• 20-minute musical play for grades 1-5
  • Includes the script, teacher's guide, and audio recording (which contains a vocal and instrumental version of each song)
  • Simple to do - no music or drama experience needed!

Jack and the Beanstalk is one of our most popular and versatile plays, a charming musicalization of the familiar story of Jack, a beanstalk, a nasty Giant, and a very special goose.

Please scroll down to read the script, listen to the songs, read reviews, and get all the details about the play (plot, curriculum/content, educational standards, and vocabulary).

Item # Description Availability Qty Break Price Quantity
PLAY - For individual teachers or directors
Order 1 copy of play for each teacher/director who will be using it. Includes permission to print/photocopy for all participating actors. Mix and match 2 or more plays to get them for $35 each.
JACK-PL-DIG
Downloadable Version of Play
- You will receive a PDF and MP3 files
Download 1
2+
$45.00
$35.00
JACK-PL-PRI
Printed Version of Play
- You will receive a Spiral-Bound Book and Audio CD
In Stock 1
2+
$45.00
$35.00
JACK-PL-DUO
Duo Version - Download AND Printed Book
- You will receive 1) a PDF and MP3 files, and 2) a Spiral-Bound Book and Audio CD
In Stock 1
2+
$55.00
$45.00
SITE LICENSE VERSION OF PLAY - For whole schools or grade levels
Order 1 site license per school/site. Includes permission to print/photocopy for all participating students AND teachers. Why a site license? Because it's cheaper than ordering 3+ individual copies of the play.
JACK-SL-DIG
Downloadable Version of Site License
- You will receive a PDF and MP3 files
Download 1 $90.00
JACK-SL-PRI
Printed Version of Site License
- You will receive 3 copies of the Spiral-Bound Book and Audio CD
In Stock 1 $90.00
Extra/Replacement Audio Recordings
JACK-AU-DIG
Downloadable Audio Files
- You will receive a ZIP file containing individual MP3s
Download 1 $12.00
JACK-AU-PRI
Audio CD
In Stock 1 - 9
10+
$12.00
$6.00
JACK-AU-DUO
Downloadable Audio Files (MP3) + Audio CD
In Stock 1 $20.00
Sheet Music
JACK-MU-DIG
Downloadable Sheet Music (PDF)
Download 1 $12.00
JACK-MU-PRI
Printed Sheet Music
In Stock 1 $8.00
JACK-MU-DUO
Downloadable Sheet Music (PDF) + Printed Sheet Music
In Stock 1 $16.00

$0.00



This show has been performed successfully by all kinds of students--big kids, little kids, gifted, English language learners--in all elementary grades.

Students can compare different versions of this classic tale. What are the similarities and differences in plot? Character? Theme? Was Jack foolish to sell the cow for three supposedly "magic" beans? Would you? Student interest and participation surge when your kids actually get to play the characters and sing their thoughts.

Jack and the Beanstalk is a great complement to your curriculum resources in elementary school language arts. And, like all of our plays, this show can be used to improve reading, vocabulary, reading comprehension, performance and music skills, class camaraderie and teamwork, and numerous social skills (read about it!) -- all while enabling students to be part of a truly fun and creative experience they will never forget!


Publication Information

Author: Ron Fink (Composer) and John Heath (Book and Lyrics)
ISBN: 978-1-886588-00-4
© 1995 Bad Wolf Press, LLC

Song Samples

Full Song List

1. "This Is the Story"
2. "A Little More Common Sense"
3. "Three Magic Beans"
4. "I’m Gonna Climb that Beanstalk"
5. "He’s Got One Eye" / "I'm a Servant"
6. "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum"
7. "Cook’s Song"
8. "I Lay Golden Eggs"
9. "I’m Gonna Go Back Home" / "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum" / "Help Me Mother"
10. "This Was the Story"


Casting

Flexible casting from 8-40 students.
Use as many Farmers, Shepherds, etc. as desired.
Students can also play more than one role.

