Song Samples
Full Song List
1. The Band Went Green
2. You Threw Me Away
3. Everyone Wins
4. Plant a Salad
5. eBay
6. Rejection
7. Save a Little Bit
8. Four Green Rs
9. Leave Me in the Driveway
10. The Band Went Green (reprise)
Casting
Flexible casting from 11-40 students.
Use as many Water Bottles, Banana Skins, French
Fries, etc as desired; one student can easily play
several roles. Note that all roles can be played by
either boys or girls; see our comments on page 35
of the Teacher's Guide.
Script
This is the first one-third of the script:
CHARACTERS:
Beatrice (the Moderately Good Witch of the North)
Danielle (member of rock band)
Josh (member of rock band)
Lenny (member of rock band)
Plastic Water Bottles (2)
Banana Skins (3)
French Fry
Chicken Nugget
Styrofoam Container
Bicycles (2)
Light Bulb
Air Conditioner
Refrigerator
Fish (2)
Green Rs (3)
SUV
and a CHORUS composed of all students who are not playing
roles on stage at the time.
(ENTIRE CLASS gathers, faces the audience, and sings.)
Song 1 -
Listen now!
Once there was a rock band
About to call it quits
Their tunes were uninspired
Their lyrics were the pits.
The drummer had no rhythm
The singer had no range
They had no way of knowing
That everything would change...
The night, the night, the night the band went green
The band went green
You should have seen what happened on the night the band went green.
The tour bus had a breakdown
The driver disappeared
The forest started talking
And that's when things got weird.
They heard from plastic bottles
They chatted with some fish
They listened to a Hummer
And helped him get his wish.
The night, the night, the night the band went green
The band went green
You should have seen what happened on the night the band went green.
(During the instrumental, DANIELLE, JOSH, and LENNY
can wander across the stage, looking lost. A large banner at
the back of the stage/classroom can be rolled out that shows
a forest, or the title of the show, or both.)
The night, the night, the night the band went green
The band went green
You should have seen what happened on the night the band went green.
(CLASS exits. DANIELLE, JOSH, and LENNY are standing in front of a
forest.
THEY look around to find somewhere comfortable to sit. During the opening
dialogue, JOSH drinks from a plastic water bottle, LENNY eats a banana.
THEY
don't notice BEATRICE, who enters, looks at the three of them, shakes
her
head, and addresses the audience.)
BEATRICE (to audience, pointing to the BAND): Will you look at them!
The
most pathetic rock band in history. Or what's left of it. Their keyboard
player quit last night‹they were booed off the stage at Britnie
Mango¹s
sweet 16 birthday party.
DANIELLE (to other band members): I can't believe Carla walked out on
us.
JOSH: I can¹t believe they have rotten tomatoes at birthday parties.
LENNY: I can't believe what good arms those kids had.
BEATRICE: Do they have talent? Sure! They're just missing something.
Something to get them fired up. And now I¹ve arranged for their
van to break
down. They¹ll have to spend the night camping in this forest.
DANIELLE: Carla was the only one who knew how to fix the van. What do
we do
now?
JOSH (looking around): These trees are creepy. They're all natural and
stuff.
LENNY: You don¹t think they have squirrels in here, do you? They'll
drag
you off while you sleep and stuff you in a tree. Then they eat you in
winter.
BEATRICE: They've got a lot to learn. Oh, excuse me, I haven't introduced
myself.
I'm Beatrice, the Moderately Good Witch of the North. I used to be
the Good Witch of the North, but I got demoted. Don't ask. But I'm working
on my rehabilitation. This band is my ticket back to full goodness. You
just
watch.
(SHE exits)
JOSH (finishes water, throws bottle carelessly off-stage): Well, if
we're
stuck here, maybe we should practice our songs.
DANIELLE: Don't throw your bottle away like that.
JOSH: Nobody's gonna care. We're all alone.
LENNY: You sure? I thought I heard something.
DANIELLE: We need some new songs.
JOSH: And a new keyboard player.
LENNY: And some puppets.
DANIELLE: What for?
LENNY: I don¹t know. I¹ve always wanted a puppet.
