- Why folks went west
- Daniel Boone
- The Louisiana Purchase
- Sacajawea with Louis and Clark
- The Trail of Tears
- The Oregon Trail
- California Gold Rush
- Farmers on the Prairie
- Transcontinental Railroad
- And of course, the exciting adventures of The Delivery Girl,
who introduces them all.
CHARACTERS:
FLEXIBLE
CASTING:
From 11-40 students.
Use as many Explorers, Discovery Guys, etc. as desired; one student can also play more
than one role. Note that all roles can be played by either boys or girls; see our comments
on page 35 of th e Teacher's Guide . |
Delivery Girl(s)
Daniel Boone and Explorers
Porter
James Monroe
Thomas Jefferson
St. Louis Man
Corps of Discovery Guys
Sacajawea
Cherokee
Wagon Family
49ers
Prairie Children
Union Pacific Crew
Central Pacific Crew
Chorus (made up of all students not playing roles at the time)
(KIDS move quickly back and forth across the stage, entering and exiting.
THEY carry suitcases, dufflebags, etc.in general they look like theyre in a
hurry and going some place. A DELIVERY GIRL enters with a package. SHE tries to stop
several people walking by, but they move swiftly past.)
DELIVERY GIRL (to one person): Excuse me, I was wondering
(to another person)
Pardon me, Im looking for
(to a third person)
Hey, do you know where I can find
(looking frustrated, SHE stops and shouts very loudly to no one in particular)
Has anybody here seen Daniel Boone?!
(EVERYONE stops and stares; people finally notice her)
PERSON #1: Daniel Boone? Hes been gone for weeks.
DELIVERY GIRL: But Ive got a package for him, special delivery. Here,
listen.
(SHE shakes box very hardrattling can be heard)
I think its cookies.
PERSON #2: Well hes long gone by now.
DELIVERY GIRL: But where did he go?
PERSON #1: Whered he go? Why he went where EVERYBODYS going.
DELIVERY GIRL: Where IS everybody going?
ENTIRE CLASS: West!
DELIVERY GIRL: West?
CLASS (sings): Song 1
Now so many people are leaving town
The dust is thick as fog
STUDENTS #1 and #2:
There goes my boss, there goes Aunt Jane
STUDENT #3:
And hey there goes my dog!
STUDENT #4:
Im trying to find a good place to farm
Where we can start anew
CLASS:
Now all the countrys westward bound
STUDENT #3:
My cat is packing too!
CLASS:
Were going West
Going West
Cant you see?
Destiny
Is manifest
Cause everyone is going West.
STUDENT #5:
I look for adventure and space to roam
STUDENT #6:
Im running from my debts
STUDENT #7:
Im looking for a pot of gold
STUDENT #3:
Im looking for my pets.
STUDENT #8:
Does anyone know the best place to go?
Or which route you should take?
STUDENT #9:
Has anybody checked a map?
STUDENT #3:
Has someone seen my snake?
CLASS (screams): Aaach!
Were going West
Going West
Cant you see?
Destiny
Is manifest
Cause everyone is going West
Cause everyone is going West
Cause everyone is going West.
(CLASS exits. DANIEL BOONE walks in, carrying an ax and wearing his famous coonskin cap.
He stops, looks all around, seems pleased and stops for a moment. He takes off his cap and
starts talking to it. At this point a student can mark on the map the move west towards
Louisville: see page 34.)
DANIEL BOONE: Well, Betsy, it looks like weve finally found some true wilderness.
Its getting so there just aint a decent spot that isnt all clogged
up with civilization. I think you and me can set up camp here and find some peace and
quiet.
DELIVERY GIRL (entering a few seconds later, excited): Daniel Boone! Daniel Boone!
Ive been looking all over the Appalachians for you.
DANIEL (quickly putting cap back on; to DELIVERY GIRL): Who are you?
DELIVERY GIRL: Ive got a box for you.
DANIEL: Howd you find me? Ive been tryin to avoid folks like you.
DELIVERY GIRL: I just followed your trailyou really ought to take a bath.
DANIEL: I did. Just three months ago.
(Taking off cap and talking to it.)
Must be you, Betsy.
(Putting back on cap)
That does it. Time to move onits getting crowded around here.
Oh I discovered yesterday
Song
2
Theres neighbors 50 miles away
Its hard to breath, Ive gotta flee
A man cant get no privacy.
I find some place not on the map
To hunt some deer and set some traps
I turn around, what do I find?
A swarm of people right behind!
