Memories Light the Corners of my Mind

Rosa Parks Drama March 2015

Pre-show activity starting 20 minutes before the curtain:The Things will be asking trivia questions about all the shows done at Rosa Parks. Each Thing will create his/her questions based the shows of their year. They will introduce themselves (hello, I am Thing 1 Year 2006 – 07) and ask trivia question. They will call on audience members to answer.

Showtime - House lights go off. Stage lights come on. All Things sing “The Way We Were” (piano)

MemoriesLight the corners of my mind

Misty water-colored memoriesOf the way we were.Scattered pictures

Of the smiles we left behindSmiles we gave to one another

For the way we were.Can it be that it was all so simple then?

Or has time re-written every line?If we had the chance to do it all again

Tell me, would we? Could we?Memories, may be beautiful and yet

There are changes to rememberWe simply cannot choose to forget.

But it’s the laughterWe will remember

Whenever we remember...The way we were...The way we were...

Thing 10 in a panicWait, wait, what do you mean The Way We WERE???? What about me, the FUTURE! Don’t I count?? Don’t I exist?? Checks to see if body is there

Thing 1Relax, relax.

Thing 7Our show isn’t only about the past

All Things except 10 singThe way we were

Thing 2It’s about the changes through the years

Thing 3And all that has happened does cartwheel

Thing 8And what we’ve learned does cartwheel

Thing 9If you put memories and change together, what do you get?

Thing 4And how do you put memories and change together? What does that look like?

Thing 5What do you get?

Thing 6What does it look like?

All Things You get our show!!!

Piano Entrance Melody – blend of songs from all the years. Timed so that Bare Necessities, We’re Off to See the Wizard and Rock Around the Clock are played when all the actors are in and standing singing in place. During this all the Things sing & dance, cart wheelers cartwheel on the stage.

Thing 1 Puts arms out to stop music and dancingWait (looks at numbers on chest) those songs are from my year!! All the Things except #1 sit in their spot on the stage. Thing #1 speaks with great importance and pride Rosa Parks opened in September 2006. We had a beautiful building, excited teachers and students, and a strong motto – Be Nice, Work Hard. The Rosa Parks Theater and Drama Club’s first production was Jungle Book, performed in December 2006. The microphones arrived the day before the show and there were some glitches, but everyone had fun and the show was a success. The theme of Jungle Book is friendship, and it sure worked because everyone in the cast made new friends. Speaking of new friends, here comes one now. Baloo, my friend, welcome!

Baloo enters.

BalooWell, hello there! What’s happening? What’s comin’ down? Looks like I got visitors! Now, aint that nice.

Baloo sings Bare Necessities “A” (piano)

Well, now my name’s Baloo, my friendsI’m sure glad to see you, my friends,

How nice that you dropped in to pay a call.Oh, yes, it gits so lone-some here,A way out on my own some here,

That’s why I hibernate each year come fall.

Mowgli enters

BalooHey there! Hello! Another visitor. Ain’t that nice. What’s your name, Little Britches?

MowgliI’m Mowgli, the Man Cub.

BalooWell, have mercy! I’m Baloo, the ex-bear cub! What are you doin’ here, Little Britches? Runnin’ away from home?

MowgliNot exactly. . ..It’s a long story. ..

BalooDon’t tell it to me! There’s two things I don’t like to complicate my life with – long stories and table manners.

MowgliWhat are table manners?

BalooWhat are - ??—Little Britches, you’re a cub after my own heart! Well, let’s just say that table manners ain’t among the bare necessities of life!

MowgliAnd what are the bare necessities?

BalooSon, that is the most intelligent question I’ve been asked since I woke up from my last hibernation. Now the bare necessities..let’s just put it this way.

Baloo and Mowgli sing and dance Bare Necessities “B” (piano)

Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessitiesForget about your worries and your strife.

I mean the bare necessities, Old Mother Nature’s recipesThat bring the bare necessities of life.Wherever I wander, wherever I roam, I couldn’t be fonder of my big home.

