If you teach in a public school,
then you owe it to yourself, your students and their families to consider this play.
Teachers frequently try to celebrate the holiday season, but it's not easy to do so
without leaving someone out. "The Holiday Show" solves this problem with a true
multicultural perspective seen through the eyes of the goofy animals that tell the story.
This play honors both Christmas and Hanukkah (and introduces other winter celebrations as
well). We include five traditional songs, but we've also written a handful of songs about
the holidays from the animals' perspective. We've got a latke-loving bear, Christmas tree
stealing beavers, and a squirrel who wants to pull Santa's sleigh---not to mention
Superbadgers and some shady skunks. CHARACTERS:
FLEXIBLE
CASTING:
From 11-40 students.
Use as many beavers, skunks, etc as desired. One student can also play more than one role.
Note than roles are not gender-specific: with the simple change of a name, any part can be
played by a girl our a boy; see our comments on page 36 of the Teacher's Guide . |
Carolers (either one or two
groups)
Wolf
Owl
Goose
Moose
Rabbits
Family #1
Bear
Family #2
Beavers
Skunks
Squirrel
SuperBadgers
Kids
and a Chorus made up of all students who are not playing roles at the time.
(The CLASS is on stage. A handful of them are dressed as CAROLERS, standing in a little
half-circle facing the audience with caroling books in hand. The rest of students stand or
sit along the edges. They ALL begin singing:)
CLASS: Song 1
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
(At this point the WOLF begins creeping, slowly, from the
side of the stage towards the CAROLERS)
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
(WOLF is now quite close)
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a par...
(MUSIC and singing stop as CAROLERS see WOLF)
CAROLER (screaming in fright): Ahh, it's a wolf!
CAROLER: Wolf!
CAROLER: Wolf, run for your lives!
(CAROLERS run off, screaming. The WOLF looks puzzled. OWL and GOOSE enter quickly as WOLF
shouts:)
WOLF (to departing Carolers): Hey, come back!
(OWL, WOLF, and GOOSE run in)
OWL: Wolf, what happened? We heard screaming.
WOLF: Owl, did you see that? I just wanted to join in the caroling. You know I love
caroling.
OWL: They looked terrified.
GOOSE (looking and then pointing at audience): But these people dont look terrified.
They look relieved.
OWL: Of course theyre relieved. They thought theyd have to listen to all
twelve days of Christmas. Wolf spared them eight days.
WOLF: This just isnt my winter. Im cold. I think of those warm fires inside
the houses in townmakes me wish my side of the family had been domesticated.
OWL (pointing to GOOSE): You could always make a down comforter out of Goose over here.
GOOSE: Thats not funny. Not funny at all. You know Im always nervous this time
of year. Thanksgiving to New Years is a troubling time for edible fowl. .
WOLF: Hey, isnt that Moose running up the hill?
OWL: Yes it is! Ive never seen him move so fast.
MOOSE (entering, out of breath): Run for you life! Theyve gone crazy. Hurry!
OWL: What are you talking about?
MOOSE: The people in the town. Theyre doing terrible things!
GOOSE: What is it? Did they try to roast you? I hate that.
MOOSE: No. Worse! I heard this pounding. I looked up on top of a house, and there in full
view, a guy was nailing twelve reindeer to a roof! Why didnt they try to run away?
OWL: Moose, they werent real reindeer.
MOOSE: Maybe there were hypnotized.
GOOSE: They werent real reindeer, Moose.
MOOSE: What?
WOLF: Its just part of the holiday celebration.
MOOSE: Whats that mean?
OWL: Oh my gosh! Moose, this is your first winter, isnt it?
MOOSE: Well, yeah.
GOOSE: Interesting things happen this time of year.
MOOSE: What do you mean?
OWL: (shouting) Forest animals! Come out! Moose needs us!
ENTIRE CLASS (except MOOSE):
Song
2
Gotta tell the moose
Gotta introduce
The winter holidays
People down in town
Running all around
Each year the same ol craze.
See them up at dawn
Busy on the lawn
Arranging plastic sleighs
Gotta tell the moose
Gotta introduce
The winter holidays.
Gotta tell our mate
How they celebrate
The winter holidays.
Running out to shop
Cooking til they drop
Theyre in a manic phase
Latkes to prepare
Potatoes everywhere
Grating til their eyes glaze
Gotta tell the moose
Gotta introduce
The winter holidays.
Thanksgiving and Hanukkah bring out the cheer
Christmas and Kwanzaa and happy New Year!
See them up at dawn
Busy on the lawn
Arranging plastic sleighs
Gotta tell the moose
Gotta introduce
The winter holidays.
The winter holidays.
(CLASS exits; OWL, WOLF, GOOSE, and MOOSE begin walking)
OWL: Come on, Moose. Lets go down to town and see what the people are doing.
GOOSE: Are you sure thats a good idea? What if theyre hungry? Maybe we should
take some chocolates for them just in case.
(RABBIT #1 hops in)
WOLF: Oh, hello, Rabbit.
RABBIT #1: Hello.
OWL: Were off to teach Moose about holidays.
WOLF (to RABBIT #2, entering with huge carrot): Hello, Rabbit.
RABBIT #2: Im trying to defrost this carrot. You dont have a microwave, do
you?
OWL: Do I look like I have a microwave?
MOOSE: There are so many people in town these days. Where do they all come from?
OWL: Its the holidays. Friends and family gather together.
WOLF (to RABBIT #3, entering): Hello, Rabbit.
RABBIT #3: Youre telling me about family gatherings. You wouldnt believe our
place this time of year.
MOOSE: There sure are a lot of you Rabbits around today.
RABBIT #4 (hopping in): There sure are. Big family reunion!
RABBITS:
Song 3
Thirty five uncles
Forty two aunts
All want to kiss me
All want to dance.