Script

This is the first one-third of the script:

CHARACTERS:

Jack's Mother
Farmers
Jack
Shepherds
Servant
Giant
Cook
Goose
A Chorus of many children is required, individual members of which will also
take turns as narrators.

Song 1

ENTIRE CAST (sings): :
This is the story of a boy named Jack
It also has a giant and a goose.
This is the story of a boy named Jack
Who puts a beanstalk to extraordinary use.

Now Jack and his Mom are so poor
That Jack must go out to explore.
He will climb a beanstalk way up high
He will find his fortune in the sky.

This is the story of a boy named Jack
It also has a beanstalk and a goose.
This is the story of a boy named Jack
Who finds out there's a giant on the loose.

A giant with little appeal
Who thinks Jack would make a good meal.
He says Fee and Fi and Fo and Fum,
The giant thinks a juicy meal has come.

This is the story of a boy named Jack
It also has a giant and a goose.
This is the story of a boy named Jack
Who puts a beanstalk
Who puts a beanstalk
Who puts a beanstalk to extraordinary use.

Song 2

MOTHER (sings):
My son Jack is a dreamer
He dreams of adventurous stuff,
He dreams of pirates
He dreams of dragons
As if life weren't tough enough.

My son Jack is a dreamer
But please do not take offense,
But if I could change him
Just slightly change him
I'd give him some common sense
Just a little more common sense.

My Jack's been known to do some silly things
He traded our chickens for a pair of wings
A pair of wings with which he said he'd fly,
He jumped from the barn---
And he broke his arm.

My son Jack is a dreamer
But please do not take offense,
But if I could change him
Just slightly change him
I'd give him some common sense
Just a little more common sense
Just a little more common sense
Just a little more common sense.

NARRATOR (spoken): Times are very difficult for Jack and his mother. They are
down to their last bit of food. So Jack's mother tells him to take their old cow---the
only thing they have of value---and sell it so they can buy food. As Jack walks down
the road, leading his cow, he meets some farmers.

  Song 3 - Listen now!

FARMERS:
We are old farmers
We plant and we plow,
Just some old farmers
Who need a new cow.

We don't have money
But don't go away
Sell us your heifer
And here's what we'll pay:

Three magic beans
How your Mom will prize them
Three magic beans
Plant and fertilize them,
Three magic beans
We're not sure what they do
But give us your cow
And we'll give them to you.

JACK (spoken): My mother says I have to get lots of money for our cow. Boy,
those beans are pretty.

FARMERS:
We are old farmers
We know what you need
You need excitement
To do a great deed.

You need adventure
A chance to explore
This is exactly
What these beans are for.

FARMERS AND CHORUS:
Three magic beans
How your Mom will prize them
Three magic beans
Plant and fertilize them,
Three magic beans
We're not sure what they do
But give us your cow
And we'll give them to you.

NARRATOR (spoken): Jack buys the beans and he happily brings them back
to his mother.

MOTHER (sings):
Three stupid beans
What good will they do us?
Three stupid beans
What have you done to us?
Three lousy beans
They'll never even sprout
Three lousy beans I can only throw out!

(Jack's MOTHER throws the beans out the window.)

NARRATOR (spoken): Jack's mother throws the beans out the window, and she
and Jack go to bed hungry.

(The CHORUS stands and links arms to form a horizontal beanstalk.)

NARRATOR (spoken): Early the next morning Jack wakes up to an amazing sight---
a giant beanstalk in his backyard.

JACK (spoken): Wow.

(JACK moves to the base of the beanstalk)

  Song 4 - Listen now!

Look at it. It's beautiful!
So fresh, so green
The greenest green I've ever seen
With dew-drops so clear they disappear.

I'm gonna climb that beanstalk way up high
I'm gonna find my fortune in the sky.
I'm gonna climb that beanstalk way up high
I'm gonna find my fortune in the sky.

Look at it. It's wonderful!
So wide, so tall
The tallest tall I think of all
From bottom to top, it doesn't stop.

