Caroline M. Speaker 1: Welcome to our 3rd-grade performance of The Nutcracker
Aada M. Speaker 2: Dear Friends and family. Open your eyes.
Reagan S. Speaker 3: Here is a Magical Story
Micah L. Speaker 4: With lots of surprises.
Isaac F. Speaker 5: There is a funny beginning
Zion H. Speaker 6: and a heartwarming end
Marguerite S. Speaker 7: And all of the characters
Emily W. Speaker 8: Are your good friends
Eleanor M. Speaker 9: It’s mainly fantasy with just a few facts
Kinsley F. Speaker 10: Full of adventure in three short acts
Christopher K. Speaker 11: We have practiced singing.
Nash C. Speaker 12: We have practiced dancing.
Malik R. Speaker 13: And we have practiced our lines
Ava V. Speaker 14: We hope everyone here has a wonderful time.
Genevieve S. Speaker 15: The Story begins in Nuremberg, Germany.
Monya M. Speaker 16: The year is 1830.
Caidence B. Speaker 17: You will enter the home of Doctor and Mrs. Stahlbaum.
Connor G. Speaker 18: The date is Christmas Eve.
Ella C. Speaker 19: Here, friends and family have gathered for a party.
Gabriela K. Speaker 20: They are celebrating the holiday season.
Lainey S. Speaker 21: The Stahlbaum children are Marie and Fritz.
Lyla W. Speaker 22: Who are excited for the lighting of the Christmas Tree.
Claudia E. Speaker 23: They anxiously await their favorite uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer.
Braden B. Speaker 24: He is a toy-maker, and they know he will bring a special gift
Spencer D. Speaker 25: But never in their wildest dreams can they imagine just how special this particular gift will be!
-------------------------------1st Nutcracker and 1st Marie (Ensley and Jack)-------------------------------------------
Nutcracker: Well, here it is almost Christmas again and, if I do say so myself, it’s going to be a white one. Why this is just about the coldest Christmas I can remember . . .and I can remember quite a few.
(Gesturing) That’s Fritz and Marie over there. They live here and they’re waiting for the big event. . . the lighting of the Christmas tree and, naturally, the opening of the presents.
(A knock at the door) That must be Judge Drosselmeyer now. He always stops by on Christmas Eve with a nice gift for the children. I wonder what he is bringing tonight.
Fritz: Judge Drosselmeyer! I just knew it must be you!
Marie: (Happily) I’m so glad you’re here. It never seems like Christmas until you arrive.
The Judge: (laughing) Well, Thank you, Children. (Then, Holding out a brightly wrapped Package.) And just wait until you see what I’ve brought you.
Marie: Oh do come in, you're just in time for the lighting of the Christmas tree.
Fritz:..... And the Presents
Marie: (sighing) Oh, isn’t it beautiful! I think it’s the best tree ever.
Fritz: (in a very superior Manner) There was one that was a lot nicer Marie, but that was long before you were born. I keep forgetting what a little kid you are. (Marie gives him a Nasty look. Some pushing and shoving develops)
The Judge: Now, Now children, Let’s be kind to one another...especially tonight. Christmas Eve is not the time for stirring up grievances. (gesture to the presents)
Fritz: (getting presents) Oh, look! Toy soldiers. Just what I wanted.
Marie: And a BEAUTIFUL doll! (she hugs the doll)
The Judge: AND… I have a little something here for you both.
Fritz: Let us see. What is it?
The Judge: (laughing) Now, now, not so fast. Here, Marie. You may open it.
Marie: Oh, What a dear little funny man!
Nutcracker: That’s me she’s talking about. Can you believe it! A dear little funny man. That’s not exactly the way I see myself. (pause) Tall, Dark, and handsome would be more like it. Oh well, I AM a nutcracker you see. What I do for a living is...I crack nuts. You put a walnut in my mouth and I bite down on it and crack the shell. My dentist would like me to retire... Hard on the teeth, you know, but, well, actually, I’m nuts about my work. (He laughs at his own joke.)
