BE-SWITCHED by Roger Kise
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 female, 1 male, 2 male or female; 10 minutes.
Fairy-tale subject (Wicked Witch) gets extreme makeover, courtesy of the team of stylists on popular daytime talk show.
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A HALLOWEEN SLEEPING BEAUTY by Jane Tesh
Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male; 4 female; 14 male and/or female; 15 minutes.
A ghoulish twist on the original fairy tale--where it's a curse to be beautiful!
Fairy-tale subject (Wicked Witch) gets extreme makeover, courtesy of the team of stylists on popular daytime talk show.
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THE HIP HOP HARES by Jane Tesh
Lower Grades; 4 female, 2 male, and many extras; 10 minutes.
Bunnies swing into action with a modern beat as last-minute order puts a crunch on the Easter egg factory.
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HISTORY IDOL by Kate Wagner
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 female; 1 male/female and extras. 20 minutes.
Six famous quotes from history—by Abraham Lincoln, Neil Armstrong, Lou Gehrig, Chief Joseph, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr.—are celebrated in this spoof of a popular TV show.
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THUNDERMUFFS by Cindy Blobaum
Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male; 3 female; 15 minutes.
Mitchell, who likes peace and quiet, comes in conflict with the rest of his family who love the noise of a good storm. Good lessons about weather safety. Can they find a way to live in harmony?
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YOU DON'T SAY by Peg Juffer
Lower Grades; 3 female; 1 male; 8 to 10 male/female; 10 minutes.
Perfect for Book Week: Librarian is stumped about how to get students to read until some creative characters pop out of the book shelves to help out.
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THE PREHISTORIC FOLLIES by Jane Tesh
Middle and Lower Grades; 3 male, 2 female; male and female extras; 10 minutes.
Cheer for your favorite extinct reptile—and learn some interesting dinosaur facts along the way!—in this clever play about an Ice Age talent show.
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SLOW DOWN, JACK! by Jack Vaughan
Lower Grades grades; 6 male and/or female. 10 minutes.
"All aboard!" for a fun creative dramatics piece appropriate for the youngest children, with lines that are easy to say and remember and action that's easy to perform.
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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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MISS LOUISA AND THE OUTLAWS by Frances B. Watts
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 male, 4 female, and as many extras as desired; 20 minutes.
Old-fashioned turn-of-the century schoolmarm commands respect while giving a lesson in bravery and brains after the bad guys slip into the schoolhouse to hid from the sheriff.
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THE LUCK OF THE IVIES by Frank V. Priore
Lower Grades; 2 female and 1 male; 15 minutes.
Set in a clearing in the forest, quick-thinking leprechaun thwarts the efforts of two young girls to steal his pot of gold.
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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 BUBBLE GUM ESCAPADE by Jo Ann Memming
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 male, 1 female, and as many extras as desired. 15 minutes.
The situation turns sticky when Grandfather’s most valuable coin is “borrowed” from the home collection and turns up at school—stuck to the bottom of a lunchroom table.
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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
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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THE JUNK FOOD KING by Glenda Slater
Middle and Lower Grades; 1 male, 1 female, 7 male or female; 20 minutes.
The out-of-shape King gets help from the Prime Minister, a dietician, and physical trainer to slim down, get in shape, and eat more healthful foods. Complete with a song in rap—just say no to pie, cake, greasy burgers, and sugary shakes!
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DO IT WITH DEWEY by Jane Tesh
Lower Grades; 9 male or female; 10 minutes.
Using tried-and-true system, bookworms make quick work of straightening out a mess in the library. Perfect for National Children's Book Week.
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OCTAVE by Kevin Stone
Lower Grades; 7 male or female; adults for narrator and piano player; 10 minutes.
Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do! Here's a fun, easy way to teach children about the notes in a scale, major and minor chords, and the value of working together.
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THE FIRST THANKSGIVING by Robert Mauro
Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male, 2 female, 1 male/female for turkey; 15 minutes.
With a bit of healthy doubt about the relationship of Native peoples and Puritans, families prepare for a day of feasting that not everyone is happy about—particularly the turkey.
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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
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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VIKKI'S VALENTINE BOX by Sharon Brady
Lower Grades; 4 female, 4 male; 10 minutes.
It's never easy being the new girl in class, and especially on Valentine's Day. Will anyone put a Valentine in Vikki's box?
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THE PIE THAT CHANGED HISTORY by Maureen Crane Wartski
Middle & Lower Grades; 4 female, 3 male; 20 minutes.
The story (maybe true, maybe not) of a couple who baked their way on to a wagon train to Oregon so they could open a school where Native people and settlers could learn together in peace. Their children settled in Kansas, where they were active in the 1850s Underground Railroad.
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THE KING'S CREAMPUFFS by Martha Swintz
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 male, 4 female, many male and female extras; 30 minutes.
Wicked witch steals the royal creampuff recipe, upsets the King, and causes havoc in the royal kitchen.