I'm gonna climb that beanstalk way up high
I'm gonna find my fortune in the sky.
I'm gonna climb that beanstalk way up high
I'm gonna find my fortune in the sky.

(JACK "climbs" the beanstalk, going from child to child in the chain.)

CHORUS: (chants)
And he climbs, and he climbs, and he climbs, and he climbs, and he climbs,
and he...

(JACK faces the audience and sings)

(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)

Overall Customer Rating:
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Customer Reviews: 5


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Pros:
Cons:
I love the musicals from Bad Wolf Press

I love the musicals from Bad wolf Press. The kids love them too. I've used this Jack and the Beanstalk for 5 yrs running -- I teach it to my kids the last 10 days of school and we perform it! Keep up the great creative work!

Redondo Beach

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Pros:
  • music
  • great for first grade
  • fun tunes
Cons:
  • none
Jack and the Beanstalk

My first-grade class and I are enjoying practicing the songs! They are catchy and easy to remember! We are just about to perform the play! It has been so fun!
Carol


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It was awesome!

My second graders had a wonderful time and continued to sing the songs after we performed in front of our parents!! I will be ordering more soon!!

Las Vegas

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Pros:
  • Amazing for kindergarten through 3rd!!
Cons:
  • MP3 track could be redone
Super cute musical and easy to follow score!

The sheet music and dialogue are adorable and so much for for the kids! It deserves 5 stars! However the MP3 needs work. When some of the tracks begin, some music that doesn’t belong plays for a second and then skips to the beginning of the track that’s supposed to be playing. It makes it sound like there’s a mistake for a second. Also, the mans voice is very annoying to listen to.

Albuquerque, NM

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Pros:
Cons:
Jack and the Beanstalk

<p>This was the 2nd time we've performed Jack and the Beanstalk and it was awesome! A high quality product that is incredibly engaging. I loved the flexibility of the audio download. I misplaced my CD and before I had a moment to panic the download was in my inbox! Thanks again!</p>


Additional Comments and Reviews:

"There are many versions of Jack and the Beanstalk but this one is the very best. We are having a BALL covering common core standards with this play. Teaching kids to understand story structure, cause and effect, character motivations, inferences, etc. is so important at this level. What better way than to dive into all of that than through a musical? What kind of a boy is Jack? The kids had a half-hour discussion on that in a Socratic circle! And why does the cook rush in with food? The kids actually had to figure out it was to distract the giant from eating Jack.

"I now have a company called Same Day Different Choices and I'm a children's book author. My series is all about using thoughts, words and actions to create happiness in life. Jack and the Beanstalk is one of the best stories out there to teach choice-making strategies. Questions such as, "What kind of a boy is Jack?" start excellent discussions. Once I asked what Jack could have done to remedy his life situation other than steal. One student said that he could have started an adventure tour company up the beanstalk and paid the giant for the use of his property!

---Kendra Delano, Teacher (2nd grade)/Author, Crystal Lake Elementary, Lake Mary, FL


"Theater is non-existent in our school. Through this play, my first graders learned to retain information, work collaboratively, follow directions, use expression and perform in front of others. Jack and the Beanstalk influenced active engagement and produced imaginative hands-on activities in a positive manner. Every type of personality shined in this play. The shyest of my students stood up and sang solos. Disruptive students learned about patience and self control. Students who struggled academically learned songs and dances and shined in front of peers, friends and families. One of my quietest girls did the solo of the mother - and blew her own parents away!"

---Laura Fleming, Teacher (1st grade), Fircrest Elementary, WA


"Wow! My class just performed Jack and the Beanstalk last night for an audience of the school body and many parents. I have never had a class do such an astounding performance. This was an experience these third graders will never forget. When were were done, the 5th grade teacher came up to me and asked, 'How did you get them to learn their parts so well?' Well, it was the music, of course, and having it on the CD worked wonders."

