Song Samples
Full Song List
1. "Gold Dust or Bust" (opening)
2. "Our Little Secret"
3. "Gold Fever"
4. "The Overland Trail"
5. "We’re Argonauts"
6. "Just One Pan Away"
7. "We are the Children of Miners"
8. "We’re Merchants"
9. "The Winter-time Blues"
10. "Gold Dust or Bust"(ending)
Casting
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 .
Script
This is the first one-third of the script:
CHARACTERS:
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.)
Song 1
HALF OF CLASS (sings)
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)
Song 2 -
Listen now!
SUTTER :
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
ames 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)
Song 3 -
Listen now!
GOLD FEVER SINGERS
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.
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
Additional Comments and Reviews:
"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
"Gold Dust or Bust sticks to the curriculum extremely well. People go away with the songs stuck in their heads! The humor is the clincher. Makes me want to do your plays year after year!
I think the play helps tremendously with the retention of information. The kids can connect the concepts (standards) easily with the songs, movements, dialogue, and of course, the rehearsals! It also was a great way to get the parents to come to our school (community involvement). Our principal was impressed that we had a full house on the day of the play, and we were only the 4th grade putting this on! Also, when we put this play on during the last days of the school year, testing is over, we are more relaxed, and the other classes get to come and see a play! These are few and far between, now that there are budget cuts. No one can afford the 'professionals'. What a self-esteem booster for the 4th graders putting on the play!"
---Leslie Macek, Teacher (4th grade), Spinelli Elementary, Antelope, CA
"Fun humor and super songs. This is a terrific first play (easy
to stage)."
---Kathy Wilbur, Teacher (4th grade), Prairie Elementary, Sacramento,
CA
"After the play we studied textbooks of the Gold Rush and were
able to make
connections to characters from the play versus characters of the 49'ers
Day.
It brought a deeper understanding of the hardships."
---Christina Carmelich, Teacher (4th grade), Cloverland Elementary, Oakdale,
CA
"The play is filled with fun that's accessible."
---Nancy Rogers, Teacher (4th grade), Jordan Elementary, Whittier, CA
"Awesome play! My fourth graders loved doing this play and they
learned so
much more than they could from any social studies text. I even convinced
the
other two fourth grade teachers to do the play in their classrooms, too.
Thank you!"
---Colleen Myers, Teacher (4th grade), Las Flores Elementary, Rancho Santa
Margarita, CA
Common Core and Other National Standards
History/Social Studies
Language Arts
- Common Core Reading Standards for Literature: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Reading Standards: Foundational Skills:
- 2nd: Phonics and Word Recognition
- 3rd, 4th, 5th: Phonics and Word Recognition, Fluency
- Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Language Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use -2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Standard 10: Range, Quality & Complexity:
National Core Arts Standards
Vocabulary
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
Q:
Are scripts available in spanish?
A:
Unfortunately, no. We have one Spanish/English bilingual play, "Martina y Pérez: A Bilingual Tale," available here: https://badwolfpress.com/martina
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.