Musical Play: “Friendly Neighborhood Helpers”

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 Mail Carriers, Fire Fighters, etc. as desired. One student can easily play several roles if needed. Note that all roles can be played by any gender. The Storyteller will be played by many students (who may also play the role of a neighborhood helper).

CHARACTERS:

Storytellers (many students share the role)
Crossing Guard
Fire Fighters
Dentists
Fruit Grocer
Vegetable Grocer
Dairy Grocer
Mail Carriers
Chefs
Plumbers
Kid Garbage Truck Fans
Veterinarian
Librarian
Recycler
and a CHORUS comprised of all students who are not playing roles on stage at the time

Script

This is the first one-third of the script.

(STUDENTS face the audience in small groups. There might be a large banner across the top of the backdrop that clearly reads “Friendly Neighborhood Helpers.”)

Song 1

CLASS:
You bring the mail
You find us books
You put out fires
You catch the crooks
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.

You’ve checked our teeth
Since we were tots
You fix the drain
You give us shots.

PART of CLASS (shouts): Ouch!

CLASS:
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
We thank you.

Here’s our show
Starring you
Folks will know
All that you do.
Here’s our show
Starring you
Folks will know
All that you do.

You bring the mail
You find us books
You put out fires
You catch the crooks
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.

You’ve checked our teeth
Since we were tots
You fix the drain
You give us shots.

PART of CLASS (shouts): Ouch!

CLASS:
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.
We thank you.
Friendly neighborhood helpers we thank you.

(CLASS exits/sits down. STORYTELLERS take turns throughout the show. Storyteller lines may be divided among as many students as desired.)

STORYTELLER: Welcome to our show.

STORYTELLER: Today we are going to count down our top ten friendly neighborhood helpers.

STORYTELLER: Starting it off at number 10—up three from last year’s countdown—is the Crossing Guard.

(CROSSING GUARD step ups and faces audience)

Song 2

CROSSING GUARD:
I look left
I look right
Not a car in sight.
Oh I look long
I look hard
I’m the crossing guard.

I’m the boss when you cross the street
I’m the dude when you move your feet
I’m the king of the boulevard
I’m the crossing guard.

(spoken): Okay, everybody, it’s safe to walk across. Keep moving, Kim, you can tie
shoes once you get across.

I look up
I look down
Not a car around.
Oh I look near
I look far
I’m the crossing guard.

CROSSING GUARD and CHORUS:
I’m the boss when you cross the street
I’m the dude when you move your feet
I’m the king of the boulevard
I’m the crossing guard.
I’m the crossing guard.
I’m the crossing guard.

(CROSSING GUARD exits.)

STORYTELLER: Number nine on our list is an important neighborhood helper.

STORYTELLER: These are the people to call when we see smoke or flames.

STORYTELLER: Here are the fire fighters.

(FIRE FIGHTERS enter)

Song 3

FIRE FIGHTERS:
Who fights the fires and puts them out?
We do. We do.
Who pulls folks from a burning house?
We do. We do.
Who drives a truck that’s big and red?
Who wears a helmet on our head?
We do. We do.

CHORUS: Who fights the fires and puts them out?

FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.

CHORUS: Who pulls folks from a burning house?

FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.

CHORUS: Who drives a truck that’s big and red?
Who wears a helmet on our head?

FIRE FIGHTERS: We do. We do.

Never play with fire
Or you might get burned
This is one big lesson
We all hope you’ve learned.

Who answers calls in nothing flat?
We do. We do.
Who climbs a tree to get your cat?
We do. We do.
Who likes water more than frogs?
Who likes hydrants more than dogs?
We do. We do.
We do, we do, we do, we do, we do.

(FIRE FIGHTERS exit.)

STORYTELLER: And now it’s time for number eight. And the winner is…

GARBAGE TRUCK FANS (shout): The garbage truck!

STORYTELLER: What?

GARBAGE TRUCK FANS (shout): The garbage truck! We LOVE the garbage truck.

STORYTELLER: No. I’m sorry. The garbage truck is NOT on our list.

STORYTELLER: Number eight in our countdown are the Dentists.
(DENTISTS enter)

Song 4

DENTISTS:
We are all dentists
Oh that is the truth
We are all dentists
We love ev’ry tooth.
We like enamel
That’s strong as it comes
We are all dentists
We dream about gums.

Open wide
Open wider
We adore
Each incisor.
Open wide
Open wider
We adore molars too!

We are all dentists
We hate tooth decay
We are all dentists
So brush twice a day.
Brush in small circles
And never across
We are all dentists
We love a good floss.

DENTISTS and CHORUS:
Open wide
Open wider
We adore
Each incisor.

Open wide
Open wider
We adore molars too!
We adore molars too!
(THEY exit.)

STORYTELLER: Number seven on our list brings us fruit, vegetables, and milk.

STORYTELLER: Grocers are the people who make sure that good food is available every day.

STORYTELLER: Without them, we would get VERY hungry!

STORY TELLER: Up from number 13, here are the Grocers.

(GROCERS enter)

Song 5

FRUIT GROCER:
I’m in charge of fruit at the grocery store

CHORUS:
Boysenberry fig and cherry, boysenberry woh woh woh

FRUIT GROCER:
Here’s a nectarine and I’ve got a lot more

CHORUS:
Boysenberry fig and cherry, boysenberry woh woh woh

FRUIT GROCER:
If you feel a little glum…
Try a plum.

VEGGIE GROCER:
I’m the veggie gal at the grocery store

CHORUS:
Rutabaga baked potato, rutabaga woh woh woh

VEGGIE GROCER:
Here’s an artichoke and I’ve got a lot more

CHORUS:
Rutabaga baked potato, rutabaga woh woh woh

VEGGIE GROCER:
If you’re ever in a jam…
Try a yam.

VEGGIE GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store
Grocery store
So many places here to explore

ONE STUDENT (shouts): Clean up on aisle four!

CHORUS:
Grocery store.

DAIRY GROCER:
I’m the dairy guy at the grocery store

CHORUS:
Milk and butter from the udder, milk and butter woh woh woh

DAIRY GROCER:
Here’s some whipping cream and I’ve got a lot more

CHORUS:
Milk and butter from the udder, milk and butter woh woh woh

DAIRY GROCER:
If you’re ever in a squeeze…
Try some cheese.

CHORUS and GROCERS:
Grocery store
Grocery store
So many places here to explore

SEVERAL STUDENTS (shout): Clean up on aisle four!

GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store.

(GROCERS do the Grocery Store Dance during instrumental)

GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store
Grocery store
So many places here to explore

ONE STUDENT (shouts): Clean up on aisle four!

GROCERS and CHORUS:
Grocery store.

(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)