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ArtReach
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Children's Plays! Children's Christmas Plays, Christmas Musicals for
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with Christmas Script, Teachers Guide, Background CD and License to Perform!
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Children's
Christmas Plays for Schools, Churches, Theatres!
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Large
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Children's
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Kathryn
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Great Plays for Children,
published by St. Martin's Press, Foreward
Maurice Sendak
Familiar
Christmas Carols
for Everyone to Sing!
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you for such
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evening for
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Bayside
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"The
Wizard of Oz. It
was absolutely a
wonderful experience
from beginning The script was wonderful
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could participate!"
Donna
Stafford
First
Grade Teacher
Kinston,
NC
Christmas
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Buford
Elementary
Lennox,
CA
Christmas
Musicals, Christmas Plays, with easy songs, simple dialogue, lots of
laughs and comedy!
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Allison
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Stevens
Brook Elem
Bridgton
ME
Appropriate
for a Large Diverse Group! Grades K-6!
"It
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Sherri
Alejandro
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El Encanto School
Santa
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"Everyone
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Brooke
Iverson
Signal
Mountain TN
Affordable
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C"The
students
were great
and you have a life
long customer
with our school. We are already getting ready for next school year's play.TThank
you again for GREAT
plays!!!"
Billy
Foster
Balboa
Academy
Panama
Simple
Staging Tips for Beginning Play Directors!
"Everyone
loved it and
thought that it was so creative!
I can't wait to perform The
Wizard of Oz!"
Shari
Glickman
PS
276
Brooklyn
NY
Lots
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and Christmas Music!
L"What
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Kennelyn
Ceralde
Sacramento
CA
Fun
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Nation
Woodward
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Christmas
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David
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Walnut
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Christmas
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Jennifer
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Kids'
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with Fun, Easy Songs and Dialogue!
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Brenda
Yankaskas
Friends
Meeting School
Ijamsville,
MD |
|
'Twas
the Night Before Christmas
Christmas
Musical Play for Children to Perform |
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Cast
List
The
Best Play for You
A
Note from the Playwright
CD
Soundtrack Cues
Songs
Dialogue
Sample
'TWAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
CAST
LIST
Running
Time: About 45 minutes
Flexible
Cast of 30-45 Young Performers
(51
total roles listed below, easy doubling, most male/female.)
MOORE
FAMILY
CLARA
(f, 11 lines)
WILLY
(m, 11 lines)
BO
(m, 9 lines)
MOTHER
(f, 21 lines)
CLEMENT
(PAPA) (m, 24 lines)
CHORUS
JINGLE
(m/f, 6 lines)
HOLLY
(m/f, 5 lines)
JOLLY
(m/f, 6 lines)
JOY
(m/f, 5 lines)
IZZY
the Mouse (m/f, 65 lines total, SONG)
IZZY
#1 (m/f, 21 lines, SONG)
IZZY
#2 (m/f, 25 lines)
IZZY
#3 (m/f, 19 lines)
COP
(m/f, 3 lines)
LOUIE
(m/f, 16 lines)
TRAIN
ENGINEER
(m/f, 15 lines)
CHUGGA
(m/f, 8 lines)
LUGGA
(m/f, 8 lines)
WOO-HOO
(m/f, 8 lines)
ELVES
(SONG)
KNUCKLES
(m/f, 7 lines)
TINSEL
(m/f, 8 lines)
MISTLETOE
(m/f, 8 lines)
YULE
(m/f, 8 lines)
PEPPERMINT
(m/f, 8 lines)
MEE-TOO:
(m/f, 3 lines)
ROSIE
the Christmas Reindeer (m/f, 42 lines total, SONG)
ROSIE
#1 (m/f, 16 lines, SONG)
ROSIE
#2 (m/f 11 lines)
ROSIE
#3 (m/f 15 lines)
SANTA'S
REINDEER
DASHER
(m/f 12 lines)
DANCER
(m/f 12 lines)
PRANCER
(m/f, 11 lines)
VIXEN
(m/f, 9 lines)
(Optional:
COMET, CUPID, DONNER, BLITZEN)
SANTA:
(m, 25 lines)
MRS.
CLAUS (f, 3 lines)
ABOMINABLE
SNOWMAN (m/f, 15 lines, SONG)
BROKEN
TOYS
CHATTY
Cathy (f, 3 lines)
TOY
SOLDIER (m, 2 lines)
PLAY-DOH
(m/f, 1 line, song)
POEM
PERFORMERS
SNUG
(m/f, 1 line)
FLASH
(m/f, 1 line)
LIVELY
(m/f, 1 line)
QUICK
(m/f, 1 line)
TWINKLING
(m/f, 1 line)
MERRY
(m/f, 1 line)
CHERRY
(m/f, 1 line)
WINKER
(m/f, 1 line)
NOD
(m/f, 1 line)
THISTLE
(m/f, 1 line)
Whispering
Palms School, Children's Christmas Play, Saipan (N. Mariana Islands)
'TWAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
WHY
IS THIS PLAY BEST FOR YOUR SCHOOL?