Seventeen siblings
Nephews galore
Usually by New Years
Theres two dozen more.
Woh woh woh woh woh woh
Woh woh woh woh woh woh
Family time
Family time
I love that family time.
Fifty four cousins
At each others throat
All watching TV
With just one remote.
Time for some soccer
Theres more than we need
Got enough family
To form a whole league.
RABBIT #1 (shouts): Hey, lets do our Family Dance!
(RABBITS do lovely hopping dance during instrumental)
RABBITS and CHORUS:
Woh woh woh woh woh woh
Woh woh woh woh woh woh
Family time
Family time
I love that family time.
(RABBITS exit)
OWL: Come on, Moose. Lets go peak inside a houseI want you to see the
Christmas decorations.
MOOSE: Decorations?
GOOSE: You know. Trees and stuff.
MOOSE: They put trees inside their houses?
WOLF: I think its so the dogs dont have to go out in the cold.
OWL: Here, just look through this windowthe people are fixing things up.
(FAMILY #1 with Christmas decorations appears and sings:)
FAMILY #1:
Song 4
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel.
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
FAMILY and CHORUS:
See the blazing Yule before us.
ONE MEMBER OF FAMILY:
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
FAMILY and CHORUS:
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
ONE MEMBER OF FAMILY:
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
FAMILY and CHORUS:
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
While I tell of Yuletide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
(FAMILY exits)
MOOSE: That looks like great fun. Ive never decked a hall with anything. I
didnt even know you could deck a hall.
GOOSE: Me either.
WOLF: I decked an obnoxious hedgehog once.
(BEAR enters)
OWL: Thats not the same.
(Seeing BEAR)
Bear! What are YOU doing up? Arent you supposed to be hibernating?
BEAR: Not yetnot until I get some latkes.
MOOSE: Latkes?
GOOSE: Potato pancakes--folks eat them for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. And
theyre meat free!
BEAR (getting excited): Lovely shredded potatoes. Savory onions. A dash of salt and
pepper. A little flour to compose a masterpiece.
OWL: Calm down, Bear. You always overdo it with the latkes.
BEAR (lost in salivation): Fried up golden brown, crispy yet tender, in hot oil. Wait! Did
you hear that?
WOLF: What?
BEAR: Listen.
(THEY listen. Nothing.)
Theyre calling me.
MOOSE: Who?
BEAR: The latkes. Bear, theyre saying, were waiting. Bear,
come get us while were still really hot. Ive gotta go.
(BEAR exits)
MOOSE: Bear said something about Hanukkah. Who s that?
WOLF: Its another holiday. Here, look in that window.
MOOSE (HE sees a menorah without candles): Ooh! Theyve got a really tiny tree with
eight curving branches.
OWL: Thats not a tree. Thats a menorah. Its for Hanukkah. Take a look.
MOOSE (looking more closely): It must be hard to drink out of all those little cups.
GOOSE: Those arent for water, silly. Theyre for candles.
WOLF: They light one candle the first night of Hanukkah, then two on the second, until on
the eighth night all of them are lit.
OWL: Listen, theyre singing the Hanukkah Song.
(FAMILY #2 appears, singing)
FAMILY #2:
Song 5
Oh Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah, come light the Menorah,
Lets have a party, well all dance the hora.
Gather round the table, well give you a treat.
Dreidles to play with, latkes to eat.
Gather round the table, well give you a treat.
Dreidles to play with, latkes to eat.
FAMILY# 2 and CHORUS:
And while we are playing,
The candles are burning low.
One for each night, they shed a sweet light,
To remind us of days long ago;
One for each night, they shed a sweet light,
To remind us of days long ago.
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 from The Holiday Show |
partridge
turtle dove
French hen
spared
domesticated
down comforter
edible
fowl
hypnotized
celebration
craze
arranging
manic
phase
latke
defrost
league
boughs
holly
don
apparel
troll
Yuletide
blazing
obnoxious
hibernating |
savory
masterpiece
menorah
hora
dreidl
shed
beaver dam
outfitted
carbs
abs
pecs
burly
seams
nose job
buff
Latvia
peril
Hebrew
A great miracle happened there.
slumped
expand
foil |
kinara
principles
kin
figgy pudding
expert
bunk
handbook
trunk
subsection
flunk
Vocabulary
From Stage Directions
mock
instrumental
disbelief
phony
fanfare
style
striking
pose
slickly
salivation
creeping
handful |
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.
"The Holiday Show is my personal
favorite. It's very teacher friendly. I love doing plays. It's a form of art. It's good
for students to perform and step out a little. Students learn to work together as a
team."
---Nina Christie, Teacher (5th/6th grade), Stoneridge School, Roseville, CA
"Had to let you know what a successful
Holiday Show my second graders just performed! Every parent attended. Many compliments
given for a funny, wonderful program. Parents and students loved the catchy tunes. I
transformed baseball caps into characters. This was my first big production after 19 years
of teaching. I plan to do more! This was life transforming event in my special needs
students. I am so glad to stumble across you on the internet. Again, thank you for
writing a teacher and student friendly script."
---Nancy Elder, Teacher (2nd grade) Paloma School, Temecula, CA
"Everyone wanted to learn all the
songs---we're still singing the Beavers' song in May! I liked the ease with which we could
add songs and characters like Las Posades. It's hard to find something that 10-15 teachers
all like---our school has done almost all of your plays."
---Cindy Ursprung, Teacher (K-5th grade), 93rd Street Elementary, Los Angeles, CA
"The show was fantastic! We did it for
our whole school (gr. 1-3) and for the paresnts. We had many positive comments and great
feedback. I love the music!"
---Michele Cooper, Teacher (3rd grade) Port Colden School, Washington, NJ
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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