At last---a classroom holiday show
with dancing cranberries!
Thanksgiving is in danger of being cancelled because of some extremely dissatisfied
poultry. While negotiations go on around the clock---an event covered by TV reporters and
influenced by ambitions members of the Squash family---students learn about the historical
origins and the real meaning of the holiday. CHARACTERS:
FLEXIBLE
CASTING:
From 11-40 students. Use as many Turkeys, Pilgrims, etc. as desired. |
TV Reporters
Turkeys
Pilgrims (Group One)
Mediators
Arbitrators
Squash
Pilgrims (Group Two)
Coach and Football Players
The Publics (John Q., Jane Q., and daughter Susie Q.)
Cranberries
Native Americans
Kid in the Audience
Chorus (comprised of ALL students who are not directly involved
in the scene)
TV REPORTERS :
Song 1
We are TV reporters
We've got TV style
We wear TV jackets
And a big TV smile.
We are TV reporters
We've got a big scoop
Have we got a story
Of who's flown the coup!
TV REPORTERS and CHORUS:
Thanksgiving's canceled!
We can't help but shout
Thanksgiving's canceled
The turkeys walked out!
TV REPORTERS:
We are TV reporters
We've got TV style
We wear TV jackets
And a big TV smile.
We are TV reporters
We're broadcasting live
We're waiting right here
For the birds to arrive.
TV REPORTERS and CHORUS:
Thanksgiving's canceled!
We can't help but shout
Thanksgiving's canceled
The turkeys walked out!
TV REPORTERS:
The turkeys walked out
CHORUS: Can't get much worse
The turkeys walked out
CHORUS: You heard it first.
The turkeys walked out
CHORUS: Can't get much worse
The turkeys walked out
CHORUS: You heard it...
TV REPORTERS and CHORUS:
Thanksgiving's canceled
We can't help but shout
Thanksgiving's canceled
The turkeys walked out!
REPORTER: This is a truly amazing story, viewers. Oh, here come the Turkeys.
(Holds out microphone to TURKEYS as
they enter)
Tell us, is it true? Have you really abandoned Thanksgiving?
TURKEYS :
Song
2
According to some
Us turkeys is dumb
For making this bother and fuss.
But this time each year
We all disappear
And that seems suspicious to us.
So eat sweet potatoes
And big red tomatoes
And all the stuffing that you like
But you can't have turkey
No there's no more turkey
'Cause all of us turkeys are on strike.
So now we must howl
That something is fowl
We're not sure that it's a fair deal.
'Cause each year we've found
No turkeys around
After the holiday meal.
TURKEYS and CHORUS:
So eat sweet potatoes
And big red tomatoes
And all the stuffing that you like
But you can't have turkey
No there's no more turkey
'Cause all of us turkeys are on strike.
'Cause all of us turkeys are on strike.
REPORTER: I promise you viewers, we'll get to the bottom of this. I've arranged an
exclusive interview with some of the original pilgrims from Plymouth rock.
(To PILGRIMS entering)
Howdy, Pilgrims! I understand that voyage back in 1621 was a rough one.
PILGRIMS
:
Song
3
For sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
We sailed on our voyage of hope
Just one set of clothes and one pair of shoes
And nobody brought any soap.
So we rarely washed and we never flossed
And that's our most serious gripe
After sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
We started to smell pretty ripe.
For sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
The ocean was angry and mean
Our vessel was tossed, our stomachs were churned
We all turned a nice shade of green.
The biscuits were hard, the water went bad
The meat was as tender as wood
After sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
Oh, did the New World look good.
The biscuits were hard, the water went bad
The meat was as tender as wood
After sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
Oh, did the New World look good.
REPORTER: Bad news, viewers. It doesn't look like the Turkeys are going to budge from
their position. The whole situation looks hopeless. Wait a minute! Who are you?
MEDIATORS (entering):
Song 4
We are the mediators
Yes, yes, yes, the mediators
CHORUS: Tell us, tell us, what do you do?
What do we do?
CHORUS: What do you do?
We negotiate this
And conciliate that
We can bring peace between dogs and cats.
CHORUS: Hurrah hurrah, hurrah hurrah
Step back, give them room
REPORTER: This is great news! But wait, who are YOU?
ARBITRATORS (entering):
We are the arbitrators
Yes, yes, yes, the arbitrators
CHORUS: Tell us, tell us, what do you do?
What do we do?
CHORUS: What do you do?
We negotiate that
And conciliate this
We can make dogs and cats want to kiss.
CHORUS: Hurrah hurrah, hurrah hurrah
Step back, give them room.
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
| Vocabulary
Terms from Turkeys Go On Strike |
coop
fuss
strike
fowl
exclusive
Plymouth rock
gripe
churned
budge
conciliate
advisory |
council
zucchini
surveyed
intercepted
“John Q. Public”
steady
development
“second fiddle”
solidarity
resolution
crisis
gobble
|
Vocabulary
From Stage Directions
various
pedagogical
encourage |
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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 Turkeys Go On Strike was great fun.
Everyone got into the spirit. The songs are extremely clever and give the kids a chance to
ham it up. I was surprised at how they did the Cranberry song, for instance with such
flair. You don't dumb it down---the humor is sophisticated so it makes a great experience
for the audience."
---Betty Carlson, Teacher (3rd grade), Heartwood Elementary, Lakewood, WA
This musical is fabulous! I used it with 60
third-grade kids (call me crazy) and was able to group and cast different parts with them.
Each child was highlighted in a small singing group, and some had speaking roles. The
music and songs are catchy and fun. I highly recommend this musical!
---Kathy Reynolds, Teacher (3rd grade), Muir Elementary, San Jose, CA
"After performing 'The Turkeys Go On
Strike' in November, my class bonded instantly and worked as a team! It was great. My shy
students shined in speaking parts and wanted to do more. I also love hearing the kinds
sing the songs during recess."
Denise Klinovsky, Teacher (4th/5th grades), Sumner-Danbury Elementary, Claremont, CA
"I liked the originality, humor, and
developmentally appropriate lyrics and music...'The Turkeys Go On Strike' is the cutest
play we have ever produced, and we do lots of plays. Each child was a star!"
---Diane Lumpkin, Teacher (1st grade), Darlington Lower School, Rome, GA
"Whew! What a great experience! Yesterday
afternoon and last night my fourth-grade class performed 'The Turkeys Go On Strike.' It
was incredible. I want to thank you for writing such wonderful, creative plays with such
great guidelines and helpful tips...I was praised up and down by all of the parents. But a
lot of that praise should go to you. The musical was very well-written, very humorous and
fun...The kids would help each other. They would find another student to work with...they
were getting so much language...and the unity it built! And it's great
P.R. for the school!
---Tracy Granlund, Teacher (4th grade) Mid-County Christian School, Aptos, CA
"I loved the length of the play and the
tape having both music with lyrics and music with out lyrics. It had great songs,
and was easy to adapt to the different numbers of class sizes. It was a great
community building activity, good for developing performance/public speaking skills.
It is confidence building, and a fun way to support/extend learning."
---Judy Nachlas, Teacher, (4th grade), Christiansburg Elementary, Christiansburg, VA
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