 | An easy, flexible, 20-minute musical play for grades 1-5. Comes with the script, audio recording (with both a vocal and instrumental version of each song), and a teacher's guide. No music or drama experience needed! |
 | ✓ Funny script ✓ Catchy tunes ✓ Flexible casting ✓ Dumb jokes
A fun and sassy retelling of the tale about everyone's favorite clothing-challenged monarch. Nudity not required. Learn more! |
MusicalGr. 1-520 Min.
Musical Play: “The Emperor’s New Clothes”
Complete Script & Audio: $45 (other items also available)
We sell wonderful, short, funny plays and musicals for use in your classroom, after-school program, drama club, music class, summer school program, homeschool, and any other place where kids can thrive by participating in theater! If you are not familiar with us or how to use theater to teach, check out our Q&As.
Synopsis
The Emperor thinks he needs a new outfit, and the Crooks have just the thing in mind! But will the Emperor catch on to their scheme before he embarrasses himself at the big Harvest Day Parade? This delightful, easy-to-do show adds humor and fun songs to a classic tale.
Preview the script and songs!Key Concepts
The Emperor’s New Clothes is a great complement to your curriculum resources in elementary school language arts. And, like all of our plays, this show can be used to improve reading, vocabulary, reading comprehension, performance and music skills, class camaraderie and teamwork, and numerous social skills (read about it!) -- all while enabling students to be part of a truly fun and creative experience they will never forget!
Aligned with national standards! View the standards and vocabulary.Publication Info
Author: Ron Fink (Composer) and John Heath (Book and Lyrics)
ISBN:
978-1-886588-01-1
© 1995
Bad Wolf Press, LLC
2 reviews for Musical Play: “The Emperor’s New Clothes”
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The Show
We want you to know what you're getting, so the cast list and first third of the script are available here! Bad Wolf shows are written for flexibility and can be edited however you like to meet the needs of your actors, school, curriculum, parents, astrological chart, latest whim, etc. If you have questions about the portions of the script not shown, please contact us.
Casting
Flexible casting from 11-40 students. Use as many Palace Workers, Bakers, etc. as desired. Actors can easily play several roles, or a single role can be divided between multiple actors. All parts can be played by any gender.
CHARACTERS:
Advisors to the Emperor
The Emperor
Crooks
Palace Workers
Assistants to the Crooks
Baker
Carpenter
Furnace Repairman
Organizers of the Harvest Festival
Child
Parent
A chorus of many children is required, individual members of which will also take turns as narrators.
Script
This is the first one-third of the script.
Song 1
Listen to
a sample!
ENTIRE CAST:
We've got a story so exciting
A tale that everybody knows
We've got a story so revealing
About an emperor with no clothes.
We've got a story so exciting (CLAPS)
A tale that will not let you doze
We've got a story that'll grab you (CLAPS)
About an emperor with no clothes.
Our emperor is wise
Our emperor is fair
Whenever there is a problem
Our emperor is there.
We've got a story so exciting
[Three or four members of
the chorus echo immediately:]
(We've got a story so exciting)
A tale that we're quite glad we chose
We've got a story so revealing
(We've got a story so revealing)
About an emperor with no clothes.
Our emperor is kind
And generous as well
And whenever we may need him
Our emperor can tell.
We've got a story so exciting
(We've got a story so exciting)
A tale that everybody knows
We've got a story so revealing
(We've got a story so revealing)
About an emperor with no clothes
About an emperor with no clothes.
NARRATOR (The narrators' lines are always spoken): This is a happy kingdom. As in every kingdom, there are many good people, and a few rotten ones. Fortunately, the emperor is one of the good people. Here are is advisors, who are going to tell us about the emperor's most amazing hobby:
Song 2
Listen to
a sample!
ADVISORS:
When he's emperored all day
And emperored all night
When he's tired and crabby
And not feeling right.
He heads for his closet
And oh what a sight!
There is his one greatest favorite delight!
He loves clothes, brand new clothes
Socks never worn put him under a spell
And shirts with that wonderful new-smelling smell.
He loves clothes, brand new clothes
Pants with a crease make him feel like a king
Which he is -- aren't clothes the most marvelous thing!
Our kingdom is happy
We all wear a smile
Our farms are so fruitful
For mile after mile.
The harvest looks splendid
We'll all make a pile
So it's only fitting
That our ruler has style, has style, has style.
He loves clothes, brand new clothes
Belts and suspenders and polka-dot ties
With boots for his feet and cool shades for his eyes.
He loves clothes, brand new clothes
Pants with a crease make him feel like a king
Which he is -- aren't clothes the most marvelous thing!