---Ruth Brockman, Teacher (3rd grade) North Freedom Elementary, North Freedom, WI


"The CD with both words and music was invaluable. The children picked up the singer's pauses with ease. Every child had an important part. Stage directions for scenery was great. It turned out very well. The audience gave them a standing ovation. All the parents were very pleased. My principal said it was the best show ever given at our school."

---Gayle Jackson, Teacher, (1st grade), La Porte Elementary, La Porte, TX


"I think that the music is sensational. I began playing the CD during art time and the students loved it! Pretty soon, I heard them singing the songs at recess, lunch, and even during math. (That I had to curb!) We read Jack and the Beanstalk as core literature, so it was great to compare and contrast it with the play. I find that performing plays greatly increases self-esteem and instills a sense of responsibility. They allow full-class participation and have brought my class closer together!"

---Judy Tubachnick, Teacher, (2nd grade) Pomelo Elementary, Los Angeles, CA


"I love the inspirational lyrics...I love that the play integrates so well into a literature based, whole language classroom. Most importantly, I love how performing the play makes my students feel about themselves: FANTASTIC!"

---Chris Elliott, Teacher (1st grade), La Mariposa School, Camarillo, CA


"It is so easy to do! My students love the catchy tunes from the first time they hear them. Every student is assigned a role. The more outgoing ones can have solos and the shy ones can sing in a group or be the storyteller. I love this play!"

---Christine Muneno, Teacher (1st grade), Gulf Avenue School, Wilmington, CA


"The music and lyrics were easy to sing because the lyrics told the story as well as rhyming. My kindergartners did a beautiful job of learning."

---Marlene Smith, Teacher (kindergarten), Jefferson Kindergarten Center, St. Joseph, MI


"The music is well-liked by children and there are lessons in the play that children can learn from. I didn't know it could be so easy to put on a show!"

---Irene Estrella, Teacher (2nd-4th grades), Rosewood Park Elementary, Montebello, CAS


"Very easy to do as a first play."

---Betsey Wilson, Teacher (Kindergarten), Edgeworth Elementary, Sewickley, PA


"My first graders performed to a standing room only crowd. We had parents, relatives, neighbors, friends, and friends of the parents, relatives, neighbors and friends! The audience was so appreciative with their clapping and whistling, the children flourished on stage. I'm not sure the children had envisioned how excited the audience would get, and the more excited the audience, the better the children performed!"

---Cathy Olmstead, Teacher (1st grade), Ludington Area Catholic School, Ludington, MI


"I first used this play with my first graders about eight years ago. The best story that came from that show was Christopher's. His family was extremely dysfunctional and he was the rebel child. I took a chance and gave him the role of the giant. He wore a big green clown wig and he was just fantastic -- the star of the production. The other children completely accepted him after that."

---Kendra Delano, Teacher (2nd grade)/Author, Crystal Lake Elementary, Lake Mary, FL

Common Core and Other National Standards

Language Arts

  • Common Core Reading Standards for Literature: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
  • Common Core Reading Standards: Foundational Skills:
    • K and 1st: Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Word Recognition
    • 2nd: Phonics and Word Recognition
    • 3rd, 4th, 5th: Phonics and Word Recognition, Fluency
  • Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
  • Common Core Language Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
  • Common Core Standard 10: Range, Quality & Complexity: Range of Text Types for K-5th

History/Social Studies

National Core Arts Standards


Vocabulary

extraordinary
fortune
appeal
offense
common sense
plow
heifer
fertilize
deed
sprout
horizontal
dew-drop
shepherd
grind
soufflé
glaze
waddle
unique
grateful

Number of questions: 1
Questions About "Musical Play: "Jack and the Beanstalk""
Q: Do you have any restrictions regarding the public videotaping of our live production? Thanks
December 30, 2018 8:55 AM
A: Hello! Yes, it is permissible to videotape performances of our shows.

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?

  1. You will need to have Adobe Reader (free) or another software application that can open PDF files.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.