The bees are buzzin in the tree to make some honey just for meYou look under the rocks and plants and take a glance

At the fancy ants, then maybe try a fewThe bare necessities of life will come to you.The bare necessities of life will come to you.

Wicked Witch comes on at the end of the song

Wicked WitchBare necessities cackle cackle cackle I’ll teach you some bare necessities.

Baloo and MowgliYikes – the witch from Oz, a scary memory!!!! They run off.

Wicked WitchYes, lets move along in this little walk down memory lane. Surely you remember that sickeningly sweet little girl from Kansas who kept singing about rainbows. She and her scaredy-cat friends – ha- get it, Lion? Cackle cackle cackle

Glinda comes on

GlindaYou know, sister, we might just choose to forget the MEMORY of you

Wicked Witch screeches, swirls her cape and exits. Glinda laughs.

It’s ok, friends, you can come out now.

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion come out.

ScarecrowI’ll protect you Dorothy.

LionWhere is she? Where is she? Come out and fight, c’mon c’mon. Scaredy-cat – ha!

Tin ManRelax, Lion. Let’s remember the good memories.

DorothyI remember that this script was so long and I had so many lines to learn.

GlindaIt was so long the first time we put the show all together was our first performance!

LionI remember how fun it was to have little kids working with big kids. We make new friends.

ScarecrowAnd don’t forget that lots of adults were in this show – the start of a great tradition and lots of memories that have continued at Rosa Parks.

DorothyEveryone at Rosa Parks truly felt that they had gone over the rainbow. Magical things were happening in every classroom and on the stage. All the planning for the school and the preparation had laid a strong foundation and the dream was alive!

Tin ManHey, do you think we could do it just one more time.

Dorothy, Lion, Glinda, ScarecrowDo what?

Tin ManYou know, the yellow brick road.

Everyone smiles at each other, in a yes, let’s do it way.

GlindaI don’t see why not!

Dorothy

Follow the yellow brick road!

Tin ManFollow the yellow brick road!

LionFollow the yellow brick road!

ScarecrowFollow the yellow brick road!

They all sing and dance to We’re Off to See the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (piano)

We’re off to see the wizardThe wonderful wizard of ozHe is a wiz’ a wiz’ of a wiz’

If ever a wiz; there wasIf ever, oh ever, a wiz’ there wasThe wizard of oz is one because

Because, because, because, because, because. . .Because of the wonderful things he does

We’re off to see the wizardThe wonderful wizard of oz.

DorothyHey, I wonder if he is here?

ScarecrowWho?

DorothyThe Wizard, silly. I remember that Mr. Newport played this role. Mr. Newport, are you in the audience?

They all exaggerate a look around. If Mr. Newport is in the audience, the Things 1 & 2 bring him up. They all high 5 and head off the stage. If Mr. Newport isn’t in the audience they talk about how cool it was when he “flew” up in the balloon. Then they exit. Thing 1 directs the carrying of the phone booth on stage. The rest of the Things carry it up. Thing 3 and 4 stay to hold it.

Thing 1 This wonderful first year ended with a dinner theater called The History of Rock and Roll. Dinner was served by actors wearing roller skates as the audience listened to performers from the 50’s, 60’s and on up. One of the

best parts of this show was seeing how many folks we could get in a phone booth.

Band starts to play Rock Around the Clock as 50’s kids come up and cram in the phone booth and hula hoop. Thing 1 calls up kids in the audience to finish filling the booth. At the end of the song, they all exit and the Things remove the phone booth.

Thing 1It was a great year. So many wonderful actors started us off. Please stand up if you were a Rosa Parks actor our first year. (claps) Thank you for the traditions you stared!

Thing 2 rushing on and interruptingBut now it’s on to our second year and the wonderful memories we made. This is my year, full of drama, well, MELOdrama and fantasy.

Mr. Dundlebrush comes on swishing his cape and searching.

Mr. DundlebrushWhere is she? Where is she? Have you seen her?

Thing 2Well, Mr. Dundlebrush, hello and welcome back to the Rosa Parks stage.

