The Emperor's New Clothes: A Play for Kids
Scene 1: Parade Announcement
Setting: The Emperor’s Palace
Narrator: Thank you all for coming. Today we will present the play: The Emperor’s New Clothes. Long, long, ago, in the far off village of Tang, there was a selfish Emperor. The only thing he cared about was the way he looked. One day, the Emperor decided to have a parade.
Emperor: Advisors! Advisors! Where are my advisors!
(Advisors come running.)
Advisors: (together, bowing): Here we are, O mighty Emperor.
Emperor: Nothing very exciting is going on in the village of Tang. (yawns) I want to have a parade.
Advisors: Yes, O mighty Emperor.
Advisor 1: Do you want horses in the parade?
Emperor: No. (shakes head)
Advisor 2: Do you want dragons in the parade?
Emperor: No. (shakes head)
Advisor 3: Do you want anteaters in the parade?
Emperor: No. (shakes head)
Advisors: What do you want?
Emperor: I want to be the only person in the parade.
Advisors: Um… Okay, O mighty Emperor. (Advisors look at each other.)
Emperor: I will need a wonderful, new outfit to wear.
Advisors: Yes, O mighty Emperor.
Emperor: Find the best tailors in all the land and bring them to me.
Advisors: Yes, O mighty Emperor.
(Everyone exists.)
Narrator: Thank you all for coming. Today we will present the play: The Emperor’s New Clothes. Long, long, ago, in the far off village of Tang, there was a selfish Emperor. The only thing he cared about was the way he looked. One day, the Emperor decided to have a parade.
Emperor: Advisors! Advisors! Where are my advisors!
(Advisors come running.)
Advisors: (together, bowing): Here we are, O mighty Emperor.
Emperor: Nothing very exciting is going on in the village of Tang. (yawns) I want to have a parade.
Advisors: Yes, O mighty Emperor.
Advisor 1: Do you want horses in the parade?
Emperor: No. (shakes head)
Advisor 2: Do you want dragons in the parade?
Emperor: No. (shakes head)
Advisor 3: Do you want anteaters in the parade?
Emperor: No. (shakes head)
Advisors: What do you want?
Emperor: I want to be the only person in the parade.
Advisors: Um… Okay, O mighty Emperor. (Advisors look at each other.)
Emperor: I will need a wonderful, new outfit to wear.
Advisors: Yes, O mighty Emperor.
Emperor: Find the best tailors in all the land and bring them to me.
Advisors: Yes, O mighty Emperor.
(Everyone exists.)
Scene 2: Looking for a Tailor
Setting: The countryside of Tang.
Narrator: So the Emperor’s advisors set out to find the best tailors in all the land.
(Advisors ride horses around the stage.)
Everyone:
It is time for a pa-rade.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
And some new clothes must be made.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
We are looking high and low
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
For a tailor that can sew.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
(Advisors meet Basketball Player.)
Advisors: We are looking for the best tailors in all the land. Are you a tailor?
Basketball Player: Do I look like a tailor? (dribbles basketball)
Advisors: Well, no.
Basketball Player: You’re right. I’m not a tailor. I ‘m a basketball player.
Advisors: Okay then. Goodbye.
(Basketball Player walks off stage.)
Narrator: So the Emperor’s advisors continued to look for a tailor.
(Advisors ride horses around.)
Everyone:
It is time for a pa-rade.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
And some new clothes must be made.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
We are looking high and low
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
For a tailor that can sew.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
(Advisors meet Doctor.)
Advisors: We are looking for the best tailors in all the land. Are you a tailor?
Doctor: Do I look like a tailor? (wiggles stethoscope at Advisors)
Advisors: Well, no.
Doctor: You’re right. I’m not a tailor. I’m a doctor.
Advisors: Okay then. Goodbye.
(Doctor walks off stage.)
Narrator: So the Emperor’s advisors continued to look for a tailor.
(Advisors ride horses around.)
Everyone:
It is time for a pa-rade.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
And some new clothes must be made.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
We are looking high and low
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
For a tailor that can sew.
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
(Advisors meet Pretend Tailors.)
Advisors: We are looking for the best tailors in all the land. Are either of you a tailor?
Pretend Tailor 1: Um, yes, yes! We are both tailors.
Pretend Tailor 2: We are? (Pretend Tailor 1 nudges him in the ribs.) Oh, yes, of course we are tailors.
Pretend Tailor 1: We are the best tailors in all the land!
Advisor 1: Oh good! Then we can stop looking.
Advisor 2: Come with us to the palace to make an outfit for the Emperor.
Pretend Tailor 1: Right now?
Advisor 3: Yes, right now.
Pretend Tailor 2: Okay.
(everyone exits)