THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS

Choral Speaking Version by Lois Walker

This choral speaking version of THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS includes a variety of speaker experiences. As in most choral speaking, CHORUS SPEAKERS speak in unison together. But, in an effort to bring needed variety of sound and a composer's touch to the choral expression of this piece, you may find that:

SOLO SPEAKERS speak special lines.

ALL BOYS and/or ALL GIRLS speak in unison together.

SPECIAL QUARTETS speak in unison together.

CHARACTER SPEAKERS (Grasshopper and Ants) speak character lines.

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THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS

1 CHORUS: There once was a grasshopper

2 SOLO SPEAKER 1: Who was in a party mood

3 CHORUS: She sang away the summer days

4 And ate up all her food!

5 GRASSHOPPER: Yo-hoo, that's me!

6 It's true, it's true

7 I ate up all my food!

8 CHORUS: Hey grasshopper Gal!

9 Hate to burst your bubble

10 There's a moral to this tale

11 YOU'RE headed straight for trouble!

12 GIRL'S CHORUS: When winter came she realized

13 She'd made a big mistake

14 She hadn't saved a thing to eat

15 And how her tummy ached

16 GRASSHOPPER: I haven't saved a thing to eat

17 And now my tummy aches!

18 CHORUS: Hey grasshopper Gal!

19 Hate to burst your bubble

20 There's a moral to this tale

21 YOU'RE headed straight for trouble!

22 BOY'S CHORUS: The ants who lived next door to her

23 Had planned ahead, in fact

24 Had worked throughout the summer heat

25 To store up food out back

26 ANT QUARTET: Did you ever, did you ever

27 Meet a group of ants so clever?

28 CHORUS: Hey grasshopper Gal!

29 Hate to burst your bubble

30 There's a moral to this tale

31 YOU'RE headed straight for trouble!

32 GIRL'S QUARTET: And when our dear grasshopper

33 Came begging for some bread

34 BOY'S QUARTET: The ants just shook their heads and said

35 ANT QUAR?TET: "You're going to end up dead!!"

36 CHORUS: Hey grasshopper Gal!

37 Hate to burst your bubble

38 There's a moral to this tale

39 YOU'RE headed straight for troubl?e! 

40 GRASSHOPPER: O.K., O.K., I've heard enough!

41 So what's the moral? Tell me please!

42 SOLO SPEAKER 2: I bet the moral's full of DON'TS! 

43 SOLO SPEAKER 3: Don't sing away the summer? 

44 SOLO SPEAKER 4: Don't party ‘til you're fed? 

45 SOLO SPEAKER 5: Don't waste your days just having fun? 

46 SOLO SPEAKER 6: Don't lounge around in bed? 

47 CHORUS: NO!

48 SOLO SPEAKER 7: The moral of this story is:

49 CHORUS: IT'S SMART TO PLAN AHEAD!