Mr. Dundlebrush looking around and suddenly realizing he is on stageOh, yes, well, good to be back.

He freezes in “villan” pose as Stanley rushes on.

Thing 2And Stanley, our hero, back again as well.

StanleyNell, Nell, I’m coming to save you! Stanley freezes

Thing 2In the fall of 2007 we presented The Purple Paw Review and Melodrama. A good old action packed adventure where Mr. Dundlebrush, the villain, and our hero Stanley, both wanted the love of beautiful Nell. In a melodrama the audience has to help in the story. Let’s see if you can do as well as that

audience long ago. Hey, all you Things, come and help me. (Staff Things will be divided up with the other Things to help with audience participation.) Ok, first let’s try out our “booing and hissing”. Thing 10 you have this audience (Thing 10 rallies up the theater side) and I will have this side (gym side). Ok, when I wake up Dundlebrush, you see what your audience can do, Thing 10.

Wakes up Dundlebrush and Thing 10 holds up “Boo Hiss” sign and gets audience going. Theater side Things all help out. Dundlebrush swirls and moves around the stage looking evil. Then repeat with Thing 2 and the gym side.

Thing 2Not bad. Both sides did pretty well don’t you think, Thing 10.

Thing 10They sure did. Now let’s wake up Stanley.

Repeat with the “Oh Stanley” sign. When the gym side has had a chance to cheer, the piano starts and the Dancing Dollies come running up, chasing everyone off the stage and they dance the Can Can (piano) The Staff Things dance on the floor on the side.

Thing 2Oh, those Dancing Dollies! (tries to can can kick, but of course isn’t good at it!) Having a “cast of thousands” began with Oz in our first year and became a tradition in March with the production of Alice in Wonderland. Everyone began calling the March show “the big show”. In Alice there was another first, students choreographed several of the dances.

Thing 2 points to lights, they go down; Thing 2 goes off stage as Alice, the Hatter and the Hare come on. Lights come up.

Hatter and HareNo room! No room!

AliceWhat? Why, whatever do you mean? There is plenty of room!

HatterIt is very rude!

AliceI’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a private party. You have so much space.

Hare

That’s because you never can tell when someone might just drop in!

AliceBut he just said

HatterBy the way, that is the March Hare and I am the Hatter!

AlicePlease to meet you, my name is Alice.

HatterWhat day of the month is it?

AliceIt is the 12th (or 13th – which ever day it is)

HareIt is the 12th (or 13th – which ever day it is)

Hatter checking giant pocket watchThis is my very favorite un-birthday present!

AliceUn-birthday? What is an un-birthday present?

HareA present you receive when it’s not your birthday of course!

AliceOh. I think I would much prefer birthday presents myself.

HareThen you don’t know what you’re talking about.

HatterLook, how many days are there in a year?

Alice365

HareAnd how many birthdays do you have?

AliceWell, one but

HatterExactly! And if you take one from 365, what is left?

AliceThat’s easy. 364 of course.

Hatter and HareSo one day to get birthday presents. 364 days when you might get UN-birthday presents. Therefore, un-birthdays are better!

AliceBut if that is the case, why then today is my un-birthday!

Hatter Congratulations! Happy Un-birthday!

Hare claps hands and points to the piano and Un-Birthday music starts. Teacup Balancers, Giant Teacups, Tea Pourers and Cake Servers all dance up. Music ends.

Teacup BalancersWalking very carefullyCups and saucers on our hatsExcellent balance and motion-Now what do you think of that!

Giant TeacupsTea is swishing in our cupsSwirling round and roundWhoa-----Watch out----Swoosh!

Tea PourersHave a bit of teaA little treat from meHerbal, green and peppermintHave a bit of tea.

Cake ServersTea and cake, cake and teaWhat a lovely sightCookies, cakes and crumpetsFor us to eat all night!!

They all dance off to the Un-birthday music.

