Reader's Theater

| Introduction and How-To | | Scripts |

Introduction and How-To

RT Tips: A Guide to Reader’s Theater
Aaron Shepard's guide includes tips on scripting, staging, and reading. If this is your first time with RT, start here.

It's All in the Delivery: Adapting Prose for Reader's Theater
"In this lesson, students will explore how delivering text conveys intent and meaning. They will then adapt any text being studied in class into script formats for discussion and presentations." This lesson is designed to be used with Jane Eyre but lends itself well to analysis of almost any work. Students then write their own scripts.

Reader's Theater
An elementary teacher shares insights, suggestions for implementation, and links to scripts.

Reader's Theater
This 3-page handout introduces RT to students. Word processor required.

Reader's Theater: A Reason to Read Aloud
A good introduction to RT in the classroom.

Scripts

"Anansi and the Yam Hills"
A script for 10 readers in grades 3-6.

"Christmas Truce"
Based on historical events from 1914. Four readers, age 11+.

"The Enchanted Storks," a Tale of Bagdad
The Calif and his Vizier try a spell that changes them into storks, then find they can’t change back. Reader's Theater script for 13 or more readers, ages 10-15.

"Eros and Psyche, Part I" and "Eros and Psyche, Part II"
A Reader's Theater script of the story, written by a teacher for classroom use.

"The Firebird and the Princess Vassilissa," A Russian Folktale
In this humorous take on the traditional tale, a young archer must capture the magical creature called the Firebird for his Czar. In the process he also wins the hand of the beautiful princess, Vassilissa. He accomplishes his mission with the help of a magical talking horse. Access requires Adobe Reader.

Four Dollars and Fifty Cents
Script for Reader's Theater. Word processor required.

The Gifts of Wali Dad , a tale of India and Pakistan
Wali Dad, a humble grass-cutter, never asked for wealth—so why can’t he give it away? Script for 15 voices, ages 8-13.

"Holiday High Jinks"
A reader's theater script for December.

The Legend of Lightning Larry
A cowboy with a huge smile, a gun that shoots bolts of light, and a hankering for lemonade takes on Evil-Eye McNeevil’s outlaw gang. Script for 22 or more voices, ages 7-12.

The Legend of Slappy Hooper
Slappy is the world’s biggest, fastest, bestest sign painter, but he's too good—his pictures keep coming to life. Script for 8 or more readers, ages 8-13.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Reader's Theater script for 4 readers. Free, downloadble. Adobe Reader required for access.

Reader's Theater Scripts and Plays
Several scripts for young children. Scroll down for more links on RT.

Resthaven
This reader's theater script is for 6 or more voices, ages 12-15. Based on Nancy Farmer's The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm , it is set in Zimbabwe. Tendai and his sister Rita get a taste of traditional village life, but only one of them is pleased.

Savitri
The princess Savitri must use all her wit and will to save her husband from the god of death. Based on an ancient tale from India. Script for 11 readers, ages 9-15.

Tacky the Penguin
A reader's theater script of the children's book.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Reader's theater script for 5 readers. Free, downloadable. Adobe Reader required for access.

"The War Prayer" by Mark Twain
Reader's Theater script for 8 or more readers, ages 12 and up.