By: Patricia Barry Rumble

6th Grade Play

This versatile comedy revue has been performed throughout the US as a small-cast professional theatre production and as a large-cast show performed by children. The world-famous, fun-loving Mother Goose is now retired and living in Mother Goose Resort Spa, where she has time to keep active and pursue her favorite hobbies. She’s really into sports and fitness! She gets tweets and texts, and even letters, from children all over the world who want to know how she got the ideas for her nursery rhymes. Assisted by the stage manager, her gander Sydney, she uses comedy sketches and audience participation to show how all of her nursery rhymes and characters came about.With energetic new twists — including a daredevil Humpty Dumpty, a suspicious Bo Peep, and a dancercising Mrs. Sprat — Mother Goose skates, jogs, and scuba-dives her way into children’s hearts.

- Pioneer Drama Service

CAST: Auditions for cast are on Monday, September 19 and Wednesday, September 21 in the Media Center from 4:10 – 5:20. Students need to fill out an online application and sign up for an audition time outside of the Media Center. Students will read a part of the play in small groups in front of the directors. Sides (parts to read for the audition) are attached to this document. Roles will be posted Friday, September 23 at the end of the day outside the Media Center. There will be two performances on November 18 at Central Middle School in their auditorium.

You have two options for turning your audition paperwork.

1.  You and a parent/guardian can fill out the online form and bring in the $25 activity fee (checks made out to EMS) to your audition.

2.  You and a parent/guardian can fill in a paper copy and bring with the $25 activity fee (checks made out to EMS) to the audition.

Cast online form:

https://goo.gl/forms/nDc9rIwnpEGk34bf1

YOU MUST ALSO SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION TIME in the Media Center

CREW: Students interested in crew must bring in/fill out the crew application and fee. Students will be chosen on a first come basis. The stage crew is responsible for props and sets. They will also work behind the stage to ensure that props are available. They will run lights, pull the curtain, and critique from the audience. This is a major job, and is equally as important as being on the stage. Crew applications are due by Thursday, September 22. Crew will be posted along with cast on Friday, September 23.

Crew online form:

https://goo.gl/forms/bIwO5p03fT4bEsQy2

EXPECTATIONS:

Be on time to rehearsals – 4:10 pm.

Bring your script and a pencil every day.

Bring homework to do when you are not actually rehearsing.

Be at every rehearsal you are scheduled for. Your absence makes it hard for others to practice. The only acceptable excuses are: being absent from school and teachers keeping you after (and even these could impact your participation). Babysitting and appointments need to be scheduled around rehearsals. If you have 2 or more absences you could lose your role.

Listen to the directors and be respectful of them and the other actors.

Do not be disruptive or distracting.

Have a positive attitude! By joining the 6th grade play, you are agreeing to these expectations. If there are problems, two warnings will be given before giving your role to someone else. This is a group performance. There are no stars, and we can only succeed if everyone does their equal part!

REHEARSALS: Rehearsals for the 6th grade play run from September 26 – November 4 after school until 5:20 most days. The 6th grade play involves two performances. One performance is held during the school day for a student audience, and the other is held the evening of November 4. Both performances will be at Central Middle School. A rehearsal calendar is a part of this packet. You may not have to stay every day after school, but eventually you will be required to be at rehearsal every day, Monday through Friday from 4:10 – 5:20. We take absences very seriously, so you should always know when you are supposed to be at rehearsal. If there are any changes in the rehearsal schedule, we will put it in the announcements. If your teacher does not regularly read the announcements, you need to be responsible for asking to see them every day. If this schedule sounds like it is too much to fit with your other commitments, you will not be able to participate. Please think it over carefully before auditioning. This is a BIG commitment! Both Cast and Crew are expected to come to rehearsal starting Monday, September 26.

Costumes: Whenever possible, we ask that students provide their own costumes. In some cases, we will purchase them with drama funds.

Intramural Fee: This year anyone involved in an intramural activity will pay a one-time fee of $25. Once you have paid this fee you are covered for any intramural activity this year.

The role of the directors: As the play’s directors, we have final say in all decisions regarding the actors. We will often ask for ideas and suggestions from cast and crew members. You must be respectful of the decisions we make and understand they are for the best of the whole production.

Volunteers: We will need help from parents/guardians in the following areas: costumes, sets, hair/make-up, and driving. More information will be sent out by email soon.

Please take this sheet home and go over it with your parents/guardians. It is important that everyone is aware of the commitment and expectations.

You will read parts of this page for your audition. We recommend you read this page many times before the audition. You might also be asked to try some lines as Mother Goose, a member of royalty, or other nursery rhyme characters.

Queen: / Yummy, yummy, bread and honey.
Jester: / Hi, Ol’ Queen Cole.
Queen: / Old?
Jester: / You don’t need bread and honey when you can have this instead.
Queen: / Oh, my, a musical pie. Ow! That pie bit me.
Jester: / What’s that? Look over there!
Maid: / Who, what?
Raven: / Maybe we could film here.
Maid: / Hey, I know you. You’re that blackbird on TV, the one that has the show on the life and hairstyles of the oh-so very rich and oh-so very famous. You’re Blackbird something or other. I know. You’re Blackbird Lurch.
Raven: / Madam, it’s not Blackbird, it’s Raven…Raven Lurch.
Maid: / Blackbird, raven. What’s the diff? A rose by any other name would still smell.
Raven: / For your information, madam, it’s a rose by- Oh, never mind!
Maid: / So, Blackbird, what ya here for? Wait, don’t tell me, I bet you’re doing a show on Ol’ King Cole.
Raven: / Brilliant deduction.
Mother Goose: / Terrific! My goodness, you’re too good. Okay, tadpoles, now in the next sketch, Humpty Dumpty’s going to be on TV, you know, getting interviewed. Check it out!
Raven: / Now where can I ditch this banana peel? Not now, Chef Bell. You’re not on ‘til next week.
Chef Bell: / But I am cooking today for da king – making my world-famous omelet. But I got no eggs. How can I make da omelet without da eggs?
Raven: / That’s your problem, isn’t it? Now scramble, I’ve got a show to do.
Voice Offstage: / Raven, you’re on the air.
Raven: / Oh, hello there, everyone, I’m Raven Lurch, bringing you another show on the life and hairstyles of the oh-so very rich and oh-so very famous. Today, we’re here live at the castle of Ol’ King Cole for a very special show. The old king has hired the most famous stunt person in the world. Wow, Humpty, that was a close one!
Humpty: / Yes, Raven, it was, wasn’t it? Someone was very careless with that banana peel.
Raven: / Oh my, yes. Well, ah, I wouldn’t want you to end up with egg on your face. Ha, Ha, Ha.
Humpty: / That’s it! The interview is off.