JOSH (standing up): I'm going to get my guitar. I'll be right...
(HE stops mid-sentence; freezes,
points off-stage in the direction he
threw the bottle)
What's that? No way! Those are giant...
LENNY (screams): Squirrels! I knew it! Run for your lives!
DANIELLE: Wait! They're...they're plastic water bottles!
(TWO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES enter)
BOTTLE #1: That's right!
LENNY: They're talking plastic water bottles!
BOTTLE #2: You seem surprised.
JOSH: It's impossible.
BOTTLE #1: Hey, you're the one who threw me away.
JOSH: You? You were a lot smaller then. And I only tossed out one bottle.
Where'd you find your, uh, friend?
BOTTLE #2: Oh, we're everywhere. Americans throw out more than 60 million
plastic bottles each day.
BOTTLE #1: And less than a quarter of them get recycled.
LENNY: So how can you can move and talk?
BOTTLE #1: I don't know. One minute I was just another inert piece of
trash, and here I am, a talking plastic bottle.
DANIELLE: It's like a Disney nightmare.
BOTTLE #2: The nightmare here is all this waste. Plastic. Glass. Aluminum.
Paper. We can all be made into wonderful new stuff instead of filling
up
landfills and forests. Just recycle.
BOTTLE #1: Yeah.
(dreamily)
I've always wanted to come back as a park bench.
(To JOSH)
You're crushing my dreams, man.
BOTTLE #2 (to JOSH): You're not the only one with feelings, you know.
Song 2 -
Listen now!
BOTTLES:
You threw me away like I was nothing
You tossed me aside like I was dirt
You could have used a cup
Instead you used me up
You ditched me and you wonder why I'm hurt?
You threw me away like I was nothing
You tossed me aside like I was dirt
Just one recycling bin
And I'd come back again
As tables or a yo-yo or a shirt.
Got a thirst? Well you can kill it
Keep one bottle and refill it
Straighten out your moral compass
Don't buy bottles and then dump us!
You threw me away like I was nothing
You tossed me aside like I was dirt
You say you¹ve got big plans
For all your soda cans
But we know you are just a little flirt.
BOTTLES and CHORUS:
Got a thirst? Well you can kill it
Keep one bottle and refill it
Straighten out your moral compass
Don't buy bottles and then dump us!
Shoo doo n doo Shoo doo n bah dee yooh
Shoo doo n bah
Shoo doo n doo dee
Don't buy bottles, don't buy bottles
Shoo beee yooh.
(THEY FINISH SONG and start to leave stage.)
BOTTLE #1 (as it exits): And take your own bags to the market!
BOTTLE #2 (also exiting, shouts and thrusts fist into the air): Power
to
our plastic brothers and sisters everywhere!
(THEY are gone. BEATRICE enters (the BAND can now
see HER.)
JOSH (startled; to BEATRICE): Hey, who are you? If you're that soda
can I tossed out of the van a few days ago, I can explain.
BEATRICE: I'm Beatrice, the Moderately Good Witch of the North.
DANIELLE: Moderately good?
BEATRICE: I used to be good, but there was a little incident. I brought
you
to this enchanted forest so you could learn to take better care of the
earth. Tonight you will have seven more mysterious visits.
JOSH: Like big plastic bottles?
BEATRICE: Seven more visits. It's very important to me, and to you---
and to the earth---that you pay attention.
(SHE exits.)
DANIELLE: That is one strange witch.
LENNY: I figure I¹m just hallucinating. Like that time I thought
I was
having pancakes at IHOP with Abraham Lincoln.
JOSH: Well, your hallucinations are about to come say hello to you.
Look!
(He points to the other side of the stage, where three
BANANA SKINS are entering.)
DANIELLE: Oh my gosh! Those are banana skins! Lenny, those are your
banana skins come to life!
LENNY: No! It can't be. Not...
(HE pauses dramatically)
...enchanted fruit!
BANANA SKIN #1 (to JOSH): What's the matter? You don't think
we have "appeal"?
(Pronounces "appeal" carefully, "a-peel," so the
pun is heard.)
I just love that one. It never gets old.
BANANA SKIN #2: Yes it does, man.
