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HANSEL AND GRETEL by the Brothers Grimm and adapted by Mary Flynn Casey HANSEL AND GRETEL by the Brothers Grimm and adapted by Mary Flynn Casey

Middle and Lower Grades; 3 female, 2 male; several male or female extras; 40 minutes.
Adaptation of the classic fairy tale starring inquisitive siblings, a wicked witch, gingerbread children, and more. Based on Engelbert Humperdinck's opera.

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ANANSI AND THE KING'S DRUM by Penni L. Ericson ANANSI AND THE KING'S DRUM by Penni L. Ericson

Lower Grades; 10 male/female; 10 minutes.
Who is going to carry the King's heavy drum? The wily spider has a creative solution and the foolish monkey speaks out of turn.

 
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TWO DESERT TALES: THE MISSING CAMEL AND SENOR COYOTE AND MAMA RABBIT by Barbara Winther TWO DESERT TALES: THE MISSING CAMEL AND SENOR COYOTE AND MAMA RABBIT by Barbara Winther

Middle and Lower Grades; Missing Camel: 2 male, 1 female, and at least 5 male or female. 10 minutes. Senor Coyote and Mama Rabbit: 1 male, 1 female, and at least 5 male or female, 10 minutes. Thoughtful and interesting African and Mexican folktales set in the desert where humans and animals use their wit and wile to survive in harsh conditions.

 
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THE FISHERMAN, HIS WIFE, AND THE SEA OF DREAMS by Bruce Berger THE FISHERMAN, HIS WIFE, AND THE SEA OF DREAMS by Bruce Berger

Middle and Lower Grades; Radio play for reading; 2 male, 3 female, and 1 male or female for narrator; 10 minutes. A never-satisfied wife and a talking fish help teach a lesson in being grateful for what you have, in a fun tale that’s nothing to carp about.

 
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THE WHITE SPIDER'S GIFT by Jamie Turner THE WHITE SPIDER'S GIFT by Jamie Turner

Middle and Lower Grades; 9 female, 7 male, 1 male or female, and extras; 20 minutes. A South American folktale in which kindness is rewarded when a boy helps a spider in distress and the spider returns the favor in a very special way.

 
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THE BAKER'S NEIGHBOR Adapted by Adele Thane THE BAKER'S NEIGHBOR Adapted by Adele Thane

Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male, 6 female, male and female extras; 15 minutes. Peruvian folktale in which a greedy baker tries to charge villagers for smelling the good smells of his bakery and a wise judge determines what a fair price should be.

 
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TWO ISLAND TALES by Barbara Winther TWO ISLAND TALES by Barbara Winther

Middle and Lower Grades. Battle Between Sun and Sky: 4 male or female and as many extras as desired; 10 minutes. How Coconuts Came to Samoa: 2 male, 2 female, 2 male or female, and as many extras as desired; 10 minutes. Two short stories from the Pacific Islands that help explain the ways of nature.

 
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THE FOUR ALCHEMISTS by Penni Ericson THE FOUR ALCHEMISTS by Penni Ericson

Lower Grades; 10 male or female and as many male and female extras as desired; 10 minutes. A Chinese folktale that shows that good sense and smart thinking are better than all the gold in the world.

 
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PICCOLA Adapted by Rowena Bennett PICCOLA Adapted by Rowena Bennett

Lower Grades; 2 female, 1 male, 1 male or female; 15 minutes. The magic of Christmas shines in a poor fisherman's hut in this adaptation of a charming French folktale.

 
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BIG CAT, LITTLE CAT, OLD MAN MONKEY by Gillian L. Plescia BIG CAT, LITTLE CAT, OLD MAN MONKEY by Gillian L. Plescia

Middle and Lower Grades; 5 female or male; 15 minutes. A charming Japanese folktale that explores the importance of friendship: how easy it is to lose a friend over a silly disagreement, and how important it is to work things out and share.

 
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A TWIST OF FATE, Adapted by D. R. Andersen A TWIST OF FATE, Adapted by D. R. Andersen

Lower Grades; 3 male; 1 female; 5 male or female; as many male and female as desired for Guards and Citizens. 15 minutes.

Aesop's tale in which a slave's life is spared because of his kindness to a fearsome lion.

 
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RAINFOREST TRIO by Barbara Winther RAINFOREST TRIO by Barbara Winther

Middle and Lower Grades. Three plays in one: Play 1, Crocodile Gives Monkey a Ride, 2 male or female, 10 minutes; Play 2, Trapping the Jaguar, 1 male, 2 male or female, 15 minutes; Play 3, Wild Woman, 4 male, 3 female, 7 male or female, 20 minutes.
Set in different types of rainforests, three folktales of mystery and magic, featuring characters with pluck, ingenuity, and common sense.

 
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CINDER-RILEY by Claire Boiko CINDER-RILEY by Claire Boiko

Middle and Lower Grades; 5 female, 2 male, 3 male and/or female; 20 minutes.
A really clever and fun "Irish" version of the Cinderella story, complete with leprechauns and a lot of audience participation.

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MOTHER GOOSE HAS TALENT by David Ely MOTHER GOOSE HAS TALENT by David Ely

Middle and Lower Grades; 34 male and female; 25 minutes.
A wonderful spoof of a make-believe television show—complete with funny advertisements—with nursery rhyme characters participating in the competition and solving the mystery of the missing sheep.

 
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FIRE IN A PAPER by Loleta Hagy FIRE IN A PAPER by Loleta Hagy

Middle and Lower Grades; 6 male and female; 15 minutes.
Two new brides have to combine smart thinking and common sense in a test demanded by their mother-in-law. The two young women do what is asked of them, and more, setting the stage for a long life of family harmony.

 
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MOTHER GOOSE FOR PRESIDENT by Jane Tesh MOTHER GOOSE FOR PRESIDENT by Jane Tesh

Middle Grades; 20 male and female; 15 minutes.
Beloved nursery rhyme character and the Big Bad Wolf square off in a Mother Goose Land election.

 
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THE GOLDEN COW OF CHELM, a Polish folk tale adapted by Sandra Fenichel Asher THE GOLDEN COW OF CHELM, a Polish folk tale adapted by Sandra Fenichel Asher

Middle & Lower Grades. 8 actors: male or female; 20 minutes. Villagers are convinced by the Mayor to buy a gold-giving cow from a passerby, only to find that the poor creature can barely even give any milk. The villagers, of course, realize their mistake, but somehow draw the wrong conclusion. How silly.

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THE TALKING BURRO by Barbara Winther THE TALKING BURRO by Barbara Winther

Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male, 4 female, 4 male or female; 25 minutes. Talented animal joins in Mexican Christmas celebration.

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