Written
especially for young people to perform.
While
you may find large cast plays from other publishers, most of those
were originally written for adults or
professional actors to
perform. They often contain difficult dialogue, unfamiliar or
complex language, and speeches too long for young children to
memorize. They may even contain jokes, innuendos and subject matter
that may not be appropriate for children.
Easy
to understand and memorize.
Dialogue
is simple, fresh, quick and humorous, keeping the action flowing
without stops and starts between scenes. This keeps young people and
young audiences engaged throughout the performance - no awkward
pauses, no dead-time, no wiggles!
Everyone
participates!
All
children are involved throughout the performance. This builds
confidence, promotes team spirit and eliminates rehearsal rowdiness.
The audience is often asked to join in the fun, and action often
spills into the aisles! All of our SCHOOL PLAYS give suggestions on
how to divide up large parts (such as Dorothy in Wizard of Oz) among
several performers so that no one child is the "star".
Familiar
stories with upbeat endings.
The
story line stays as close as possible to the familiar story the kids
already know. While some authors feel the need to
"improve" the story, our SCHOOL PLAYS stay as close to the
familiar narrative as possible, making it easier for children - and
your audience - to understand.
Feel
free to edit! Go ahead and tape it!
Most
publishers insist that no changes may be made to their scripts.
We know that your
goal is to engage every child in the most meaningful way and that
your needs are unique. Cut, eliminate, re-assign lines, or add
as much as you like! Also, there are no restrictions on video
tapes. Parents want a tape or DVD to remember their child's big
moment. Go ahead and tape away!
  
Bremerton
Community Theatre Jr., Children's Christmas Play, Bremerton, WA
'TWAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
A
NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT
In
the past few years we've seen a
tremendous increase of confidence in the teachers we hear from.
Most are finding it easier to let the process flow and worry less
about the final product. I firmly believe that the experience
will be best for all when you keep a few things in mind:
Free
yourself from worry about
whether or not it's "good". No one is paying big
ticket prices; no one expects a Broadway success. The key to
making this project meaningful is to put the emphasis on process;
realize that rehearsal and practice are as much a part of the
experience as the actual performance. Encourage fun and you
will free the children from embarrassment and stress. If the
kids can't learn the lines let them carry a script or use their own
words to convey the character's message. If they seem to wander
the stage, let them explore where they want to go - they might
surprise you with a wonderful idea. In every aspect of the
process give them the wings to create and think. Give them a
comfortable, supportive place to go and their confidence and
self-expression will soar!
Above
all else, make sure you are
having fun. If you've never directed a play before, don't
worry. It's all just pretend -- you can't do it wrong!
The quality of your experience is every bit as important as that of
the children. You need the joy of self-expression too, that
doesn't go away when we grow up. So give yourself a break.
And when all else fails, laugh!
Thank
you so much for choosing 'Twas
the Night Before Christmas.
I hope you and your young friends have as much fun performing this
play as I did writing it.
-
KSM
'TWAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
CD
SOUNDTRACK CUES
Piano
accompaniment to Christmas songs,
sound
effects, background music.
The
CD Soundtrack contains special sound effects and background music
(public domain traditional Christmas songs) that may be used to
greatly enhance the performance. It also contains simple music to
accompany the performers as they sing the songs in the play (song
cues shown below in blue). Cues have 10 seconds of silence at the end
- times shown below include silence.
1.
MAGICAL SOUND (0:18)
2.
DECK THE HALLS (1:52)
3.
SAD VIOLIN (1:01)
4.
SAD VIOLIN, IZZY'S LAMENT (2:05)
5.
TRAIN SOUNDS (0:46)
6.
TRAIN, EXCITING MUSIC (0:44)
7.
SANTA'S BAG-A-ROO (1:27)
8.
OH LITTLE REINDEER THAT I AM (1:13)
9.
TRAIN SOUNDS (0:46)
10.
LOUSY CHRISTMAS (0:56)
11.
TRANSITION, WINDY, SNOWY (0:53)
12.
JUST A BLOB (0:59)
13.
WHIRLING, EXCITING MUSIC (0:23)
14.
NOISY, CRAZY CHASE (1:41)
15.
CHRISTMAS MORNING (0:53)
16.
POEM BACKGROUND MUSIC (5:02)
"A
Visit from Saint Nicholas"
17.
POIGNANT, GENTLE MUSIC (1:00)
18.
CURTAIN CALL (DECK THE HALLS) (2:49)
19.
TRAIN EXIT (END SHOW) (0:36)
20-31.
PRE/POST-SHOW MUSIC (30-35 MINS)
(Traditional
Christmas Music)
'TWAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
EASY
SONGS
USING
FAMILIAR CHRISTMAS TUNES
DECK
THE HALLS
(Performers and audience)
IZZY'S LAMENT
(IZZY)
To the tune
of "Hark the Herald Angles Sing".
SANTA'S BAG-A-ROO
(ELVES)
To the tune
of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen".
OH,
LITTLE
REINDEER THAT I AM
(ROSIE)
To the tune
of "O, Little Town".