Thing 2It was a great year. Please stand if you were an actor in The Purple Paw Review or Alice in Wonderland. (claps)

Thing 3Are you ready for year 3? Some traditions were continued and some changes were made. November 2008 was a presidential election year and the Rosa Parks Drama Club honored this by presenting First Ladies, Ladies First. This show spotlighted many of our countries First Ladies and although it was a musical, it was more serious and gave us a history lesson as well. A great change was that the Rosa Parks Puma Choir with Mrs. Dean was part of the show. In March our biggest production yet, Little Engine That Could hit the stage. Little Engine That Could was one of Mrs. Van’s favorite books growing up and she used ideas from the Broadway show Starlight Express to create this wild and crazy adventure.

Ticket takers (2/aisle) run down to stage shouting “tickets please”. Flag girls follow and take their position on the stage. Band plays Celebration. Ticket takers dance on stage while whole cast stands and sings. Little Blue Engine dances and skates on the floor going on both sides. At the end of the music they all go off.

Thing 3Lots of good memories from these shows. Please stand if you were an actor in First Ladies or Little Engine.

Thing 4We all remember Little Engine well. Especially as this was the show Mr. Corra debuted in a tutu! Hello, I am Thing 4. Bows. By this time our drama club is off and running. In the fall we presented the musical Sleepy Hollow, the first real love story to hit our stage. In this show the Rosa Parks actors really developed their characters and showed their skills.

Points to the lighting team for the lights to go out. Exits and Hilda, Greta, and Katrina come on. Lights come on and girls laugh.

HildaI don’t know why you deny it, Katrina.

GretaEveryone knows you’re going to marry Brom Bones.

KatrinaThen “everyone” knows more than I do, Greta.

GretaYou like him, don’t you?

KatrinaMaybe. Maybe not.

GretaEveryone knows he likes you. Likes you something special.

KatrinaThat’s not surprising, Greta. (Lifts her skirt and displays her ankle) After all, everyone knows I have the prettiest foot and ankle in the countryside. Anyway, he hasn’t asked me to marry him straight out. He sort of hints. Like a mouse nibbling at a bit of cheese.

HildaBoys are shy about things like that.

KatrinaBones isn’t shy about anything. Bones is a bold as they come. He’s much too sure of himself. Especially where I’m concerned. What girl likes to be taken for granted?

GretaWhat does that matter? He’s the handsomest boy in these parts.

HildaAnd so strong! Oh my goodness!

KatrinaIf you girls think Bones is so wonderful, why don’t you marry him?

Greta

You know why.

HildaHe only has eyes for you.

KatarinaI want a boy who is a gentleman; someone who can carry on a decent conversation.

GretaAbout what?

KatrinaIt doesn’t matter about what. All the boys in Sleepy Hollow are lumps.

HildaI wish a lump would ask me to marry him. I wouldn’t mind being married to a lump. Mr. and Mrs. Van Lump.

Bones and Yost enter.

BonesNow your day is complete, girls. I’m here.

YostBrom Bones himself!

Greta & Hilda (thrilled)Hello Bones (Bones strikes a pose and the girls are so excited)

YostBrom Bones plucked a heavy rock out of the stream and held it over his head for almost 5 minutes. Anyone would have thought it was a head of cabbage. (Greta and Hilda squeal with delight; Katrina looks away rolling her eyes).

BonesWhat Yost says is true. I won’t deny it.

YostAnd when Bones got tired of that he tossed the rock a hundred feet easy. That rock shook the earth when it landed. (Greta and Hilda squeal again; Katrina rolls her eyes again).

Bones

The muscles in my arms have never been stronger. Made of iron. Don’t be shy, girls. See for yourself.

Greta and Hilda approach and squeal as they check out his muscles.

YostWhat about you, Katrina? Don’t you want to see how strong Bones has become?

KatrinaWe have an ox on our farm that’s much stronger than Bones. But he doesn’t brag about it.

BonesAre you saying I’m a braggart, Katrina?

KatrinaIf the shoe fits, Abraham.

BonesDon’t call me Abraham!

