DARE TO BE DARING
A Readers Theater Script
Based on the book by Chelsea Lin Wallace & Lian Cho

Cast:
Playground Kid
Theater Kid
Dodgeball Kid
Basement Kid
Stew Kid
Art Kid
Dog Kid
Dentist Kid
Shy Kid
Bike Kid
Dog (non-speaking)*Roles can be combined or divided based on the number of your readers.

Stage Set Up:
Make a semi-circle of chairs, one for each reader. When it is their turn to say their lines
they will stand in the center of the circle facing the audience. Some scenes requireinteracting with castmates. With each scene, seated readers can react to the daring
moments of others.

Prop Suggestions:
Microphone (theater), dodgeball, flashlight (basement), bowl (stew), paintbrush &paper (art), dog ears (dog), toy (dentist), marbles (shy)DARE TO BE DARING
A Readers Theater Script[Each role has suggested character/stage direction]

Playground Kid [scared to go down slide]
Today I will dare to be daring,when I get to the playground to play.
My eyes will not peek but I’ll certainly shriek
in a will-I-come-down sort of way.

ALL: [arms up] Weeeee!

Theater Kid [scared to sing on stage]
Today I will dare to be daring.
There’s something I’ve longed to let free.
It might shake as it floats in a flutter of notes,
but the sounds they will hear will be me!
La-la-la-la! [singing into microphone]

ALL: [applause] Bravo!

Dodgeball Kid [scared to jump into dodgeball game]
Today I will dare to be daring.
It is something I’ve wanted to try.
No sidelines for me, I’m jumping in, weee!

I’ll dodge it, I’ll duck it, I’ll fly!

ALL: [one fist up] Winner!

Basement Kid [afraid to go to basement]
Today I will do dare to be daring.
I will…no I can’t.

ALL: [scared faces] Too scary!

Stew Kid [scared/grossed-out to try new food]Today I will dare to be daring.
You say this is pea and beef stew?
It’s green and it’s grimy. It moved! And it’s slimy!
“I did it! I ate something new!” [doesn’t have to like it though]ALL: [shrug] Yum?

Art Kid [scared of making artistic mistake]
Today I will dare to be daring.
My mistakes will not chase me away.
With every finesse, even when it’s a mess,I’ll create something new as I play.

ALL: [admiring the art] Ooooh!

Basement Kid
Today I will dare to be daring.
I will…nope, still can’t.

ALL: It’s ok!

Dog Kid [fear of dogs]
Today I will dare to be daring.
I will ask first, make sure it’s ok.
I’ve dreamt of this feeling, my heart, it is squealing,“Does he sit? Does he shake? Can he stay?”

ALL: awwww!

Dentist Kid [afraid of dentist]
Today I will dare to be daring.
My belly’s in tangles, it’s true.
That paste tastes like candy! This suck tool is handy!
A trip to the toy bin, woo-hoo!

ALL: [looking at toy] Can we see?

Basement Kid
Today I will dare to be daring.

I will brave to the basement below…
No, nope, not happening.

ALL: Don’t give up!

Shy Kid [afraid of rejection]
Today I will dare to be daring,it might hurt if I get turned away.
But I’m going to try, even while I’m still shy,
“Hi. Could I possibly play?”

ALL: YES!

Bike Kid [afraid to fall off bike]Today I will dare to be daring.
I may topple, and tumble, and flop.
But the second I’m at it, my soul is ecstatic,
this is daring that’s worth every...drop.

ALL: You did it!

Basement Kid
Today I will dare to be daring.
I will brave to the basement alone.

The shadows, I’m wary, because they are scary,
but I’ll try to find…[Dog is hiding behind chair and makes groan sound.]what was that groan?!?

*CLICK* [turns on flashlight]
Oh, it’s you! [Dog comes out from hiding]All [all kids stand in line and face audience]
It’s our light that we shine that is daring.
It glows when we set our fears free.
So tomorrow, we’ll dare, our fears better beware,
as we shine for the whole world to see.

[Cast takes their bows]

A NOTE ON READERS THEATERReader’s Theater Tips:
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Provide scripts: Give students copies of the script so they can annotate and highlight.
Practice: Give students time to practice their lines before performing.
Assign roles: Help students choose roles that match their interests and learning needs.
Model: Demonstrate the correct intonation, volume, and pitch.
Use voice inflections: Use different voice inflections for different characters.
Make sure audience can see: Position readers so that the audience can see theirmovements and expressions.
Don't block the audience: Don't allow one reader to block another reader's view.
Work in small groups: Work with small groups instead of the whole class.

Benefits of Readers Theater:
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Fluencyo Repeated exposure to the text helps students develop the ability to read withspeed, accuracy, and expression.
Comprehensiono Performing a script helps students gain a deeper understanding of the text,
characters, and plot.
Creativityo Students explore their creativity by taking on different roles and bringing
characters to life.
Social skills
o Students work together to create a performance, which helps them develop
teamwork, communication, and listening skills.
Confidenceo Participating in a performance can boost students' confidence in public speaking
and presentation skills.
Social-emotional learningo Reader's theater scripts often explore emotions and human experiences, which cansupport social-emotional learning

Reading/Acting Tips:
Voice:
Use a loud, clear voice and face the audience (cheat out) while you are saying your lines.

How is your character feeling? How can you make your voice match that feeling? Areyou upset? Are you sad? Are you worried? Are you excited? Try out different things withyour voice. For example, how does smiling as you read a line change the sound?
o Try this: have one reader stand with their back to the group. Then have the reader
read a line twice, once while smiling, once while frowning. What difference doyou hear?

Body Language:

Based on how they are feeling, how would your character move? How would their facial
expressions change based on how they are feeling?
Use larger/slightly exaggerated movements while on stage.
Reacting: A lot of acting is reacting to other characters. How would you character
respond to what’s happening around them?

Stage Words: center stage (middle of the stage) stage left (actor’s left) down stage (towards theaudience) stage right (actor’s right) up stage (away from the audience) cheat out (face audience
while delivering lines).