Our musical review presents the
highlights of the great stampede of forty-niners to the California goldfields. From
Sutter's Mill to Mad Mule Gulch, Sacramento to Fiddletown, the land's gone nuts with Gold
Fever. Guiding us on our tour is the remarkable Luzena Wilson---wife, professional cook,
innkeeper, commodities gambler, banker, and founder of a city. So whether you set your
wagon on the Overland Trail, sail across Cape Horn, or wade across the swamps of Panama,
get yourself to the Mother Lode, where tents turn into jeans, a dozen eggs cost ten
dollars, and the mud's so deep the cows disappear. Gold Dust or Bust is
designed to fit directly into your U.S. and California history curriculum.
CHARACTERS:
FLEXIBLE
CASTING:
From 11-40 students.
Use as many Overlanders, Argonauts, Merchants, etc. as desired; one student can also play
more than one role. Note that roles are not gender-specific: Sam can easily be played by a
girl, for example; see our comments on page 30 of the Teacher's Guide . |
Luzena Wilson
Becky
John Sutter
James Marshall
Gold Fever Singers
Overlanders
Sam
Argonauts
Pan Miners
Carnival Barker
Johnny the Announcer
Children
Merchants
City Miners
and a Chorus made
up of all students who are not playing roles at the time.
(The CLASS enters from either side, or is already on stage in two groups. During several
short instrumental breaks in the song, the STUDENTS put together a giant map of California
on the back wall of the stage. The map has San Francisco and Sacramento labeled, as well
as the Gold Rush country outlined. )
HALF OF CLASS (sings) Song 1
Sleepy northern California
In 1848
We've got ranchos and steers
Just a few pioneers
And tons of real estate.
OTHER HALF OF CLASS:
Sleepy northern California
In 1848
There's no smog in the air
We've got grizzly bears
And we're not yet a state.
ENTIRE CLASS:
But grab your picks and shovels, friends
It's all gonna change real soon
Gold dust or bust
Gold dust or bust
Start singing a different tune.
Abandoned ships will fill the bay
They'll bob and float around
You can't keep the crews
When they hear the news that gold's been found.
Eggs will cost three dollars each
You'll live in just a shack
It's too much for some
But most who will come aren't going back.
So grab your picks and shovels, friends
It's all gonna change real soon
Gold dust or bust
Gold dust or bust
Start singing a different tune.
Gold dust or bust
Gold dust or bust
Gold dust or bust
Gold dust or bust.
(CLASS exits. LUZENA and BECKY step forward)
LUZENA (to audience): Hello. My name is Luzena Wilson. I was one of the first women to
come to California during the gold rush. This is my friend Becky, and we'll be your guides
today.
BECKY: You're in luck. It's January 24th, 1848, and we're near Sacramento at a new saw
mill owned by John Sutter. Luzena, you know what happened here on this fateful day?
LUZENA: I sure do.
BECKY: It's the day I discovered gold and started the gold rush. I was fishing for trout
and accidentally hooked a gold nugget the size of a Land Rover. The rest is history.
LUZENA: Becky, let's not start that again. (to audience)
Becky tends to lie a little bit.
BECKY: I remember it like it was yesterday. That nugget was putting up a heck of a fight.
I was using ten pound line and a peanut butter sandwich for bait when...
LUZENA (interrupting): Becky! We're here to watch a man named James Marshal discover gold
on land owned by John Sutter. Here they are.
(THEY step aside as MARSHALL rushes on stage from one side, racing up to SUTTER who enters
from the other.)
MARSHALL: Captain Sutter, Captain Sutter, I found gold near your saw mill.
SUTTER: Are you sure?
MARSHALL: Absolutely! I had it tested. You've got gold on your land. Gold! Gold!
SUTTER: Quiet down, Marshall. We need to keep this just between me and you. (sings)
SUTTER :
Song 2
It's our little secret
It's just between us
Our little secret
Let's not make a fuss.
SUTTER and MARSHALL:
Our little secret
We won't tell a soul
(THEY sing the last three words loudly)
Nobody needs to find out we found gold.
SUTTER, MARSHALL, and TWO OTHERS from CHORUS:
It's our little secret
We'll just tell our friends
Maybe a cousin
But that's where it ends.
SUTTER, MARSHALL, and FOUR OTHERS from CHORUS:
Our little secret
We don't have a doubt
No way our secret can ever get out.
We found gold
We found gold
We found gold
(quietly)
But it's a secret.