(At the word SWARM, several WILDERNESS EXPLORERS enter, dressed just like
DANIEL BOONE)
DANIEL:
Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo):
Gotta get a move on
DANIEL:
Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo):
Gotta get a move on
DANIEL:
Leave me be or else I just might snap.
Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo):
Gotta get a move on
DANIEL:
Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo):
Gotta get a move on
DANIEL:
Its just me and my old coonskin cap.
Kentuckys just too cramped for me
Therere hundreds now in Tennessee
And every time I settle down
Some folks decide to build a town!
(More EXPLORERS could enter here)
DANIEL: Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo): Gotta get a move on
DANIEL: Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo): Gotta get a move on
DANIEL: Leave me be or else I just might snap.
Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo): Gotta get a move on
DANIEL: Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo): Gotta get a move on
DANIEL: Its just me and my old coonskin cap.
DANIEL and CHORUS:
Gotta get a move on
Gotta get a move on
Gotta get a move on
Gotta get a move on
DANIEL: Leave me be or else I just might snap.
Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo): Gotta get a move on
DANIEL: Gotta get a move on
EXPLORERS (echo): Gotta get a move on
DANIEL and CHORUS: Its just me and my old coonskin cap.
(exit)
(We now see a DELIVERY GIRL walking up to a very fancy door. SHE knocks. A PORTER
answers.)
PORTER: Yes?
DELIVERY GIRL: Ive got a package for James Monroe.
PORTER: Im sorry, but hes unavailable.
DELIVERY GIRL: Dont tell me HEs gone West too?
PORTER: No. Mr. Monroe is speaking with President Jefferson at the moment. In secret. Big
stuff. VERY big stuff. Hush, hush, very very secret.
DELIVERY GIRL: Can I listen in?
PORTER: Sure, come on in.
(MONROE and JEFFERSON enter, talking.)
MONROE: Mr. President, this is our chance. I think Napoleon will sell us the Louisiana
territoryall the land between the Mississippi and the Rockies.
(HE points it out on giant map)
JEFFERSON: What? Thats 800,000 square miles! I was thinking perhaps we could buy
just New Orleans, Florida, maybe get some of those little chocolate thingies in the
bargain.
MONROE: You mean truffles?
JEFFERSON: I LOVE those. And some toast. Nobody makes toast like the French.
MONROE: But Mr. Presidentthink of it. The Louisiana Purchase. Youd double the
size of the nation with one signature.
JEFFERSON: What about those truffles?
MONROE: Sure, we could get some them too!
Lets go to France and do some shopping
Song 3
Lets go to France and buy some stuff
Perfume, pastries, fancy clothes
The other folks can buy all those
We need land, we just cant have enough!
CLASS: La la la la
JEFFERSON and MONROE:
Lets go to France and do some shopping
Lets go to France and eat some snails
When the escargot are escargone
Lets buy the Rockies and beyond
I hear half the continents on sale!
Its just three cents an acre
Weve got that kind of dough
Well take 500 million
Please wrap em up to go.
JEFFERSON, MONROE, and CHORUS:
Lets go to France and do some shopping
Lets go to France and buy some land
JEFFERSON (shouted): And some truffles!
JEFFERSON, MONROE, and CHORUS:
The U.S. now is twice the size
That sure is one of our better buys
Lets head west and get ourselves a tan.
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la land.
(ALL exit. DELIVERY GIRL has a package.)
DELIVERY GIRL (walking along, shouting): Meriwether Lewis, Meriwether Lewis. I have a
package here for Meriwether Lewis.
MAN (approaching): Excuse me, but you arent looking for Meriwether Lewis, as in
Lewis and Clark the explorers, are you?
DELIVERY GIRL: Yes I am. Thats why Ive come to St. Louis.
MAN: But Lewis and Clark left a year ago, searching for the great Northwest passage, the
fabled water route from here to the Pacific.
DELIVERY GIRL: Nuts.
MAN: Excuse me?
DELIVERY GIRL: Ive got a box full of nuts for Mr. Lewis. Pecans. Cashews.
Theyre very good.
(Opening box, offering some to stranger)
Want one? I think therere some left.
MAN: No thanks.
DELIVERY GIRL (Walking on, shouting): Meriwether Lewis. Meriwether Lewis.
MAN: Didnt you hear me? Hes long gone.
DELIVERY GIRL: I know. But I love saying the word Meriwether.
MAN: I wonder how those two men and their Corps of Discovery are doing.
(CORPS OF DISCOVERY GUYS enter, looking pretty dirty and beat-up, talking to SACAJAWEA,
the Shoshone wife of one of the guides)
CORPS GUY #1: Please, Sacajawea. You were born in these parts. You can guide us through
the Shoshone territory.
