Musical Play: “The Turkeys Go on Strike”

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 Turkeys, Pilgrims, 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:

TV Reporters
Turkeys
Passengers
Mediators
Arbitrators
Wampanoags (Native Americans)
Squash
Coach and Football Players
The Publics (John Q., Jane Q., and daughter Susie Q.)
Pilgrims
Cranberries
Kid in the Audience
(and a Chorus composed of all students who are not playing roles at the time.)

Script

This is the first one-third of the script.

Song 1

TV REPORTERS:
We are TV reporters
We've got TV style
We wear TV jackets
And a big TV smile.

We are TV reporters
We've got a big scoop
Have we got a story
Of who's flown the coup!

TV REPORTERS and CHORUS:
Thanksgiving's canceled!
We can't help but shout
Thanksgiving's canceled
The turkeys walked out!

TV REPORTERS:
We are TV reporters
We've got TV style
We wear TV jackets
And a big TV smile.

We are TV reporters
We're broadcasting live
We're waiting right here
For the birds to arrive.

TV REPORTERS and CHORUS:
Thanksgiving's canceled!
We can't help but shout
Thanksgiving's canceled
The turkeys walked out!

TV REPORTERS:
The turkeys walked out
CHORUS: Can't get much worse
The turkeys walked out
CHORUS: You heard it first.
The turkeys walked out
CHORUS: Can't get much worse
The turkeys walked out
CHORUS: You heard it...

TV REPORTERS and CHORUS:
Thanksgiving's canceled
We can't help but shout
Thanksgiving's canceled
The turkeys walked out!

REPORTER: This is a truly amazing story, viewers. Oh, here come the Turkeys.
(Holds out microphone to TURKEYS as they enter)
Tell us, is it true? Have you really abandoned Thanksgiving?

Song 2

TURKEYS:
According to some
Us turkeys is dumb
For making this bother and fuss.

But this time each year
We all disappear
And that seems suspicious to us.

So eat sweet potatoes
And big red tomatoes
And all the stuffing that you like
But you can't have turkey
No there's no more turkey
'Cause all of us turkeys are on strike.

So now we must howl
That something is fowl
We're not sure that it's a fair deal.

'Cause each year we've found
No turkeys around
After the holiday meal.

TURKEYS and CHORUS:
So eat sweet potatoes
And big red tomatoes
And all the stuffing that you like
But you can't have turkey
No there's no more turkey
'Cause all of us turkeys are on strike.
'Cause all of us turkeys are on strike.

REPORTER: I promise you, viewers, we'll get to the bottom of this. I've arranged an exclusive interview with some of the passengers on the Mayflower!
(To PASSENGERS, entering)
Howdy, Pilgrims! I understand that voyage back in 1620 was a rough one.

PASSENGER #1: Oh, it certainly was. But we aren't Pilgrims.

REPORTER: You aren't?

PASSENGER #2: Nope. Only about a third of the passengers on the Mayflower were the people you call "Pilgrims."

PASSENGER #1: The Pilgrims came so they could practice their religion the way they wanted to. The rest of us had other reasons for coming, but we all wanted a new life in the New World.

PASSENGER #2: And the only thing standing between us and our dreams was...sixty-six days of misery!

Song 3

PASSENGERS:
For sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
We sailed on our voyage of hope
Just one set of clothes and one pair of shoes
And nobody brought any soap.

So we rarely washed and we never flossed
And that's our most serious gripe
After sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
We started to smell pretty ripe.

For sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
The ocean was angry and mean
Our vessel was tossed, our stomachs were churned
We all turned a nice shade of green.

The biscuits were hard, the water went bad
The meat was as tender as wood
After sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
Oh, did the New World look good.

PASSENGERS and CHORUS:

The biscuits were hard, the water went bad
The meat was as tender as wood
After sixty-six days and sixty-six nights
Oh, did the New World look good.

REPORTER: Bad news, viewers. It doesn't look like the Turkeys are going to budge from their position. The whole situation looks hopeless. Wait a minute! Who are you?

Song 4

MEDIATORS (entering):
We are the mediators
Yes, yes, yes, the mediators
CHORUS: Tell us, tell us, what do you do?
What do we do?
CHORUS: What do you do?
We negotiate this
And conciliate that
We can bring peace between dogs and cats.
CHORUS: Hurrah hurrah, hurrah hurrah
Step back, give them room

REPORTER: This is great news! But wait, who are YOU?

ARBITRATORS (entering):
We are the arbitrators
Yes, yes, yes, the arbitrators
CHORUS: Tell us, tell us, what do you do?
What do we do?
CHORUS: What do you do?
We negotiate that
And conciliate this
We can make dogs and cats want to kiss.
CHORUS: Hurrah hurrah, hurrah hurrah
Step back, give them room.

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