Category:Nonlinguistic Representations

Tite: #7 Play or Musical

Time Needed: Varied, depending on whether or not the students have an already written play or
if they come up with one of their own.
Room Arrangement: Desks pushed back in order to make a stage or an actual stage if available
Materials: Props that pertain to the play/musical, costumes if available, scripts
Process/Directions:
Have children read through a play or musical or even a readers theater script.
Make sure that the play/musical/etc is connected to the lesson and learning targets or
standards.
After having the students read through the scripts a few times, call for volunteers
for each part, or pick sticks to play each part. If you wanted to bring it up a notch, you
could even have auditions.
You could also have directors, stage managers, producers, costume designers, etc.
Practice lines with the students and set up an opening day for the play.
If you are doing readers theater, you do not have to be so elaborate, you can just
read through a script dramatically, with several different parts, each being read by
different students.
After practicing, setting a date, and even coming up with costumes (if the
resources are available), the students need to put on the play with an audience. You can
even invite the other grade level classes or even the whole school at an assembly!
Example of when I would use this: I would use this as a culminating activity for a unit of study if
I was using it on a grand scale. If I was using it as a readers theater, I could use it during a unit
on fairy tales, fables, on a study of a historical person, time or event. I could use this during a
study of the arts as well. This is a great activity to do at the end of the year as this is a good
project for the class to do as a whole.
Source: Public Knowledge
(The following is an example of readers theater.)

Casey at the Bat

By Ernest Lawrence Thayer
Readers Theater Edition #23

Adapted for readers theater (or readers theatre) by Aaron Shepard

For more readers theater, visit Aaron Shepards RT Page at

www.aaronshep.com/rt
Script copyright 1999, 2002 Aaron Shepard. Scripts in this series are free
and may be copied, shared, and performed for any noncommercial purpose,
except they may not be posted online without permission.
PREVIEW: It looked extremely rocky for the Mudville nine that day. . . .
GENRE: Poetry
CULTURE: American
(late 19th century)
THEME: Hubris

READERS: 8 or more
READER AGES: 9 and up
LENGTH: 4 minutes

ROLES: Fans 16 (16), Casey (C), Umpire (U), (Pitcher), (Flynn),

(Blake), (Other Fans)
NOTES: Thayers poem was first published in the San Francisco Examiner,
June 3, 1888. Versions common today, including this one, include changes by
later authors. FANS serve as narrators and act as spectators. For best effect,
place all FANS in the center. With its tongue-in-cheek melodrama, this poem
works best if you ham it up.

1:

It looked extremely rocky for the Mudville nine that day.

6:

The score was two to four with but one inning left to play.

2:

So, when Cooney died at second, and Burrows did the same,
A pallor wreathed the features of the patrons of the game.

5:

A straggling few got up to go, leaving there the rest

With that hope that springs eternal from within the human breast.

3:

For they thought, if only Casey could get a whack at that,

4:

Theyd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat.

1:

But Flynn preceded Casey,

6:
2:
5:
3:

and likewise so did Blake,

And the former was a pudding,
and the latter was a fake.
So, on that stricken multitude a death-like silence sat,

4:

For there seemed but little chance of Caseys getting to the bat.

1:

But Flynn let fly a single to the wonderment of all,

6:

And the much despisd Blakey tore the cover off the ball.

2:

So, when the dust had settled

5:
3:

and they saw what had occurred,

There was Blakey safe at second,

4:

and Flynn a-hugging third.

1:

Then from the gladdened multitude went up a joyous yell.

6:

It rumbled in the mountaintops, it rattled in the dell.

2:

It struck upon the hillside and rebounded on the flat

5:

For Casey,

3:
4:

mighty Casey,
was advancing to the bat.

1:

There was ease in Caseys manner as he stepped into his place.

6:

There was pride in Caseys bearing and a smile on Caseys face.

2:

And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,

No stranger in the crowd could doubt twas Casey at the bat.

5:

Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt.

3:

Five thousand tongues applauded as he wiped them on his shirt.

4:

And when the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance glanced from Caseys eye, a sneer curled Caseys lip.

1:

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,

6:

And Casey stood a-watching it

2:

in haughty grandeur there.

5:

Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped.

C:

That aint my style,

3:
U:
4:

said Casey.
Strike one!
the umpire said.

1:

From the benches black with people there went up a muffled roar,

6:

Like the beating of the storm waves on a stern and distant shore.

2:

Kill him! Kill the umpire!

5:
3:

someone shouted from the stand

And its likely theyd have killed him,

4:

had not Casey raised his hand.

1:

With a smile of noble charity great Caseys visage shone.

6:

He stilled the rising tumult. He bade the game go on.

2:

He signaled to the pitcher,

5:
3:

and once more the spheroid flew.

But Casey still ignored it,

4:

and the umpire said,

U:

Strike two!

16: Fraud!
1:

cried the maddened thousands,

6:

and the echo answered,

16: (echoing softly)

Fraud.

2:

But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.

5:

They saw his face grow stern and cold,

3:

they saw his muscles strain,

4:

And they knew that Casey would not let that ball go by again.

1:

The sneer is gone from Caseys lip.

6:

His teeth are clenched in hate.

2:

He pounds with cruel vengeance his bat upon the plate.

5:

And now the pitcher holds the ball,

3:
4:

and now he lets it go,

And now the air is shattered by the force of Caseys blow!
(All FANS gasp.)
(melodramatically)

1:

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright.

6:

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.

2:

And somewhere men are laughing,

5:

and somewhere children shout.

16: But
3:
4:
1:
6:
16:

there is no joy
in Mudville.
Mighty Casey
has
struck out.