 | An easy, flexible, 20-minute musical play for grades 2-6. 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
Thanksgiving is in danger of being cancelled because of some extremely dissatisfied poultry. What is this holiday about, anyway? Learn more! |
MusicalGr. 2-620 Min.
Musical Play: “The Turkeys Go on Strike”
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
As seen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno!
Thanksgiving is in danger of being cancelled because of some extremely dissatisfied poultry. While negotiations go on around the clock---an event covered by TV reporters and influenced by ambitions members of the Squash family---students learn about the historical origins and the real meaning of the holiday.
Preview the script and songs!Key Concepts
The Turkeys Go On Strike is a great complement to your elementary and middle school Thanksgiving celebrations. 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:
978-1-886588-06-6
© 1996
Bad Wolf Press, LLC
2 reviews for Musical Play: “The Turkeys Go on Strike”
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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 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
Pilgrims (Group One)
Mediators
Arbitrators
Squash
Pilgrims (Group Two)
Coach and Football Players
The Publics (John Q., Jane Q., and daughter Susie Q.)
Cranberries
Native Americans
Kid in the Audience
Chorus (composed of ALL students who are not directly involved
in the scene)
Script
This is the first one-third of the script.
Song 1
Listen to
a sample!
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
Listen to
a sample!
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 original pilgrims from
Plymouth rock.
(To PILGRIMS entering)
Howdy, Pilgrims! I understand that voyage back in 1621 was a rough one.
Song 3
Listen to
a sample!
PILGRIMS:
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.
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
Listen to
a sample!
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.)
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
History/Social Studies
- National History Standards 1, 5, and 6 for K-4th
- National US History Standards, Era 2, for 5th-8th
- National Social Studies Standards 1, 5, 10
Language Arts
- Common Core Reading Standards for Literature: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Reading Standards: Foundational Skills:
- 2nd: Phonics and Word Recognition
- Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards: Comprehension and Collaboration - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Language Standards: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use -2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
- Common Core Standard 10: Range, Quality & Complexity:
National Core Arts Standards
- Music - Anchor Standards 4-6
- Theater - Anchor Standards 3-6
- Dance - Anchor Standards 1-6
Vocabulary
coop
fuss
strike
fowl
exclusive
Plymouth rock
gripe
churned
budge
conciliate
advisory
council
zucchini
surveyed
intercepted
“John Q. Public”
steady
development
“second fiddle”
solidarity
resolution
crisis
gobble
Vocabulary From Stage Directions
various
pedagogical
encourage
Scantue (verified owner) –
I used the play as part of my Social Studies, as well as my Reading Curriculum. The students were really surprised with the ease of learning their lines (songs). I was skeptical about doing the play with 5th graders. But they embraced it with enthusiasm as well as excitement. Our Music Teacher was out on leave so I was also a little hesitant about doing a musical. The instrumental music was perfect as well as easily adaptable. Now they are asking when is the next play.
Jennifer (verified owner) –
This play couldn't have been cuter! The songs were delightful. The dialogue was perfect for 2nd graders.