The Boas offer to slither
up a tree, but can you really ever trust a boa? Meanwhile, two bungling
Explorers stumble by in search of the Lost Ancient City of Chocolate. No wonder the jungle is going crazy. And have you ever seen
so many ants?
Rumpus in the Rainforest is a great complement to your curriculum
resources in elementary school science. 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: 978-1-886588-14-1
© 1999 Bad Wolf Press, LLC
Song Samples
Full Song List
1. "Just Once"
2. "Who Needs More?"
3. "I’m a Sloth"
4. "Don’t Dither"
5. "Rumpus in the Rainforest"
6. "Cacao Bean"
7. "Up in the Canopy"
8. "Marching"
9. "The Forest is a Pharmacy"
10."If a Toucan Can/Rumpus in the Rainforest"
Casting
Flexible casting from 8-40 students.
Use as many Sloths, Monkeys, Ants, etc. as desired;
one student can also play more than one role. Note that
roles are not gender-specific; see our comments on
page 30 of the Teacher's Guide.
Script
This is the first one-third of the script:
CHARACTERS:
Frog
Toucan
Jaguar
Sloth Family
Boas
Explorers
Howler Monkeys
Army Ants
Shaman
Storytellers
and a Chorus made up of all students who are not playing roles at the
time.
(CHORUS is seated on floor. FROG enters, staring longingly up towards
the sky.)
STORYTELLER: Once, not very long ago, in the Amazon rainforest, there
lived a
frog. This is his story – the story of a frog with an impossible
dream that came true.
STORYTELLER: The leaves are so thick in parts of the forest that less
than ten
percent of the sunlight reaches the jungle floor. Creatures may spend
their whole
lives without ever seeing the sun. There, on a log, lives the frog with
his dream.
Song 1
FROG:
Just once I gotta see the sky
Just once above the trees
Just once I gotta get up high
Just once beyond the leaves.
Just once I wanna have some fun
I've got to get a plan
Just once I wanna feel the sun
Just once I wanna tan.
CHORUS:
He's tried leaping like a lizard
He's tried jumps of every sort
But he's stopping all that hopping
'Cause he's a hundred feet too short!
FROG:
Just once I wanna leave my log
To see if skies are blue
Just once I wanna be a frog
Who casts a shadow too.
Just once I gotta see the sky
Just once above the trees
Just once I gotta get up high
Just once beyond the leaves.
CHORUS:
He's tried leaping like a lizard
He's tried jumps of every sort
But he's stopping all that hopping
'Cause he's a hundred feet too short!
(TOUCAN enters, wing/arm in a sling)
STORYTELLER: The Frog's friend the Toucan has stopped by to see what
Frog
was singing about. Toucan hurt his wing the day before-and it still hurts.
FROG: Hello, Toucan. Can you fly me up to see the sky above the trees?
TOUCAN: I can't – my wing doesn't work. Every time I try to fly
I just buzz around
in a circle until I get dizzy.
FROG: Then how will I ever get up to the sky?
TOUCAN: Here comes the Jaguar. Maybe he will give you a lift up the
tree.
(JAGUAR enters)
FROG: Hello, Jaguar. Can you take me up to see the sky above the trees?
JAGUAR: Don't be silly! Why would you ever want to go up there?
Song 2 -
Listen now!
I'm a cool cool cat
This is where it is at
Here on the jungle floor.
Where the plants smell sweet
And there's critters to eat
Here on the jungle floor.
Who needs more?
Who needs more?
Who needs more than the jungle floor?
Tell me, man, what are you looking for?
Who needs more than the jungle floor?
There are bugs to trounce
Oh it's so fun to pounce
Here on the jungle floor.
It's so dark and damp
What a great place to camp
Here on the jungle floor.
CHORUS and JAGUAR:
Who needs more?
Who needs more?
Who needs more than the jungle floor?
Tell me, man, what are you looking for?
Who needs more than the jungle floor?
I'm a cool cool cat
This is where it is at
Here on the jungle floor.
Where the plants smell sweet
And there's critters to eat
Here on the jungle floor.
(JAGUAR exits)
STORYTELLER: The Frog was disappointed, but still determined. He
spotted a family of sloths up in the branches of the tree.
FROG: Hello, Sloths. Can you take me up to see the sky above the trees?
Song 3 -
Listen now!
SLOTHS:
I'm a sloth
I would help you up this tree
I'm a sloth
But I'm lazy as can be
I'm a sloth
So before I can agree to your request....[a good pause]
...I need to rest.
(SLOTHS fall asleep).