Marie: What is it?
The Judge: It’s a nutcracker! You see you put a nut in his mouth and make him bite down on it and PRESTO!, the nut is cracked.
Fritz: (grabbing the nutcracker) let me see him (Tries and moves the arms and then breaks it off)
Marie: (distressed) oh, Fritz, look what you’ve done. You’ve broken it.
Fritz: (throwing the nutcracker arm on the floor and stomping across the stage to the bench) Oh, who cares! It didn’t work right anyway. It was just cheap junk.
Marie: What an awful thing to say, Fritz. And you never even thanked the Judge. I’m sorry, Judge. (picking up the broken nutcracker) I think it’s a wonderful gift.
The Judge: Here. Let’s see if I can fix him for you…..(fiddles with the nutcracker) There. Good as new!
Marie: Oh, thank you, Judge. I’ll take good care of him. I promise I will.
The Judge: Well, I must be going now. Merry Christmas to both of you… and to the Nutcracker. (He Exits stage)
Marie: You weren’t very nice tonight Fritz. . .and on Christmas Eve, too.
Fritz: (Angrily) Oh, who cares! I wish you’d just leave me alone, Marie. I wish everybody would leave me alone. I’m going to bed! (He leaves)
Marie: (To the Tiny Nutcracker) Oh, I wish I didn’t have to go to bed at all. I wish I could just stay here with you until Christmas morning. (She goes to sleep)
*CHIMES*
Nutcracker: (Listening) Say, I had no idea it was midnight already. I have heard that some very strange things can happen at midnight. In fact, my old enemy, the Mouse King, sometimes makes an appearance with his army. (Pats Sword) I hope he drops in tonight because, if he does, I’m ready for him.
Song 1: March of the Toy Soldiers
Nutcracker: Well, I guess I took care of him. . .if I do say so myself.
Marie: (Waking up and yawning, She looks at the Nutcracker) Have I been asleep? I remember a battle. . .right here in this very room. (she pauses) And how did YOU get so tall?
Nutcracker: It’s magic, Marie. Anything can happen on Christmas Eve. In fact, the magic is just beginning.
Song 2: Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy
Nutcracker: Well, What do you say, Marie? Would you like to visit the kingdom of sweets?
Marie: Oh, yes, I’d love to go!
Nutcracker: Well just close your eyes and we’ll be off.
-------------------------- 2nd NUTCRACKER AND 2nd MARIE (Zoey and Tate)--------------------------------
Nutcracker: Here we are in Candy Meadow. And straight through that arch is THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS
Marie: Oh, my it’s so beautiful. I can hardly believe my eyes. What’s that wonderful smell?
Nutcracker: If my nose is not mistaken, that smells like Russian tea-cakes. They make them over in Cookie County. In fact, I think the Russian Bakers are making a delivery to the kingdom right now.
SONG 3: RUSSIAN DANCE
Marie: Oh it’s too bad they had to leave so soon. And I didn’t even get to taste one of the Teacakes
Nutcracker: There will be plenty of time for tasting later. Let’s hurry now.
Marie: (taking a step or two, then looking down Puzzled) My, but the path is sticky.
Nutcracker: That’s because it’s made of chocolate.
Marie: Chocolate? (she touches the ground with her finger and pretends to taste it) Ooh, it IS chocolate. This place is just full of surprises, isn’t it? Is that a pond over there?
Nutcracker: Yes it is but it’s not an ordinary pond it’s filled with Root Beer!
Marie: Oh! I love Root beer!
Nutcracker: (laughing) Nearly everyone loves Root beer, Marie. In fact, this is such a wonderful place that the boys and girls who come here never want to go home.
Marie: (Looking around curiously) What boys and girls? I haven’t seen any.
Nutcracker: Well, here they come out right now to give a big welcome. And I see that they’re bringing the Candy Flutes along to play for you.
