Characters:

Narrator: Preston (normal)

Hunter that catches Atalanta: Liam (bow and regular clothes)
Man who dies after racing Atlanta: Liam (normal clothes, with red paper representing
blood)
Real father/king: Mathias (crown)
Atalanta: Kaden
Aphrodite: Liam
Melanion: Ashkawn
Zeus: Mathias (white bedsheet or cloth)
Bear: Ashkawn (bear costume)

-Rough story overview

Atalanta abandoned by father in forest. Female bear saved her and raised her.
Huntsmen finds her years later and traps her via snare. Brings Atalanta home. Atalanta
learned to behave like a human. She was extremely fast for humans, participated in
many games and won turning very famous. The King (real father) announced she was his
lost daughter. Now a princess, she’s unable to go on unmarried. Atalanta refused to
marry a husband who could not beat her in a race. Losers of the race would lose their
lives. A young prince, Melanion tried to best her. In a prayer to the goddess Aphrodite,
she gave Melanion three golden apples. Atalanta, certain of victory, gave Melanion a
head start. In desperation, Melanion used the apples to his advantage by throwing them
far off during the race. Bewitched by the apples, Atalanta would stray off, giving
Melanion the advantage. Melanion won and married Atalanta, they lived happily and
honored Aphrodite. However, they did not honor Zeus and in retaliation he turned them
into Lions.
-Props
● Three golden apples (Mathias)
● String in loop (done) (Liam)
● Plastic trophy (Liam)
● Bear Costume (done) (Ashkawn)
● Paper with the word “female” (done) (All of us)
● Lightning Bolt Prop (done) (Ashkawn)
● Lion manes (done) (Kaden)
● Name Tags (done)
*Scene begins with Atalanta (baby) being left behind in a forest setting with her father
walking away from her, shaking his head (holding a sheet of paper with a female gender
symbol). She cries and a bear approaches. Bear carries Atalanta*

Narrator: When Atalanta was but a small newborn, she was abandoned in the
wilderness by her father, who had wanted a son. A she-bear approached abandoned
Atalanta and brought her back to raise as her own.

(Short delay) One day she was caught in a trap.

*Short period of time of Atalanta and Bear running on all fours*

*Atalanta trips into trap*
*Hunter enters*
Hunter: “What is this? A human child?! Incredible!”
Hunter: “You're coming with me.”
*Hunter takes Atalanta home with him and teachers her how to speak*
Narrator: The hunter captures Atalanta and takes her home to raise as a human child.
Hunter: “See? Apple Aa-pul
Atalanta: “Ah-ah-What is the point of this exercise?”
Hunter: “No, no, that’s not it at all…”
Narrator: The huntsman taught Atalanta how to talk and act like a human. As she grew
into a human girl, he noticed her athletic prowess and decided to take her to the athletic
games.
*In the background, Huntsman watching Atalanta grow into an athletic girl*
Hunter: “You are going to be a great athlete, my daughter.”
Atlanta: “Where are we going?”
Hunter: “Why, we are going to the athletic games of course. As a girl with your athletic
ability will have no problem winning.”
Narrator: Atalanta went on to win many races and thrived in the athletic games.
*Atalanta runs and wins medals*
*Atalanta flaunts plastic trophy*
Everyone: *Applause*
Atalanta: “Yes! Thank you everyone!”
*Real Father re-enters*
Real Father: “My daughter!”
Hunter: “Guess my adopted daughter that I was so proud of is now gone and out of my
hands to return to her supposedly real father.” *Slight pause* “OH WELL!”
Real Father:”As my daughter, you are now a princess. You must get married! Any man
fast and swift enough to beat you in a race shall be pronounced your husband.
Although, any man who should lose the race will die a real death.”
Atalanta: “I agree!” *Speaking to herself* “It’s not like I could ever lose anyway.”

Narrator: “After acknowledging her abilities, Atalanta’s father finally claimed her as his
own. Her father was a king, and as a princess she could not go on unmarried. So the
king began to search for a suitable husband. Atalanta agreed to marry any man who
could beat her in a race. However, anyone who lost would not only lose the game, but
also their life.”
*Atalanta and man Racing*
Man who dies after racing Atalanta *Dies*
Atalanta: “Woohoo! Yes! I won once again!”
Man who dies after racing Atalanta: “I would have treated you well” *dies further*
Atalanta: “Haha you didn't run fast enough, I am the winner!”
*Waves to the crowd smiling*

Narrator: This continued for a while, until wise Melanion came to court Atalanta. He
knew he could not win, so he prayed to Aphrodite. The goddess of love wished to see
every beautiful woman married. In response, she gave him three golden apples and told
him what he was to do.
Melanion: “Aphrodite, please help me win over Atalanta.”
Aphrodite: *gives him the apples* “I grant you your wish, for I know your love for
Atalanta is true. When the race begins, throw these apples to distract her. They are so
beautiful that she will be unable to avoid them. You will then surely win.”
Melanion: “Thank you goddess, your gift will not be wasted.”
Narrator: Melanion went forth to race Atalanta, all three golden apples in hand. He was
ready to execute his plan with the guidance of the goddess for Atalanta’s hand.

*The race starts and Melanion starts before Atalanta*

Atalanta: “Might as well give him a head start, for I could never lose.”
*Atalanta catches up*
Melanion: “APPLE!”
Atalanta: “Oh wow. I better abort this race and grab that beautiful golden apple.”
*Atalanta starts to catch up again*
Melanion: “MANZANA!”
Atalanta: “Ooooo… another succulent fruit that I shall abruptly stop and go out of my
way to obtain.”
*Atalnta catches up…. again*
Melanion: “μήλο” (apple in greek) {mee-yo}
Narrator: Mee-yo means apple in greek.
Atalanta: “I MUST COLLECT ALL THE APPLE”
*Melanion crosses the finish line and wins*
Atalanta: “You are a wise man Melanion, for you knew you could not beat me with
athletic ability alone. You used your wits to defeat me in a race and I shall marry you.”
Melanion: “Wooo yeah baby! That’s what I’ve been waiting for, that’s what it’s all about!”
“Woooooooooo”
Narrator: The wise Melanion won the race and beat Atalanta fair and square. Honoring
the deal, Atalanta took Melanion as her husband and the two got married.

*Melanion and Atalanta get married with the golden apples as the bouquet*
Melanion and Atalanta: *kneels* “Thank you Aphrodite, for bringing us together. We will
never forget you, the greatest of the gods.”
*Zeus watches them from above*
Zeus: “They never honor me! They do not deserve those human bodies!” *Throws
lightning bolt at them*
*Zeus turns them into lions*
Narrator: Melanion and Atalanta were very grateful to Aphrodite, however they did not
honor Zeus. In response, Zeus turned them into lions. For the rest of their lives they ran
as lions, hunting through the woods.
Melanion and Atalanta: *lion noises*

*Everyone stands*
Mathias: The lesson of this story is to play to your strengths and know your own
abilities. In the myth, Melanion used his wits to win the race and take Atalanta as his
wife. Playing to your strengths can lead to success.
*Everyone bows*