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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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THE PICNIC PEACE by Jane Tesh
Lower Grades; 4 male, 1 female, as many male and female extras as desired for ants; contemporary; 10 minutes.
Red ants and black ants fight over a picnic, only to discover that working together, sharing, and making friends are the most important morsels of all.
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RACE TO THE FUTURE, by Janet Carl
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 male, 5 female, plus many extras; mid-1800s; 25 minutes.
A young girl invited to a "Bloomer" picnic—an unheard-of event for women to wear pants!—stands up for her beliefs in women's rights and freedom of expression.
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SNEAKY SAM IN SUNNY JUNCTION, by Ellen M. Eleder
Middle and Lower Grades; 3 male, 2 female, 1 male or female adult or gifted reader for Narrator; 20+ male and female. 1880s; 15 minutes.
Sure-to-please large-cast melodrama with the usual dashing hero, moustache-twirling villain, and sweet heroine named Sue. . .but this one also has plenty of audience participation, songs and choreography.
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THE POLKA DOT THIEF, by Amy Paulson
Middle Grades; 5 male, 3 female, and 1 male or female; 15 minutes.
Police follow a trail of gum wrappers to try to figure out the "whodunit" of a "sticky" crime!
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RAINING ON THE PLAYGROUND by Rebecca Watson
Lower Grades; 9 to 30 male and female. 10 minutes.
This creative dramatics play in poem form is a wonderful way for young children to act out what happens when rain starts pitter-pattering on the playground . . . plenty of opportunity for body movement and sound effects.
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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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THE TOYS' GIFT by Melinda Williams
Lower Grades, 8 male or female; 20 minutes.
A sweet story about a child who doesn't have enough money to buy Christmas gifts for his parents. . .but gets by with a little help from his "secret" friends.
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TURKEY SAVES THE DAY, by Peggy Bauer
Lower Grades, 4 male or female; 10 minutes.
Bird cries "Foul!" when he realizes he's going to be the main attraction for Thanksgiving dinner.
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HALFWAY TO CONCORD by Marcella Rawe
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 male, 2 female; 25 minutes.
It's hard to tell who is a friend and who is a foe when neighbors take sides at the start of the Revolutionary War, as Paul Revere spreads the word from Boston to Concord.
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THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, Adapted by Frances Mapp
Middle and Lower Grades. 1 male, 5 female, 5 male and female, extras. Follow the Yellow Brick Road! L. Frank Baum's beloved story and colorful characters come to life in this wonderful adaptation.
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DANITA'S DISGUISE by Susan Lee
Lower Grades; 4 male, 3 female; 10 minutes.
Young actors will have loads of fun trying on all sorts of costumes and performing in this Halloween play with a simple setting and easy-to-find props. A little creativity can go a long way!
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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
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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MERE MIRROR by Roger Kise
Middle and Lower Grades; 3 male, 6 female, 4 male or female; 20 minutes.
A modern, fun take-off of Snow White (without the dwarfs) featuring a wicked stepmother who finds that vanity comes with a high price.
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GO, GREEN! by Jane Tesh
Lower Grades; 4 male; 5 female; 10 minutes. As bottle, can, and paper fight their way out of the trash can, young children will learn a valuable lesson in recycling.
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CSI: MOTHER GOOSE LAND, by Jane Tesh
Middle and Lower Grades; 7 female, 6 male, male or female for Cat, King's Horses, King's Men; 10-15 minutes.
Did Humpty Dumpty fall. . .or was he pushed? A large-cast mystery featuring a host of familiar fairy tale characters.
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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
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
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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THE MISSING LIST by Melinda Williams
Middle and Lower Grades; 1 male; 1 female; 8 male or female. 20 minutes.
Christmas may have to be canceled because one of Santa's elves is tired of working and tired of greedy kids.
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CUPID'S WEBSITE by Liz Boiko Burdick
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 male, 7 female, 8 male or female; 20 minutes.
Will web designer's plans take all the charm out of boy-meets-girl?
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THE MIRACLE OF SPRING by Helen Hanna
Middle & Lower Grades; 3 male, 6 female, 19+ male or female; 15 minutes. A large-cast play to welcome Spring and learn about the environment. Petulant King Bartholomew bans Spring, only to realize in a dream courtroom drama that he has upset the cycles of the seasons and destroyed the food supply.
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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 WITCHES' BREW by Carol D. Wise
Middle and Lower Grades; 6+ female; 20 minutes.
Evil witches meet their match in good witch Clarice, who grows flowers and wears a sunny smile. Is there room for them all in the Witches' Council?
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MOUNT RUSHMORE by David LaBounty
Middle and Lower Grades; 8 male, 4 female; as many male and female extras as desired for Other Students; 15-20 minutes. Four presidents have a little fun with visitors to a national memorial.
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ARMADILLO'S CHOICE by Pamela Love
Middle & Lower Grades: 6 actors: male/female; 10 minutes. Animals meet in the desert and learn to respect their differences, without asking each other to change the way they are.
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