SACAJAWEA: But it has been many years since I lived with the Shoshone.
CORPS GUY #2: We need your helpIm not sure Lewis and Clark know what
theyre doing.
CORPS GUYS:
Song 4
Looking for a northwest passage
Looking for the sea
Hoping that the hungry grizzlies
Arent looking for me.
Stumbling through a land uncharted
Its no walk in the park
Getting lost in America
with Lewis and Clark.
SACAJAWEA:
Maybe I can recall the land of my childhood.
Maybe I can recall the land of my childhood.
CORPS GUYS:
Looking for a water highway
Weve found lots of mud
Flees, tics, and immense mosquitoes
Theyve drained off our blood.
Seen so many wondrous creatures
We should have an ark
Getting lost in America
with Lewis and Clark.
SACAJAWEA:
Maybe I can recall the land of my childhood.
Maybe I can recall the land of my childhood.
CORPS GUYS:
Sacajawea please help us
Sacajawea lead the way
Sacajawea
Its so good to see ya
Give us some help today.
SACAJAWEA:
Ill help and well find the passage
We will find the sea
Read maps and consult your compass
Then just follow me.
SACAJAWEA, CORPS GUYS, CHORUS:
Stumbling through a land uncharted
Its no walk in the park
Getting lost in America
with Lewis and Clark.
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.
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| Vocabulary
Terms from Incredible Westward Movement |
pardon
anew
manifest destiny
roam
flee
truffle
escargot
acre
loom
sown
anchors aweigh
breeches
sodbuster
turf |
Historical
Terms
Appalachians
Napoleon
Mississippi
River
Rockies
The Louisiana
Purchase
Northwest
Passage
Shoshone
Cherokee
Trail of Tears
prairie schooner |
Willamette Valley
Cape
Horn
Donner
Party
transcontinental railroad
the golden spike
Vocabulary
From Stage Directions
dufflebag
swift
particular
coonskin |
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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.
"It was truly incredible! I read about the IWM in your
booklet and got some of the first scripts hot off the press. It fit in so well with our
curriculum and the boys absolutely loved it. Parents told us again and again that it was
the best kids' play they had ever seen. We loved the songs and the script. It was great
how the play had so many parts, allowing all of the kids to have significant (and our case
multiple) rolls to play. Everyone was a star!"
--- Kim Iorillo, Teacher (3rd grade), Brunswick School, Greenwich, CT
"Great! The easy-to-follow script, catchy songs, and added humor make the production
a delight for all (students, teachers, and parents!)"
--- Lisa Boothe, Teacher (3rd/5th grade), Carl Hankey School, Mission Viejo, CA
"The Incredible Westward Movement is a great history
program, with easy scenes and lots of characters. What a way to learn and remember
history. You can't get the songs out of your head. Personalities shine through music:
everyone gets a chance to be on stage."
---Jane Bishop, Teacher (4th grade), Broadwater School, Helena, MT
"There were many big parts and enough for everyone,
but no 'star' parts. The music was wonderful! The students loved it. The whole process was
a great learning experience."
---Robin Twombley, Teacher (K-6th grades), Roxbury Village School, Roxbury, VT
"The music is catchy, so the kids never forgot the lyrics. They learned key
concepts while having fun. I can't wit until the next one! I teach the kids in
the gifted program in my system. Some love to be center-stage while others have no
desire to perform solo. These plays allow me to give them opportunities to
participate at a level at which each chld is comfortable."
---Shelia Cain, Teacher, (1st-2nd grade, Gifted and Talented), Petham Elementary, Petham,
GA
"It was fun! We loved the songs and the best part was using our creativity to
make the play come to life with props, constumes, and actions. Performing was a
great highlight in our year! I found the play a great enrichment to our studies -
Everyone was a part of a great play and felt terrific about it. We always had
something to do as a time filler -sing!"
---Amy Piazzola, Teacher, (1st-5th grade), Numa School, Fallon, NZ
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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.
But if you're gonna go this route, we want each of you to have your own
copy of the Book/CD set.
There are three very good reasons:
Each of you will start with a real book and CD, on heavy-weight paper
with an easy-flip binding.
And your disc will have all the track numbers clearly marked for each song both with and
without
singing. The numbering alone will save you real time and frustration.
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. A $9.95 value.
Last but not least, you'll not be breaking any copyright rules.
One of our Book/CD sets costs $39.95, but if you purchase two, the price
drops to $30 each.
So the second play is only $20!
Questions? Call or email Ron Fink at (888) 827-8661 or ron@badwolfpress.com
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