KatrinaWhy not? It’s your real name, isn’t it? (again she shows her ankle which infuriates Bones)

Farmer Stuyvesant enters the scene

Farmer StuyvesantHello children. Meet Mister Ichabod Crane, your new schoolmaster.

GretaWhere is he?

Farmer StuyvesantWhat say you, Mr. Ichabod Crane. Come along, man. What are you waiting for?

Ichabod comes on stage

No need to be shy, Schoolmaster. You’re among friends. Sleepy Hollow welcomes you. Say hello to the new schoolmaster, girls.

Girls

Hello new schoolmaster. (they curtsy)

IchabodWhat lovely rustic belles.

Farmer StuyvesantWhat’s that you say?

KatrinaHe was complimenting us, Farmer Stuyvesant.

GretaAnd he did it so nicely.

YostDidn’t sound like a compliment to me.

HildaYou could learn a lot from the new schoolmaster, Yost. You too, Bones.

IchabodBones?

BonesName’s Abraham Van Brunt. Brom for short. Because my limbs are so strong everyone calls me Bones.

YostBrom Bones

Farmer StuyvesantHe can lift a cow over his head

IchabodWhy would he want to do that?

Lights go out, actors exit the stage and Thing 4 comes back on.

Thing 4Character development continued in our next big show Peter Pan. No one can forget Mrs. Musser’s life sized pirate ship built right here in the commons or when once again we had flight – when Peter Pan flew in to the rescue. (tinkle sound is heard) What? (listens) Oh no! The pirates have Wendy, John, Michael and the Lost Boys! They are making them walk the plank.

Lights go out, Thing 4 exits as Pirates, Hook and Smee take their places on the stage. Wendy, John, Michael, and the Lost Boys are ready at the bottom of the steps. Lights come on.

PiratesBy gum by jove by the winds that blowWe’ve got them down belowBy gum by jove by the winds that blowOverboard, that’s where they’ll go

HookBy the great horn spoon, my patience is at an end. Mister Smee!

Smee (who was right behind the Captain so he startles the Captain)Aye aye, Captain!

HookBring the prisoners up on deck.

SmeeAye, aye Captain.

The children are bound with ribbon tied and looped on their wrists and led onto the deck by the Pirates.

HookAre their hands tied?

SmeeAye, aye, Captain.

HookThe plank ready?

The Pirates lay a board on the small upper stage hanging over the endge just a bit.

PiratesAye, aye, Captain.

HookWe’ll make every one of them walk the plank!

PiratesTo the end of the plank!

HookAnd down to Davy Jone’s locker!! Heh, heh, heh, heh…

SmeeAye, aye, Captain.

HookMister Smee – can’t you say anything but aye, aye, Captain?

SmeeAye, aye, Cap-I mean eh, uh,

HookStop blubbering like a blithering idiot, Mister Smee!! (holds Smee up by the pants to give him a major wedgie)

SmeeEeeeeeYooowwwww!

HookNow, you, girl. Wendy. You’re Peter Pan’s best friend, so you go first.

Captain Hook blindfolds Wendy and guides her to the plank. All the Pirates jeer and laugh.

WendyPlease sir. I’m not afraid to die. But please let the others go free.

HookNot afraid, eh?

JohnYou won’t get away with this, Captain Hook!

MichaelPeter Pan will save us!

HookPeter Pan save you? Ho ho ho-

SmeeThat’s a good one! Ha ha ha

Michael

I’m scared. John, I’m scared.

Lost Boys We’re scared. Who will save us? What can we do!!

HookYour friend Pan is a coward. He won’t help you. (he moves Wendy a bit farther out on the plank)Any last words, my dear?

JohnI’d like to say something

HookKeep it short, little blighter.

JohnListen, all of you. Peter told me, always remember. . (piano)If you feel like you are sinkingIf you think you’ll never lastIf the water’s at your shouldersAnd the tide is rising fastIf the night is dark and gloomyAnd you’re heading for a dipNever flinch an inchGo and man the winchBut don’t give up the ship!!!

WendyJohn, what are you doing? Peter can’t help us. He doesn’t know where we are.

JohnHe will if he can hear us. Everybody!