FROG: Hey, wake up!
SLOTHS:
I'm a sloth
I'd be down there in a blink
I'm a sloth
But I'm just too tired to think
I'm a sloth
Why just yesterday I blinked and ate some sap...
...I need a nap.
Did you see that?
DId you see that?
I'm getting set to go
Did you see that?
DId you see that?
I just moved a toe.
(THEY fall asleep again.)
TOUCAN: Hey you guys, wake up!
SLOTHS and CHORUS:
I'm a sloth
I'd come bounding in a blur
I'm a sloth
But I find it hard to stir
I'm a sloth
I've got algae in my fur two inches deep... ...I need some sleep.
(SLOTHS exit)
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
Additional Comments and Reviews:
"It was a smash hit. You claimed it would be easy to do a musical,
and you were right. The two school performances went so well that we took
the show on the road to two nursing homes, which we hope now to make an
annual tradition. We enjoyed the experience so much we convinced our third
grade to do one your plays, too."
---Sara Belyea, Teacher (2nd grade), Rutgers Preparatory School, Somerset,
NY
"It was fab, fab, fab! Thanks again for the terrific musical. I
am quite new to a long
established school ---raised my profile with the parents enormously!
We had
fantastic fun and folks were saying it was the best they have ever seen."
---Trisha Mills, Teacher (Years 3/4), Flitcham Primary, Norfolk, UK
"We performed Rumpus in the Rainforest for the whole school.
We loved the
dialogue, the songs, and everything else. The parents were impressed,
and the
students in the audience loved it! A few of them told me, 'I wish MY
teacher did
plays with us!' This was a perfect culmination to our rainforest unit."
---Margaret Bergamin, Teacher (1st/2nd grades) Sundance Elementary, San
Diego, CA
"At first I was a little nervous about the quantity of songs the
children had to learn but
they had no problem at all. I thought the way the play was written, the
way the music
was performed and the general tips that were given in the book were wonderful.
Everyone loved the show and couldn't say enough about how well the children
performed it."
---Ms. Patak, Teacher (2nd grade) Presentation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary School, Jamaica, NY
"The songs were easy to learn. I could adapt the parts to fit the
number of students
in my class. The songs could be sung as solos or multiple students could
sing.
Costumes and stage props could be simple or as elaborate as you wanted.
All
students, regardless of their actual part, felt like an important member,
and some
students who struggle academically were able to really shine throughout
the play."
---Amy Hill, Teacher, (3rd grade), Wayne Elementary, Wayne, NE
"Songs were easy for the kids to learn, and the costume suggestions
were wonderful.
It added a dimension for students to explore the arts. It was an opportunity
for
students that are not strong academically to excel in the arts. I was
able to see a side
of students that is often hidden in a desk - acting. It was a connection
from science to
geography to music; it is holistic learning."
---Hilde Cline, Teacher, (3rd grade), Vine Street Elementary, Aberdeen,
MS
"The children loved the show. We loved the music. I think it was
great for my kids'
self-esteem. They will remember doing the play---and the parents loved
it."
---Mary Skreik, Teacher (2nd grade), Washburn Elementary, Washburn, WI
"It was a unique experience that cleverly wove the messages and
concepts through
word and song. You would have been so proud of our children as they worked
with me during recess to develop the unique choreography that added to
the
splendor of your creation. Children realized it was OK to let their inhibitions
go. Many discovered a hidden talent for song, acting and dance. Everyone
had so much fun working in the multilevel experience. We all laughed
a great deal!"
---Jane Aikens, Teacher, (5th-8th grade), St. Maria Goretti School, Schiller
Park, IL
"The music was excellent, and so were the number of speaking parts.
It was
perfect for our small rural school."
---Debra Vance, Teacher (Pre K-5), Panther Creek Elementary, Valera,
TX
"Our class has performed this play about four times in the last
six years. I keep
coming back to it because of the uplifting message and fantastic music."
---Sharon Silverglate, Teacher (3rd grade), Mar Vista Elementary, Aptos,
CA
Common Core and Other National Standards
Science
- National
Science Content Standard C and D for K-4th
- National Science Content Standard C and D for 5th-8th
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
National Core Arts Standards
Vocabulary
critters
trounce
pounce
dither
slinking
fracas
ruckus
cavorting
motherload
vault
maraschino cherry
chums
clout
eagerness
pharmacy
Rainforest Terms
jungle floor
sap
algae
weasel
wild pig
hawk
cacao bean
flora
canopy
shaman
bulb
Vocabulary From Stage Directions
longingly
furiously
shrieking
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.