|
The Velveteen Rabbit
A
New Christmas Musical
for Kids! |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Cast
List
CD
Soundtrack Cues
Script
Sample
THE
VELVETEEN RABBIT
CAST LIST
Running Time: About 40-45 minutes
Flexible Cast of 25: 1M, 1F, 23 M/F
Easily adapted for larger or
smaller cast
TOYS
(7 lines spoken together)
Robbie Robot (M/F, 17 lines)
Jack-in-the-Box (M/F, 18 lines)
Tin Soldier (M/F, 15 lines)
Raggedy Anne (M/F, 15 lines)
Pin-the-Tail-Donkey (M/F, 15 lines)
Cymbal Monkey (M/F, 15 lines)
Skin Horse (M/F, 9 lines + song)
VELVETEEN RABBIT
(M/F, 50 lines total + song)
Velveteen Rabbit #1: a new
stuffed bunny. (M/F, 37 lines)
Velveteen Rabbit #2, a shabby
stuffed bunny. (M/F, 13 lines + song)
Michael, a boy. (M/F, 24 lines, songs)
Dream Michael, a boy in a dream.
(M/F, 14 lines)
Older Michael (M/F, 8 lines + song)
Mother (F, 12 lines + songs)
Father (M, 7 lines, songs)
Aunt Ruth (M/F, 2 lines, songs)
Uncle Archie (M/F, 20 lines +
song, songs)
Nana (M/F, 16 lines, songs)
Doctor (M/F, 6 lines)
RED BIRDS
Rudy (M/F, 3 lines + song)
Rosie (M/F, 3 lines + song)
WILD RABBITS
Jingle, Young Rabbit (M/F, 4
lines + song)
Buttons, Father Rabbit (M/F, 4
lines + song)
Ivy, Mother Rabbit (M/F, 5 lines
+ song)
Gardener (M/F, 4 lines)
Nursery Fairy (M/F, 4 lines)
A Stuffed Toy Becomes "Real"
 
Sioux Center, IA - PACE School of Performing Arts,
NYC
"Real
isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing
that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time,
not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
THE
VELVETEEN RABBIT
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 Peter
Pan) 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!
|
 |
Kathryn Schultz Miller
is one the most prolific and most produced playwrights for
children. Her script, A THOUSAND CRANES, won the National
Endowment for the Arts Playwright Award (and countless others) at a
time when plays for children were not considered serious works. Now,
many of her published scripts are considered classics for young
audiences. When teachers voiced their need for great plays that
kids can perform Ms. Miller responded with ArtReach’s School
Plays: “I never dreamed I’d write for anyone other
than professionals. But writing for child performers has been
the most profound and rewarding experience of my life”. |
|
THE
VELVETEEN RABBIT
A NOTE
FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT
Writers often describe
a magical phenomenon when a piece seems to write itself. It
doesn't happen often and it doesn't mean there's not a lot of drudge
work still to do once the idea has been born. But I will say
that Treasure Island came forth on its own with very little tug and
pull from me. Writing this play was simply fun.
It's hard to remember
to have fun when there are pressures from all sides to produce a
great show. I confess, when I ran a professional theatre
company I certainly worried about meeting payroll more than enjoying
the process of creation. I had a thing I called the
"Wednesday Blues", which usually hit midway through
rehearsals of a new play, when I tossed and turned all night
imagining an enormous flop. I can only say that I stuck it out
long enough to learn that things will almost always turn out better
than you thought they would. Theatre is teamwork and if you put
your faith in the natural exuberance of your performers you will be
rewarded with a wonderful show.
So don't let
any naysayers get you down.
Persevere, remember to laugh, have faith and simply enjoy the
process. It's all just make-believe. You can't do
it wrong. Your kids can't wait to discover all the talents and
gifts that lie within themselves. Your job is simply to coax
them out and then sit back and enjoy!
Thank you
for choosing The
Velveteen
Rabbit.
Have a wonderful show!
- KSM
THE
VELVETEEN RABBIT
CD
SOUNDTRACK CUES
Cues, sound effects, background
music (traditional-classical)
The CD Soundtrack contains
special sound effects and background music (public domain
traditional-classical) that may be used to greatly enhance the
performance. It also contains simple music to accompany the
performers and audience as they sing the Christmas songs in the play (song
cues shown below in red). It does not contain music and songs
from the movie or stageplay. Cues have 10 seconds of silence at the
end - times shown below include silence.
[ Click on [sample]
to hear a short sample of the indicated cues. ]
1. "WE
WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS" (1:01) [sample]
2. "STARS AND STRIPES
FOREVER" (3:17)
3. SKIN HORSE SOUND &
MUSIC (0:32) [sample]
4. SKIN
HORSE SONG: "AWAY IN A MANGER" (1:29) [sample]
5. NANA ENTRANCE SOUNDS
& MUSIC (0:39)
6. "AWAY IN A
MANGER" LULLABY (1:00) [sample]
7. RABBITS
SONG: "GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN"
(1:09) [sample]
8. "SILENT NIGHT"
PLAYS QUIETLY (1:02)
9. UNCLE
ARCHIE SONG: "SILENT NIGHT" (2:41) [sample]
10. MAGICAL DREAM MUSIC
& SEA SOUNDS (2:10) [sample]
11. SEA & GALLOPING
SOUNDS (1:01)
12. VELVETEEN
RABBIT SONG: "AWAY IN A MANGER" (1:23)
13. MAGICAL NURSERY FAIRY
SOUNDS & MUSIC (0:57) [sample]
14. ANIMALS
SONG: "GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN" (0:48)
15. CAST
SONG: "O CHRISTMAS TREE" (3:31) [sample]
16. CURTAIN CALL
MUSIC (2:37) [sample]
Note:
Some teachers choose familiar songs, obtain sheet music and insert
their own music choices into the play. We recognize that each
school has a wide variety of educational needs to fulfill and we
invite you to be creative in your use of our scripts; including
changes or additions that are appropriate for your students. As
author/publisher of our own creative works, we do ask that you obtain
proper copyright permission for any additions you might make - that
responsibility is up to you.
