This play/program was written for a Red Ribbon Week Assembly and worked beautifully in encouraging students to stay off of drugs. It points out all the things that you can do instead of all the things people tell you not to do. There are four main speakers and a multitude of one liner parts. There is very little acting requried by the main 4 speakers, but the one liners have quite a few actions. There is a section where either students can do the actions and not speak or you could have teachers in the school do the action. Students love seeing their teachers participate.
VITAL STATISTICS
Participants------------30-100
Costuming--------------none
Ages---------------------10-13
Scenery & Props------minimal
Performance time-----20-40 min
SAMPLE
NARRATOR: Welcome to our drug assembly. During this assembly it is
very important that you have fun BUT
DO NOT touch the props. Props are those things that the actors will use in the play.
Do not get out of your seats.
Do not yell or talk real loud or even talk, cause if you do you won’t hear what is going on and I know some teachers that will not like that.
Do Not … Well that’s enough Do Not’s
YOU CAN laugh
YOU CAN cheer
YOU CAN clap and have fun.
We are here to tell you that YOU CAN have fun and not drink,
Smoke or do any of that other dumb drug stuff.
(As the curtain opens there are children, [Taylor, Jordan, Brian, Kelsey, and Millie] sitting around on stage in the center. They should look extremely bored. A third student, Katie, walks on stage an joins them when the voice is heard off stage.)
MOTHER 1: (off stage) Katie it’s time to get your homework done
KATIE: (Walks on stage) In a minute mom. I’ll come in just a second.
MOTHER 2: (off stage on the other side) Jordan, you’ve got homework
to do. Come on get in the house.
JORDAN: (entering stage as off stage mother speaks) Aw, come on mom,
give me a break.
MOTHER 1: (still off stage) You’ve got a half-hour, then homework
…and…
MOTHER 2:(still off stage) … and don’t get into trouble.
JORDAN: Don’t do this, don’t do that.
KATIE: Don’t play with them, don’t forget your homework.
KATIE AND JORDAN: All I hear is…
JORDAN: don’t…
KATIE: (louder) don’t…
KATIE AND JORDAN: don’t!
JORDAN: Your mom and mine must think the same. (mimics) Don’t hit
your brother…
KATIE: (mimics) Don’t throw your clothes on the floor.
JORDAN: (mimics) don’t pick your nose…
BRIAN: (jumps into discussion) Don’t get bad grades
KELSEY: (jumps up and joins them) Don’t tease your sister.
MILLIE: Don’t sit…
KELSEY: Don’t stand…
MOTHER 1: (off stage) Don’t forget your homework
(All the kids pull faces)
MOTHER 2: Don’t forget. Just one half hour…then homework.
JORDAN: See what I mean. Don’t
MILLIE: Don’t
KELSEY: Don’t
KATIE: Now at school it’s Red Ribbon Week and all we hear is
Don’t do drugs…don’t smoke…don’t drink…I’m tired of
all the don’ts.
JORDAN: All the popular kids are doing drugs. If I don’t do drugs, just
what is there to do?
TAYLOR: (Who’s been sitting listening and watching stands up) You’ve
got it all wrong. There are lots of things to do. You are always complaining. You need to think of things from another
point of view. Why don’t you think of all the things that you
can do and you do them much better when you’re not on
drugs.
JORDAN: Can do…you’ve got to be kidding. There is nothing fun that
we can do. Haven’t you been listening to our parents they say
everything fun is either illegal or fattening.
KATIE: That’s right. All the fun things are illegal or harmful and our
parents won’t let us do them. So get real!
TAYLOR: I know a group of kids that can prove you wrong. Come on
guys, let’s show them what we can do.
(At this time all the numbered students come running, skipping or walking in from all the different doors in the auditorium or gym. They should sit in a single row in the front of the stage and Taylor joins them.)
(All the students sitting in the front row stand simultaneously and the students say his/her line and then the whole group performs the action together. It is important that the teacher or leader sits in front so that they can do a cut sign showing when to stop the action.)
# 1: You can run
(They all run in place for the count of 10, pumping their arms and feet and stop when the teacher signals.)
# 2: You can have a party.
(Throw a handful of confetti and yell on signal from the teacher Happy New Year.)
# 3: You can read.
(Everyone holds their hands like they are reading a book and recites We the people of the United States…)
