Little Red Riding Hood 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: 978-1-886588-03-5
© 1995 Bad Wolf Press, LLC
Song Samples
Full Song List
1. "We’ve Been Thinking"
2. "Easy to Tell You’re a Riding Hood"
3. "Oh It’s a Great Big Ol’ World"
4. "Stay on the Road"
5. "Come On, Let’s Go"
6. "The Acorn Dance"
7. "I Want Something"
8. "I’m a Math Whiz"
9. "The Tracking Song"
10. "Granny, What Big Eyes You Have"
11. "I am a Tracker"
12. "Good Thing I’m a Math Whiz"
13. "We’re Done Thinking"
Casting
Flexible casting from 8-40 students.
Use as many Townspeople, Squirrels, etc. as desired.
Script
This is the first one-third of the script:
CHARACTERS:
Mrs. Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood
Townspeople
Flower Family
Squirrels
Granny Riding Hood
Wolf
Woodsman
Junior Trackers
Storyteller A (can be played by one actor or several)
Storyteller B (can be played by one actor or several)
Chorus (comprised of everyone not on center stage at the moment)
The show begins as the actors come in from various directions to the
stage. About half
of the actors freeze in a variety of poses that suggest deep thought.
The others begin to clap.
They all sing:
(Note: The mood of this opening song is joyous, and the audience should
get the feeling
they're about to see a fun and slightly quirky show.)
Song 1
ENTIRE CAST (sings):
We've been thinking
We've been thinking
'Cause our teacher says that thinking's good
We've been thinking
Really thinking
All about Little Red Riding Hood.
(Actors change poses, as they strike different "thinking" positions)
Was she little?
Was she red?
Why why why why
Why was there a wolf in her granny's bed?
(Actors change poses again, really thinking hard now)
We're still thinking
Yeah we're thinking
'Cause our teacher says that thinking's good
Mmm we're thinking
Yeah we're thinking
All about Little Red Riding Hood
All about Little Red Riding Hood.
STORYTELLER A (all lines spoken): Little Red and her mother live in
a small village
at the edge of a big, scary forest.
STORYTELLER B (all lines spoken): And Little Red's mother likes to tell
her about
this incredibly wonderful family they come from.
Song 2
MRS. RIDING HOOD (sings):
Little Red, my Little Red
You cannot go wrong
We have got a family tree
With roots a mile long.
We've got greatness in our genes
Courage in our blood
I can swear it's guaranteed
That you won't be a dud.
CHORUS:
Not a dud, no way!
She's Little Red
MRS. RIDING HOOD:
You're gonna be so special
CHORUS:
She's Little Red
MRS. RIDING HOOD:
You're gonna be so good
CHORUS:
She's Little Red
MRS. RIDING HOOD:
And it's easy to tell
Easy to tell
Easy to tell you're a Riding Hood.
(MRS. RIDING HOOD takes LITTLE RED by the hand and walks with her to
the
other side of the stage)
Your grandma has got the brains
I have got the looks
You will be the kind of girl
They'll write about in books.
We've got greatness in our genes
Courage in our blood
I can swear it's guaranteed
That you won't be a dud.
CHORUS:
Not a dud, no way!
She's Little Red
MRS. RIDING HOOD:
You're gonna be so special
CHORUS:
She's Little Red
MRS. RIDING HOOD:
You're gonna be so good
CHORUS:
She's Little Red
MRS. RIDING HOOD:
And it's easy to tell
Easy to tell
MRS. RIDING HOOD and CHORUS:
Easy to tell you're a Riding Hood.
STORYTELLER A: Little Red's mother makes lunch for Granny, who lives
way on
the other side of the dark and scary forest. Mrs. Riding Hood asks Little
Red to take
the basket to the famous Woodsman, so he can bring it safely to Granny.
(We see Little Red go up to a door which says "Famous Woodsman" on
it; a sign is
hung on the door which reads "Gone Tracking.")
STORYTELLER B: That's funny. Looks like the Famous Woodsman isn't home.
Well, I guess that's all. No lunch for Granny. You've been a wonderful
audience,
and thank you very much for coming to our play.
(STORYTELLER B starts to exit into audience)
STORYTELLER A: No, wait, this is crazy.
(To STORYTELLER B)
Get back up here!
(To AUDIENCE):
Don't believe it! The play's not over! Our Little Red Riding Hood isn't
finished yet!
Song 3
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD:
Oh it's a great big ol' world
Here is my chance to explore
I'm an adventurous girl
When I'm allowed out the door.
Granny your food's getting cold
It's time for me to be bold, so
I'll skip along
CHORUS: She'll skip along
What could go wrong?
CHORUS: What could go wrong?
(LITTLE RED starts walking away from the WOODSMAN's hut)
Oh it's a great big ol' world
Only the bravest survive
I'm an adventurous girl
Long as I'm back home by five.
Granny I'm coming to you
Right through the woods with your food, ooh
I'll skip along
CHORUS: She'll skip along
What could go wrong?
CHORUS: What could go wrong?
LITTLE RED and CHORUS:
What could go wrong?
