Going to a Show AT THE Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
I am going to see a First Stage show at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center. I am going to see the show with 2
Watching a play is like watching TV or a movie, except people are on stage in front of us. They are called actors. They can see and hear me too. I can t turn the channel or turn the volume up and down. 3
A play is made up of many interesting things. COSTUMES SCENERY SOUND LIGHTING 4
When we drive to the arts center, we will park in the parking lot or on the street. We may need to wait in line to pick up our tickets. When we are waiting, I can stay with my family or teachers. 5
Once we have our tickets, we will go down the long blue hallway into a large and colorful commons area. There are bathrooms in the commons area. If I need to, I can use the bathroom before we go to our seats. 6
Someone will show us where to sit. 1. I can sit on the floor if my parents or teachers say it s OK. 2. I can sit on the risers with my family or class. The audience area is for all of us. The stage is for the actors only. 7
When I am in the theater waiting for the show to start: 1. I can talk to my family or friends. 2. I can take a short break in the lobby. 8
There will be a lot of people in theater and it may get noisy. If it gets too loud: 1. I can bring headphones if I want. 2. I can put my hands over my ears. 3. I can leave the room and take a short break in the lobby. I can come back when I am ready. 9
During the show: 1. I can watch and listen to the actors quietly. 2. I can applaud if I like something. 3. I can hold things in my hand that make me feel comfortable. If I need to talk: 1. I can talk quietly to my family or teacher. 2. I can write down what I want to say. 3. I can leave the room. 10
After the show there will be a talkback. The talkback is a chance for me to ask questions. 1. I will raise my hand to show that I want to ask a question. 2. I will wait for the leader to call on me to ask my question. 3. I don t have to ask a question if I don t want. I can ask different kinds of questions: 1. I can ask questions about the show. 2. I can ask questions about the scenery, costumes, lights, or sound. 11
After the show is finished, I will leave the theater with my family or class. 12
Meet the characters in 13
This is Jack the Scarecrow. Jack takes care of the pumpkin patch. 14
This is Little Tom and Big Tom. Little Tom always speaks his mind. Big Tom has a big heart. 15
This is Bobo. Bobo is a good singer and very confident. 16
This is Mimi and LaLa. Mimi and LaLa are Honeydoo melons. They are also good singers. 17
This is Spookley. Spookley is a square pumpkin. 18
This is Edgar, Allan, and Poe. They are friendly spiders. 19
This is Farmer Hill. Farmer Hill chooses the Pick of the Patch! 20
SPOOKLEY THE SQUARE PUMPKIN is a musical. The characters will speak and sing to tell the story. 21
SPOOKLEY THE SQUARE PUMPKIN uses puppets You will see the puppets and actors at the same time. The actors job is to provide the voice and movements of the puppet. 22
This is the stage manager. She uses computers to make the sounds and lights happen. 23
What happens in the play? Notice the words underlined and italicized, those are time the actors will sing and dance. Our story begins with Jack Scarecrow in the Holiday Hill Farm Pumpkin Patch, looking at Big Tom, Little Tom, and Bobo, all pumpkins. He also notices the Honeydoos, a duo of singing melons. Jack is very excited for Halloween and begins dancing around the patch. (It s Halloween) Jack and the pumpkins hear a small voice, but don t know where it s coming from. Jack looks around the patch and discovers Spookley, a square pumpkin, under a large leaf. Jack is excited to find Spookley and tells him he could be the Pick of the Patch this year. The other pumpkins, however, don t like the fact that Spookley looks different from them. (Spookley the Square Pumpkin) Jack tells the other pumpkins to be nice to Spookley and goes off to finish some other chores on the farm. Once he leaves, Little Tom insults Spookley and tells him that he is going to ruin Halloween for the rest of them because he is not a real pumpkin: real pumpkins are round. Little Tom then says that Spookley should go far, far away, so that he won t ruin Halloween. He suggests that Spookley goes to the river, but Mimi and Lala warn Spookley. (Don t Go Near the River) Spookley is left alone, and becomes very sad. (If I Was Round) Spookley worries that he will ruin Halloween for everyone. Suddenly, three spiders appear and introduce themselves as Edgar, Allan and Poe. They tell Spookley that he can t worry about what the other pumpkins say: plenty of spiders have been faced with challenges, but they believed in themselves and succeeded in the end. (The Boo Song) 24
Spookley still isn t convinced; he remembers Little Tom telling him he s different. Edgar reminds Spookley that everyone and everything is different. Being different isn t a bad thing. Edgar tells Spookley he can be the Pick of the Patch if he sets his mind to it. (I m Gonna Try) Meanwhile, the other pumpkins are getting ready for Halloween and all think they will be chosen as Pick of the Patch. Bobo is overconfident. (She s Bobo) Spookley returns to the patch to everyone s surprise, but Little Tom makes fun of him and his new spider friends. Jack tells the patch that it s time to line up by the old stone well so Farmer Hill can choose the Pick of the Patch. They all line up and make their way over. (This Way to the Well) Spookley has a hard time keeping up with everyone, but the spiders and Jack help him. Jack reminds everyone that no matter who is picked for this year s Pick of the Patch, he s proud of each and every one of them. Bobo and The Honeydoos start singing. Suddenly, a storm starts up! Everyone is blown around by the wind and rain toward the dangerous river, except for Spookley. He decides to help the other pumpkins and blocks a large hole in the fence with his body. The pumpkins and Jack are blown toward him and all pile up in front of the broken fence until Spookley cannot be seen anymore. Spookley doesn t wake up for a few minutes, and everyone is worried, even the pumpkins that made fun of him earlier. Luckily, he opens his eyes and smiles, letting everyone know he s okay. Jack tells Spookley that he is quite the hero. All the other pumpkins apologize to Spookley for bullying him because of his differences; even Little Tom. They welcome him to the patch. (The Transylvania Twist) Farmer Hill arrives to choose the Pick of the Patch and picks...spookley! She loves the fact that Spookley is square. Everyone celebrates Halloween together in the patch. (I m Gonna Try (Reprise)) 25
The End. 26