BANANA SKIN #1: Are you kidding me?
BANANA SKIN #3: It is a bit predictable. And you say it every five minutes.
SKIN #1: You've got something better? I mean, I'm working with limited
material here. Bananas don't have seeds, or a core, or a pit. Now there
are
some good puns with pits.
SKIN #2: Stop worrying about it, man. Mellow out.
SKIN #3: Yeah. Let's grab some garbage and go sit in a compost pile
for a
couple weeks.
SKIN #1: So what are we supposed to do while we¹re waiting to decompose?
SKIN #2: Just relax! Feel the warmth.
SKIN #3: Enjoy the company. Half the trash a family normally throws
away
can be composted along with us.
SKIN #2: What's better than sitting back, rotting away into organic
material to help things grow?
SKIN #1: You're right. That does have appeal!
Song 3 -
Listen now!
BANANA SKINS:
Everyone wins
Everyone wins
People, the whole earth, and banana skins
Fill up those bins
Bring out the grins
When you are composting everyone wins.
Pile up some dry grass clippings for some carbon
And for some nitrogen use kitchen waste
And then go throw in some old tea bags
Then season it to taste.
SKIN #2 (shouted): Just kidding!
Everyone wins
Everyone wins
People, the whole earth, and banana skins
Fill up those bins
Bring out the grins
When you are composting everyone wins.
Now add some nice dry leaves and paper towels
Toss in some apples rotten to the core
And if you need a final garnish
Well that's what junk mail¹s for.
SKIN #3 (shouted): But not the glossy stuff!
SKINS and CHORUS:
Everyone wins
Everyone wins
People, the whole earth, and banana skins
Fill up those bins
Bring out the grins
When you are composting everyone wins.
When you are composting everyone wins.
(THEY exit.)
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
Additional Comments and Reviews:
"I just finished reading The Environmental Show and I must say
it is
brilliant and laugh-out-loud funny! I can't wait to use it with my students!
I love the message: we can all play a part in making our planet a better
place. Even kids can help save our planet by taking small actions such
as
recycling, not leaving the water running when they brush their teeth, or
simply shutting off the light when they leave the room. Thank you for putting
out meaningful plays that my students can get excited about!"
---Theresa Hollinsky, Teacher, Ojibwa Elementary, Macomb MI
"We had done many plays and musicals with our K-6th graders over
the years, and
I just wanted to let you know that this was the best show that we have
ever put on! We loved the music and it was hysterically funny. The message
was great -- it got us
composting the veggies and fruits from our lunches and recycling everything.
Parents, grandparents, and teachers said it was the most professional,
fun and lively
production they had ever seen from kids (including high school!)."
---Julie Bookwalter, Teacher (K-6th grades), UC Irvine Extended Day Center,
Irvine, CA
"By far the most well received and most enjoyable to direct of
the many Bad Wolf
plays I have produced. It's funny, makes its stewardship point, and the
kids loved
the plot line. The parents came out to pack the auditorium and offered
assistance
before, during and after each performance."
---Vince J. Rosato, Teacher (4th grade), Searles Elementary, Union City,
CA
"It was a huge hit, and the kids loved performing it."
---Gayle, Teacher (6th grade), Cambridge Christian School, Tampa, FL
"As always, kids and adults love the humor and the variety of styles
is great music
experience for students."
---Blythe Shelley, Teacher (4th and 5th grades), Mary Collins School at
Cherry Valley, Petaluma, CA
"What fun! The kids loved it. The audience was even the singing
the songs as they left.
Parents told me they learned a lot and that they liked the information."
---Shelly Trumpey, Teacher (3rd grade), Farley Hill Elementary, Pinckney,
MI
"A wonderful way for our fourth graders to participate in a green
project at our school.
Teachers, parents and students loved the songs."
---Ann Campbell, Teacher (4th grade), Englewood Elementary, Tuscaloosa,
AL
"Fun to learn songs! Upbeat music with a great message! My class
really enjoyed
performing and staging this production"
---Diane Esten, Teacher (5th grade), St. George's Episcopal Day School,
Clarksdale, MS
"Great environmental play to teach about saving our earth. Kids
enjoyed it too!"