WOLF (rushing on stage): Where's that Granny? I'm hungry! I'm really
hungry!
STORYTELLER A: Excuse me, Mr. Wolf, but you're not scheduled to be on
stage yet.
WOLF (to STORYTELLER B): When do I get to eat something?
STORYTELLER B: Don't ask me-I'm still wondering what happened to the
Famous Woodsman.
(WOLF exits, mumbling about being hungry)
STORYTELLER A: Little Red has never been in the forest by herself. Before
she
starts, she meets some people from town who tell her to be very careful
on her
journey through the scary forest.
Song 4 -
Listen now!
TOWNSPEOPLE:
(Note: during the song, the TOWNSPEOPLE show LITTLE RED how to stay on
the road. She is clumsy at first and has trouble, but by the end of the
song she
does very well.)
Stay on the road
Stay on the road
Keep the path in sight
Stay on the road
Stay on the road
Don't stray left or right.
Stay on the road
Stay on the road
Keep the path in sight
Stay on the road
Stay on the road
Don't stray left or right.
Ooh bah, ooh bah
Ooh bah bah, ooh bah bah.
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
Additional Comments and Reviews:
"Little Red Riding Hood fits perfectly into the speaking and listening part of the common core
(as well as fluency, expression, and self-discipline). The play was so funny! My first graders all talked about how funny the wolf was always looking for ketchup.
Love it! I want more like it!"
---Laura Fleming, Vancouver, WA
"Thank you very much for creating such a wonderful, outstanding
script. In my performance there were at least 52 students. They performed
twice daily for four days. We only had one class signed up for the first performance.
When word got around of the incredible job these students were doing,
we ended up accommodating three classes in a classroom. The kids did a
phenomenal job! The comments from parents and teachers were all positive
and uplifting. We even had part-time teachers take leave so they could
bring their young ones. Some of the parents came twice. The wonders of
this play has reached other schools. Request for your products is on the
rise. And the transformation of one of my students from an introvert to
a dashing, expressive actor made me a believer that kids learn or get inspired
through different learning modalities (he was the wolf). Thank you very
much."
---Rosita Huff, Teacher (2nd and 3rd grades), Weller Elementary, Fairbanks,
AK
"My kids love to practice and beg for it from the time they come in in the morning to the time they pack up to leave in the afternoon!
We have just begun this play, and they are hooked on the songs and characters already. They are reading and speaking without even thinking about it.
Every part of it is doable--from the script to the costumes to the staging. I also like the suggestions you have to make things as simple as possible.
I like the fact that parts vary in levels of difficulty within the same play so that every student can find a part with which to feel successful."
---Cindy Calderon, Teacher (4th grade), South West Park Elementary School, CA
"It had a great twist to a tradional story, and had cute songs.
My kids have gained a
lot of confidence in performance situation. I think many of them will
have a lot less
fear of public speaking, etc. We learned a lot of team skills in working
together.
We learned how to practice towards perfection."
---Steve Eberhard, Teacher (4th-6th grade), Springdale Elementary, Sprindale,
UT
"It was easy! The students were hooked after listening to the first
song. The students
gained such self-confidence! It was rewarding to both teacher and student."
---Jessica Schiefelbein, Teacher (3rd grade), University Park School,
Denver, CO
"I loved the show, and so did my class, the parents and other classes
who came.
Another class is doing Little Red Riding Hood next week and
is loving it.
The script gave very clear directions and was chock-full of
great advice to
help me get past potential problems. I'm planning to do three shows next
year! It
unifies the class, gives underdogs a class to shine. It challenges kids
with memorization
of music and songs."
---Dave Anderson, Teacher (3rd grade), Robert H. Down School, Pacific
Grove, CA
"My principal came to watch and is ready to get more people involved
using your plays. Thanks for doing what you do. You have made the last
three weeks of school so much fun for my class and those who came to
see us."
---Jane Root, Teacher (4th grade), Cedar Heights Elementary, Lancaster,
OH
"Thank you for creating such a super script for children. It was
easy to do, and a
real pleasaure to be a part of. I look forward to working at Mini University
next
summer, and I plan to order another script from your company. My employer
and other staff were really impressed by the production, and loved the
script
as well."
---Natascha Jung, Teacher (mixed-age elementary), Mini University Summer
Program, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Common Core and Other National Standards
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:
History/Social Studies
National Core Arts Standards
Vocabulary
incredibly
family tree
genes
guaranteed
dud
woodsman
tracking
explore
bold
hut
survive
scheduled
daises
Laurel & Hardy
marigold
flax
acacia
dandelions
bouquet
lilac
sage
tulips
dahlia
dally
“feeling squirrelly”
bushy
appetite
mathematician
challenge
whiz
divide
guppies
trout
teaspoons
amount
hike
hoof-prints
eager
poison ivy
canteen
zebra
yak
footprints
excellent
“number-crunching"
Vocabulary From Stage Directions
joyous
slightly
quirky
poses
mumbling
clumsy
overlapping
confident
consistently
observations
emerges
wielding
gigantic
visible
method
strikes
collapses
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.
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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.
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