got to do what I think's right
Straw and sticks are just too light
Only bricks are strong enough
To withstand Wolfie's huff and puff
So call me names but I won't bite
I've got to do
Got to do what I think's right.

(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)

The Songs

Click on any song to listen to a snippet. Click the cart icon to purchase any track for $1.

Standards

Character Education

Language Arts

  • Common Core Reading Standards for Literature: K1st2nd3rd4th5th
  • Common Core Reading Standards: Foundational Skills:
    • K and 1st: Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Word Recognition
    • 2nd: Phonics and Word Recognition
    • 3rd4th5th
  • Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration - 1st2nd3rd4th5th
  • Common Core Language Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use - 1st2nd3rd4th5th
  • Common Core Standard 10: Range, Quality & ComplexityRange of Text Types for K-5th

Social Studies

National Core Arts Standards

Vocabulary

mentoring
moderate (verb)
beloved
grudge
parlor
perseverance
Gucci
Dior
genes
poise
fowl
royal
breaking and entering
infield fly rule
"get your goat"
"see red"
vernal equinox
a "good egg"

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