(CROOKS enter)
NARRATOR: Here are two of the rotten people in the kingdom. They're pretending to be famous fashion designers, but they're really crooks. They don't know how to sew at all! They're trying to fool the emperor.
CROOK: Your highness, aren't you ready for a real cool outfit? Something you could wear to the Harvest Parade and everyone would look?
EMPEROR: Oh, I don't know.
CROOK: Snap to it, Highness-this is your chance! We're not talking about normal, boring clothes. We've got something special in mind for you!
EMPEROR (smiles): Hmmnn!
Song 3
Listen to
a sample!
CROOKS:
Imagine a fabric as subtle as glass
Such luster, such sheen
It can only be seen, be seen
Be seen by people with class.
EMPEROR (spoken): Interesting!
CROOKS:
We'll make you some clothes now
That none can surpass
With sparkle so keen
They can only be seen, be seen
Be seen by people with class.
EMPEROR: I really shouldn't.
CROOKS:
You've got a sense of style unequalled.
EMPEROR: I do, don't I?
CROOKS:
Such taste, as everybody knows.
EMPEROR: Well, yes, it's true.
CROOKS:
Soon all the people will be talking
EMPEROR: They really like my outfits.
CROOKS:
About the emperor with new clothes.
EMPEROR: Absolutely!
CROOKS:
Imagine a fabric as brilliant as brass
With sparkle so keen
It can only be seen, be seen
Be seen by people with class.
EMPEROR: Great stuff! Let's do it!
CROOKS, EMPEROR, AND CHORUS:
Imagine a fabric as brilliant as brass
With sparkle so keen
It can only be seen, be seen
Be seen by people with class
It can only be seen, be seen
Be seen by people with class
Be seen by people with class.
NARRATOR: The crooks announce that they require all the best materials, all the most expensive supplies in the kingdom to make this wonderful new set of clothes for the emperor. The palace workers can barely carry in all the treasure.
(PALACE WORKERS carry materials and put them inside a room where the CROOKS will work. The room is marked off by a door.)
Song 4
Listen to
a sample!
PALACE WORKERS:
A barrel of diamonds
A basket of gold
These tailors want all that our storerooms can hold.
A barrel of silver
A basket of silk
And thirty-three gallons of chocolate milk!
Man they've got a lot of jewels
Golden thread on golden spools
Wonder what the emperor must pay
Hey hey hey hey
Man they've got a lot of stuff
Nothing seems to be enough
Never knew how much rich stuff could weigh.
A barrel of rubies
A basket of lace
These tailors want genuine pearls by the case.
A trunk full of velvet
Gold buttons to sew
And thirty-three anchovy pizzas to go!
PALACE WORKERS AND CHORUS:
Man they've got a lot of jewels
Golden thread on golden spools
Wonder what the emperor must pay
Hey hey hey hey
Man they've got a lot of stuff
Nothing seems to be enough
Never knew how much rich stuff
could weigh.
Rich stuff could weigh.
(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)
The Songs
Click on any song to listen to a snippet. Click the cart icon to purchase any track for $1.
Standards
Common Core and Other National Standards
Language Arts
- Common Core Reading Standards for Literature: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
- Common Core Reading Standards: Foundational Skills:
- Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
- Common Core Language Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
- Common Core Standard 10: Range, Quality & Complexity: Range of Text Types for K-5th
History/Social Studies
National Core Arts Standards
- Music - Anchor Standards 4-6
- Theater - Anchor Standards 3-6
- Dance - Anchor Standards 1-6
Vocabulary
advisor
crabby
crease
marvelous
fruitful
splendid
fashion designer
subtle
luster
sheen
surpass
keen
unequalled
require
tailor
spool
rubies
lace
bold
divine
peek
gape
bust
sprout
guava
dashing
smashing
behold
goose-bump
paper-mâché
delicately
visible
adjust
Eliza (verified owner) –
This play was funny and the kids had a blast putting on the play for their parents. The songs were simple to learn and we were able to pull off the play in a week, with just morning rehearsals. This is a play we'll definitely use again!
Julie Chilton (verified owner) –
My 4th graders really enjoyed doing this play. The songs were funny (especially "Ive Got to Do it") and repetitive enough so that the kids could easily learn the melodies. A couple of comments: The main idea of the story has been somewhat altered in that none of the Emperor's servants are allowed to see the clothes, either. In the original story, the point was that nobody wanted to be thought a fool or be fired, so they all pretended to see the clothes. So I wrote some additional dialogue so that the servants get in to see the "clothes" and then tell the Emperor how great they look. In addition, I wrote some lines for the Palace Workers and the Servants to say before their songs. We made a sandwich board sign that said "Censored" for the Emperor to wear when he walks in the parade, which was very funny. One other point – the recording is a bit dodgy, especially the first number. The volume was quite soft for some reason.