Wendy, John, Michael and the Lost BoysIf the sky above is cloudyAnd the sea is dark belowKeep your faith and hope and spiritNever let your courage go

To Hooks displeasure, Mr. Smee and the Pirates start to sway and then dance to the music joining in the song. Hook looks at the audience with hopelessness.

All but Hook continue singingIf the icy wind is blowingAnd you think your’re going to slipYou can never failIf you hoist that sailBut don’t give up the

HookEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-NOUGH!! Keep them quiet!

Pirates cover the boy’s mouths.

HookLine them up!

PiratesYea, line them up!

HookNow over the side with her!

Voice of PeterOn guard, Hook! This time you’ve gone too far!

HookI’m hearing things. I thought I heard a voice.

PiratesLook! It’s Pan! It’s Peter Pan!

Peter gives a big crow!

HookIt can’t be! Seize him!

PeterNow boys!

The Lost Boys, John and Michael grab the pirates; Peter gets to Wendy and Hook hides behind an audience member.

Lost Boys, John, MichaelWe’re the boys from never neverWe’re the boys who won’t grow upAnd we’ll fight on foreverWe’ll never never never give up

Peter Pan will be our captainAnd we’ll fight no matter whereWe’ll chase the pirate bandFar across this landCaptain Hook you’d best beware!!!

Lost Boys, John, Michael and WendyPeter! You saved us! Hooray!! Music keeps playing

PeterAny time you are in troubleLet me give you all a tipNever yield to forceJust stay right on courseAnd don’t give up, don’t ever give up, No

AllDon’t give up the ship!

Captain Hooks starts to come at Peter.

HookYou cowardly sparrow! Come here and fight like a man!

Everyone moves to corner of the stage and crouches down. Hook and Pan are in the center.

PeterNo one calls me a coward and lives. I won’t fly an inch.

HookSay your prayers, Pan. This is a fight to the finish.

They battle, Hook gets Pan in a bad spot.

JohnFly, Peter, fly!

PeterNo! I gave my word.

HookThis is the end of Peter Pan.

They keep fighting, Peter gets Hook in a bad spot.

Whole cast goes tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock

HookNo! Not the crocodile. He already got my hand. .

PeterWould you rather face him. . . or me?

Hook stands up, looks around wildly, runs and jumps off the stage with the whole cast going tick tock tick tock as he runs off. Thing 4 comes running on and high 5’s Peter.

Thing 4You did it again, Peter! Awesome. All but Thing 4 exit in lots of laughter and pushing. What amazing characters. Stand up if you played one of these characters in Sleepy Hollow or Peter Pan. Hey Thing 5, you’re up! We are ready for the 2010 – 2011 school year. What traditions and changes can you tell us about.

Thing 5 runs up, shakes Thing 4’s hand, Thing 4 exits while Thing 5 checks out the audience.

Thing 5Well, the fall show for 2010 kept the tradition of creating strong characters alive as the Rosa Parks actors rehearsed and performed Wind in the Willows, the hilarious story of Toad of Toad Hall and his mis-adventures. Back as our lead choreographer was Mary Kozleski who has been with us ever since and back for a repeat performance in the music department The Offenders with our own Jim Anderson. Lin Zurfluh, our interim principal even joined the fun as a washerwoman. Let’s enjoy Weasel Brown with his weasely gang on the loose in the Wild Woods.

Thing 5 exits as lights go down and Weasel Brown, the Weasels, Field Mouse 1 and Field Mouse 2 take their places on the stage. Lights come up when all are in place. Weasels are frozen in position, mice in the center.

Field Mouse 1Now we’ve done it. Out at night in the Wild Wood. We stayed too long at the mud turtle’s birthday party.

Weasel sound

Field Mouse 2What was that?

Another weasel sound

Field Mouse 1What was what?

Field Mouse 2Let’s pretend we didn’t hear anything.

Field Mouse 1That won’t be easy.

Field Mouse 2What was that?

Field Mouse 1What was that?

Field Mouse 2I thought I saw something.