Marie: (Giggling) CANDY FLUTES?! I suppose they play very SWEETLY.
SONG 4: Dance of the Candy Flutes
Marie: (Clapping her hands delighted) Oh, this is just the grandest place.
Nutcracker: (Taking Marie by the arm) Well, we must be off now. There’s a lot to see and a lot of miles to cover before midnight.
Marie: Where are we going next?
Nutcracker: Well, we’re on our way to the capital city, Candy Land. But first, we have to cross the Lemonade Sea and the Brown Sugar Desert before morning.
Marie: You mean we’ll be up ALL NIGHT?? But I’m not allowed to stay up all night!
Nutcracker: (Laughing) No one will ever know, Marie. Remember, this is a magical Christmas Eve. Now, let’s hurry
SONG 5: Arabian Dance
------------------ 3rd Nutcracker and 3rd Marie (Lolly and Ben)---------------------------------------
Marie: (Wearily) Are we almost there?
Nutcracker: Almost, Marie. (Looking up) Say, isn’t it a beautiful night? Why that marshmallow moon looks good enough to eat.
Marie: (Looking up) Is the moon REALLY a marshmallow?
Nutcracker: It certainly is, and I’m sure it tastes as good as it looks. (Pointing ahead) It’s not much farther. That's Cookie County just over there.
Marie: Mmmmm. Cookie County. I think that would be a wonderful place to live.
Nutcracker: Well, perhaps. But, you see, no one ever gets anything done in Cookie County.
Marie: Why not?
Nutcracker: Because they spend all day having tea parties and tasting wonderful new kinds of cookies and teas. In fact, the only business in town that’s open is the Chinese Tea Shop. Chinese Tea is the most popular drink in all of Cookie County.
SONG 6: Chinese Tea Party
Marie: Oh I must try that when I get home.
Nutcracker: Pekoe?
Marie: Oh, no. Dancing with a dragon puppet. It looks very challenging
Nutcracker: Yes I definitely think you would find it challenging by yourself… if I do say so myself.
Marie: Why that must be the entrance to the Capital city, Candy Land
Nutcracker: It is Marie, and the garden just inside the city is very beautiful.
Marie: Why look. The flowers are coming towards us; they seem to be alive.
SONG 7: WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS
Marie: It’s wonderful to be here… especially on Christmas Eve.
*Chimes*
Nutcracker: Speaking of Christmas Eve, Marie, I’m afraid we’ll have to go now. The Magic Hour is nearly past
CHIMES - DIM LIGHTS
Marie: I must have fallen asleep. But what an interesting dream! You were there in my dream little nutcracker but you were ever so much taller and very handsome.
Nutcracker: Why, Thank you, Marie
Marie: Sometime soon I must tell you all about my wonderful visit to the Kingdom of Candy sweets, it’s the most marvelous place I've ever seen.
Nutcracker: I’ll look forward to hearing all about it Marie. I’m sure it's every bit as grand as you dreamed…..If I do say so myself.
Paden T. Speaker 26: Well, our tale is told,
Ja'Liyah H. Speaker 27: our story is done.
Molly S. Speaker 28: What a delicious adventure it was!
Reed S. Speaker 29: But after a story is finished,
Jaia H. Speaker 30: Don’t you sometimes wish you knew everything that happened after it was through?
Zelda M. Speaker 31: I wonder if the nutcracker will take Marie on another wonderful journey?
Orlando O. Speaker 32: Was it real at all?
Lucas M. Speaker 33: Do Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum know?
Aurbree G. Speaker 34: And what about Fritz?
Miles M. Speaker 35: Will he learn the secret of the magical toy?
Cali C. Speaker 36: Will he get to visit the Kingdom of Candy Sweets too?
Willow W. Speaker 37: Hmmmm…. One of you young authors just might take it from here!
Olivia R. Speaker 38: We will be waiting…..
Levi P. Speaker 39: But until then, thank you for attending our 3rd-grade program, The Nutcracker.