LOUSY CHRISTMAS
(ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN)
To the tune
of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
JUST A BLOB
(PLAY-DOH)
To the tune
of "O, Christmas Tree".
CD
Soundtrack: The CD contains simple piano music to
accompany the singers for each of the songs. If you wish to use
a live band or piano to play the songs, you can skip the CD song
music (cues 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, also possibly 18). All of the
songs use familiar Christmas tunes, so sheet music or song
books are readily available (some music teachers can even play these
songs by heart). You could also use the easy piano sheet music
printed in the Teachers Guide.
'TWAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
DIALOGUE
SAMPLE
|
Izzy
has hitched a train ride to the North Pole. But trouble is
brewing in Santa's Workshop!
(Script
pages 17-19) |
TRAIN
& IZZY: Whoo-a-hoo! Whoo-a-hoo!
IZZY:
Look out Santa! Here I come!
TRAIN
& IZZY: Whoo-a-hoo! Whoo-a-hoo! (Repeat
during exit.)
(TRAIN:
ENGINEER, CHUGGA, LUGGA, and WOO-HOO chug out of sight, exiting
behind audience. ELVES enter, set up shop and begin to work,
using hammers and other tools.
SOUND
CUE #7: "Santa's Bag-a-Roo" to the tune of "God
Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", intro and song.)
ELVES: (Singing.)
Now
here's a doll and there's a train
And
little soldiers too
Paint
them nice and cute and bright
And
stick 'em all with glue
And
turn the knob and oil the hinge
Like
Santa's helpers do...
Oh,
and put them all in Santa's bag-a-roo
Batteries
too!
Oh,
and put them all in Santa's bag-a-roo.
(ELVES
work feverishly as PERFORMERS sing.)
PERFORMERS:
(Singing.)
They've
got a plan, they've got a course
They've
got a job to do.
Fix
'em up and make 'em work
And
make 'em shine like new
Create
the toys for everyone
For
worthy kids like you...
(SOUND
CUE BREAK: Has 2 seconds of silence for following line.)
MEE-TOO:
And me!
(SOUND
CUE RESUMES.)
PERFORMERS:
(Singing.)
Oh,
and put them all in Santa's bag-a-roo
Hurry
up too!
Oh,
and put them all in Santa's bag-a-roo.
(SOUND
CUE ENDS.)
KNUCKLES:
Listen up, elves. Christmas is almost here and production is
down, way down. I got orders from the very top, the big guy himself.
ELVES:
(Breathless awe.) Santa!
KNUCKLES:
We need more, more, more! What will Billy Wilson say when his
toy train isn't under the tree?
(ELVES
gasp!)
TINSEL:
And what about Gary's Gameboy?
MISTLETOE:
Nathan's Nintendo!
YULE:
Madison's Megazoids!
PEPPERMINT:
Or Shawanna's Barbie Fairytopia Mermaidia Elina Doll with removable
fairy wings and other accessories?
KNUCKLES:
Shawanna's what? (Slaps his forehead.) This job
gets harder every year. (To TINSEL.) What do
you call this?
TINSEL:
My Little Pony.
KNUCKLES: (To
MISTLETOE.) And this?
MISTLETOE:
My Little Potato Head.
(KNUCKLES
pulls the nose off Potato Head.)
KNUCKLES:
These toys are defective! They're scratch and dents.
YULE:
But sir, Mr. Knuckles, sir. We made them to your
specifications. I've got the blueprints right here!
KNUCKLES:
(Takes blueprints and wads them up.) You read them
wrong, then! These toys are simply no good! The only
thing we can do...
(KNUCKLES
holds toy as if to throw it. ELVES draw their breath and
recoil in horror!)
PEPPERMINT:
No!
TINSEL:
Not out the window!
MISTLETOE:
Not that! Anything but that!
YULE:
Please, Knuckles, I beg you!
(KNUCKLES
throws. PERFORMERS use slide or siren whistle to accompany the
toy's trip through the air. ROSIE suddenly appears and
catches them. She is outside the window and cannot be
seen by the ELVES. ELVES are devastated.)
PEPPERMINT:
(Throwing herself across the bench.) Oh, the humanity!
Note:
This is a sample from the actual script. To review the entire
play, order the PERUSAL SCRIPT (online instant download). Or
to save 20% on the full production kit and royalty for one
performance, order the SCHOOL PLAY PACKAGE (below) and start
rehearsals today!
SCHOOL PLAY PACKAGE (Everything)
One
payment for everything you need to perform the play at your school
or organization. No need to purchase multiple scripts, no royalty
quote, no separate royalty payment. Order the School Play Package and
you're done -- start rehearsals immediately!
The
SCHOOL PLAY PACKAGE Includes:
1.
Master Script ($9.95)
2.
Teachers Guide ($9.95)
3.
CD Soundtrack ($19.95)
4.
Performance License ($60.00)
(License:
Rights to copy script, Royalty
for one performance)
Get
Everything ($99.85
value) - Only $89.95
(
SAVE MORE $$$ WITH FULL
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