---Shannon Gerik, Teacher (4th and 5th grades), Columbus Elementary,
Columbus, TX
"Fabulous! Amazing dialogue and music. Every single song is terrific.
Bravo, this
is your best one yet. Can't wait to see what else you have in store."
---Evelyn Pike, Music Teacher, Elmwood School, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Wolf Products and Licensing
How does your pricing and licensing work?
A: In short: each teacher/director using the play should have a copy of it. That's it! Your purchase gives you the right to use the play with as many classes as you wish, to photocopy the script for your actors, and to put on as many performances as you wish. This one-time purchase gives you a lifetime license. See below for more information on site licenses (for 3+ teachers or whole schools).
Q: What comes in the package?
A: Every musical play comes with the script and a 12-page Teacher's Guide that provides lots of tips and advice for using the play from start to finish. It also includes the audio recording for the play, which has all the songs both WITH and WITHOUT vocals. Sheet music is NOT included with the basic package, but it is available for $12. Extra/replacement CDs are also available for $12.
Every non-musical play comes with the script and the 12-page Teacher's Guide.
Q: I'm just one teacher putting on a play. If I use the play with multiple classes, do I have to purchase multiple licenses?
A: No! Your purchase gives you a lifetime license to be used with as many actors and classes as you wish. If other teachers/directors wish to use the play as well, they will need to purchase their own licenses.
Q: Do I need to purchase scripts for students?
A: No! Your purchase includes permission to photocopy the script for your actors.
Q: What is a "site license"? How do I know if I need one?
A site license is the economical choice when a whole school or grade level wants to put on the same play. Instead of each teacher/director having to purchase a script, the school/site can purchase
a site license. This comes with three copies of the play (or one digital download) and permission to make copies for any additional participating teachers, as well as all the actors. You do NOT need to purchase both a site license and individual copies of the play; just buy one or the other.
Q: I understand that I can get two or more scripts for $35 each. Do they have to be the same play?
Nope! The discount applies whether you are purchasing multiple copies of the same show or single copies of multiple shows.
Q: What is the difference between the printed and digital versions? Which one should I get?
There is no difference in terms of content. The printed version of a musical play comes with an audio CD in a plastic sleeve in the back of the book. The digital version comes with two downloadable files: the script (PDF format) and the songs (individual MP3 files compressed in ZIP format). The advantage of the digital version is that you will not pay shipping and you can start using it instantly. Please read the question following this one about the technical requirements for digital files.
Non-musical plays are available in the form of a printed book or a PDF file.
Q: What are the technical requirements for the digital version?
- You will need to have Adobe Reader (free) or another software application that can open PDF files.
- You will need to be able to open ZIP files. The vast majority of computers should be able to do this without difficulty. If you wish to download the music directly to your phone or tablet, you will need to download an app that will open ZIP files. Many free ones are available.
- You will need to have some kind of audio player (such as iTunes or Windows Media Player) that will play MP3 files.
Advanced technical knowledge is not required; but please note that we do not have the ability to offer technical support for issues related to digital files. If you are unsure, it is probably best to stick with the printed version.
Q: What is your return/exchange policy?
A: Bad Wolf proudly offers a 100% guarantee. You can always exchange a product for another or get a full refund. No time limits, no questions.
Q: Is it OK if I edit the script?
A: Yes! Consider the play to be a jumping-off point. You are always welcome to change or omit anything that doesn't work for your class, administration, or parents. You are welcome to rewrite
lyrics, lines, or jokes -- or add your own! (The kids love doing this, by the way.)
Q: How long does shipping take?
A: We say that you should allow for one week within the U.S., but most orders are shipped the same day and arrive 1-3 days later. International orders usually take around two weeks to arrive.
Q: Do I need to pay any performance royalties?
A: As long as your admission price is less than $5 per ticket, you never need to pay performance royalties with a Bad Wolf show. If you decide to charge more than $5 a ticket, or if you are using one of our plays for a PAID workshop, camp, assembly, etc., pay only a low 1-2% royalty on gross revenues. See our royalty page to view the rates and pay.