SUTTER, MARSHALL, and SIX OTHERS (quietly):
It's our little secret
So don't talk too loud
If we are careful
We won't draw a crowd.
ENTIRE CLASS (as many as possible crowding on stage):
Our little secret
No one here will cheat
We all are masters of being discreet.
HALF CLASS: OTHER HALF
of CLASS:
We found gold
We found gold
We found gold
We found gold
We found gold
We found gold
ENTIRE CLASS:
But it's a secret
(louder)
a secret
(louder)
a secret
(louder)
a secret...
It's our little secret
It's just between us
Our little secret
Let's not make a fuss.
Our little secret
We won't tell a soul
Nobody needs to find out we found gold.
(SUTTER and MARSHALL join class in exiting. LUZENA and BECKY enter)
LUZENA: Of course, the "secret" was soon out. In December of 1848, President
James Polk announced to the entire nation that huge amounts of gold had been found in
northern California.
BECKY: President Polk was a great man. He invented television, and so a grateful nation
named their favorite card game, poker, in his honor.
LUZENA: Becky, stop it. None of that is true. However, the entire nation did catch gold
fever. From New England to New Orleans, people dreamed of getting rich in California.
(THEY exit, as GOLD FEVER SINGERS appear)
GOLD FEVER SINGERS
Song 3
Gold fever
All over the place
Gold fever
A terrible case
Oh gold fever
It's deep in my chest
Gold fever
We've gotta go West.
I dream of golden nuggets (Do-be-do-bah)
Gold dust in golden buckets (Do-be-do-bah)
This bug is so outrageous (Do-be-do-bah)
It's terribly contagious
Do-be-deh-do-bah, la la la la.
Gold fever
All over the place
Gold fever
A terrible case
Oh gold fever
It's deep in my chest
Gold fever
We've gotta go West.
Song List
To hear a Real Audio song sample, click on
the titles that are underlined. To hear the same samples with Windows Media Player, click
on "Windows Media" near the name of the song. Please note that internet song
samples have very low fidelity and rest assured that the CDs we sell sound much better.
Problems hearing the music? Visit our Audio Help page.
Top of Page
| Vocabulary
Terms for Gold Dust or Bust |
steer
smog
pick
bob
shack
fuss
discreet
contagious
outrageous
shilling
King Midas
flocking
mighty
swell
oxen
golden fleece
|
bard
affluence
poverty
El Dorado
Mother Lode
saloon
burned-out
fetching
hauling
merchant
marvelous
barley
gratify
peter out
economically
feasible
thrive |
Historical Terms
rancho
pioneer
saw mill
James Polk
Overland Trail Sierras
mining camp
Native American California
hydraulic mining
Sam Clemens
Ernest Hemingway |
Top of Page
Teacher Reviews:
To submit your own review, just e-mail it to ron@badwolfpress.com
Be sure to include your school name and what grade you teach.
"Gold Dust or Bust cemented the gold rush for my class
- it's forever with them now! Next school year I'm moving to a 5/6 grade class and
can't wait to do another Bad Wolf Press musical. In fact, I've already had several
teachers and parents asking me where I got this play. It was fabulous - the kids
were superb, the music was wonderful and the parents loved it. Many, many thanks for
a great and easy production. Keep writing and composing!"
---Wendy Buchanan, Teacher, (3rd-4th grade), Vinewood School, Lodi, CA
"We loved the music---catchy tunes and lyrics with a cute, funny narrative.
Students learned their history via the songs. Very enjoyable! The show brings
the curriculum alive, encouraging cooperation as well as other life skills. It gives
the students a real sense of pride."
---Sheree Stenberg, Teacher (4th grade), Waldo Rohnert School, Rohnert Park, CA
"The recorded music is outstanding---the students loved it. The plays are great
for critical thinking. They build confidence, reading and language skills, and
develop a community of learners working together. I want to order all the
plays!"
---Paige Powell, Bathgate Elementary, Mission Viejo, CA
"The kids love it. There is a lot of content embedded
in the songs. I wasn't going to do it this year, but one of my colleagues really wanted
his kids to see it so he convinced me to do it."
---Vivian Chen, Teacher (4th grade) Multnomah Elementary, Los Angeles, CA
"My students learned state standards while singing,
dancing, and having a marvelous time. The musical allows students to have a positive
experience while learning facts, as well as making lasting memories with friends."
---Michelle Skidmore, Teacher (4th/5th grades) Ladera Ranch Elementary, Ladera Ranch, CA
Top of Page
Two of You are 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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