Music
& Sound Resources Available on the Internet
( Sheet
Music, Song Books, CDs, DVDs, Sing-along,
Karaoke, Sound
Effects )
Internet
Music Resources: Karaoke
CDs & Sheet
Music
    
Click to
search Internet for karaoke cds or sheet music
Touching
Christmas Musical for Family Audiences! 
PACE School of Performing Arts, Schaberle
Studio, NYC
THE
VELVETEEN RABBIT
SCRIPT SAMPLE
|
The TOYS and SKIN HORSE meet the VELVETEEN RABBIT
for the first time.
(Script
pages 12-14.) |
JACK-IN-THE-BOX: When
all the humans went away...
RAGGEDY ANNE: All of
Michael's other toys came out to inspect the newcomer...
(TOYS surround VELVETEEN RABBIT.)
PIN-THE-TAIL-DONKEY:
Wull, I declare, it's a buh buh bunny.
CYMBAL MONKEY: So
what's your gimmick, Rabbit?
VELVETEEN RABBIT: Gimmick?
CYMBAL MONKEY:
You know, what do you do? I wind up like this!
(CYMBAL MONKEY shows how he
winds up.)
ROBBIE ROBOT: And I
take children on a mission to outer space! Pow! Right to
the moon!
JACK-IN-THE-BOX: I
surprise people like this!
(Uses party favor horn or popgun
toy into VELVETEEN RABBIT'S ear, scaring him.)
VELVETEEN RABBIT: I
guess I don't have a gimmick.
(TOYS laugh.)
TIN SOLDIER: That's no
good. Look at me! I've got rhythm!
(TIN SOLDIER taps his drum with gusto.)
RAGGEDY ANNE: I've got
a heart full of love!
(RAGGEDY ANNE clasps hands over
"throbbing" heart to indicate the exaggerated beating of
her heart.)
PIN-THE-TAIL-DONKEY:
And I still got this dern tail.
(PIN-THE-TAIL-DONKEY holds up
detached tail.)
VELVETEEN RABBIT: I
don't have anything I guess. I'm just made of sawdust.
CYMBAL MONKEY: Just
then the great Skin Horse appeared.
(SOUND CUE #3:
Magical sound then SKIN HORSE music.
[sample]
TOYS gasp and stand back as SKIN
HORSE enters. TOYS drop their heads in respect.
SKIN HORSE whinnies. He
steps high and takes a few steps back and forth across the stage
showing himself off. He poses grandly as his music ends.
SOUND CUE ENDS.)
SKIN HORSE: I have
heard of your arrival, Velveteen Rabbit. I have come to welcome you.
ROBBIE ROBOT: The
Velveteen Rabbit noticed that the Skin Horse was very old and his
leather coat was worn and faded.
JACK-IN-THE-BOX: He
had lost most of his tail...
TIN SOLDIER: And his
eyes were just loose buttons...
RAGGEDY ANNE: But the
other toys loved him and respected him above all others.
PIN-THE-TAIL-DONKEY:
Because only the Skin Horse was Real.
VELVETEEN RABBIT: Is
it true, Skin Horse? That you have become Real?
SKIN HORSE: It is true.
VELVETEEN RABBIT: But how?
SKIN HORSE: When a
child loves you, not just to play with but really loves you, then you
become Real.
VELVETEEN RABBIT: But
how do I make a child love me?
SKIN HORSE: Oh, you
can't make a child love you. And you can't rush them at
all. It takes time. Lots of time.
VELVETEEN RABBIT: I
don't know if I can wait.
(SOUND CUE #4: Tune
of "Away in a Manger"; [short intro].)
[sample]
SKIN HORSE: (Singing.)
You're anxious, dear Rabbit
For life to begin
You hope that the nursery
Will grant you Real skin
Your fuzz and your sawdust
Will turn magically
But you must be patient
And live hopefully.
(SOUND: Music fades to
allow the next line.)
VELVETEEN RABBIT: But
how can I have hope? I don't wind up like a Monkey. I
don't have a gimmick. (Looks behind him.) I don't
even have hind legs. How can it ever happen to me?
SKIN HORSE: (Singing.)
We all have our gimmicks
We all have our doubts
We all love the children
Who live in our house
But we are just playthings
Arranged on the floor
Until someone loves us
We can't expect more.
(SOUND CUE ENDS.)
PIN-THE-TAIL-DONKEY: (Wiping
a tear with his tail.) That was buh, buh, beautiful.
SKIN HORSE: Michael's
Uncle Archie made me Real many years ago. Once you become Real
you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.
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 ($29.95)
4. Performance License ($60.00)
(License: Rights to copy script, Royalty
for one performance)
Get
Everything ($109.85
value) - Only $99.95
( SAVE
MORE $$$ WITH FULL DOWNLOAD
- NO SHIPPING COSTS! )
|
