Reader's Theater Script
This script is designed for use with elementary school students.
Reader' s Theater is a tool for developing children's reading comprehension skills.
Teachers will need to provide direction in oral interpretation
Interpretation note: The goats' voices and trip, trap sounds as they cross the bridge should become louder with the size progression of the billy goats.
Characters: Narrator Little Billy Goat Gruff = Little BG Middle-Size Billy Goat Gruff = Middle BG Big Billy Goat Gruff = Big BG Troll Bridge Narrator: "Welcome to our show. The play is The Three Billy Goats Gruff."
SCENE ONE
Narrator: Little Billy Goat Gruff sees a rickety, old bridge. On the other side of the bridge is a meadow with green, green grass and apple trees.
Little BG: "I'm the littlest billy goat. I have two big brothers. I want to go across this bridge to eat some green, green grass and apples so that I can be big like my two brothers."
Narrator: Little Billy Goat Gruff starts across the bridge.
Bridge: "Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap." Narrator: Just as the Little Billy Goat Gruff came to the middle of the bridge, an old troll popped up from under the bridge. Troll: "Who is that walking on my bridge?"
Little BG: "It is I, Little Billy Goat Gruff."
Troll: "I'm a big, bad troll and you are on my bridge. I'm going to eat you for my lunch."
Little BG: "I just want to eat some green, green grass and apples in the meadow. Please don't eat me. I'm just a little billy goat. Wait until my brother comes along. He is much bigger than I am."
Troll: "I guess I will. Go ahead and cross the bridge."
Little BG: "Thank you very much, you ugly troll."
Troll: "What did you call me? Come back here!"
Little BG: "Bye!" Bridge: "Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap."
Narrator: Little Billy Goat Gruff ran across the bridge. He ate the green, green grass and apples. The troll went back under his bridge and went to sleep.
SCENE TWO
Narrator: Middle-Size Billy Goat Gruff walks up to the rickety, old bridge. He too sees the meadow with the green, green grass and apple trees.
Middle BG: "I'm the middle-size billy goat. I have a big brother and a little brother. I want to go across this bridge to eat some green, green grass and apples so that I can be big like my brother."
Narrator: Middle-Size Billy Goat Gruff starts across the bridge.
Bridge: "Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap."
Narrator: Just as the Middle-Size Billy Goat Gruff came to the middle of the bridge, an old troll popped up from under the bridge. \
Troll: "Who is that walking on my bridge?"
Middle BG: "It is I, Middle-Size Billy Goat Gruff."
Troll: "I'm a big, bad troll and your are on my bridge. I'm going to eat you for my lunch."
Middle BG: "I just want to eat some green, green grass and apples in the meadow. Please don't eat me. I'm just a middle-size billy goat. Wait until my brother comes along. He is much bigger than I am."
Troll: "I guess I will. Go ahead and cross the bridge."
Middle BG: "Thank you very much, you ugly troll."
Troll: "What did you call me? Come back here!"
Middle BG:"Bye!" Bridge: "Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap." Narrator: Middle-Size Billy Goat Gruff ran across the bridge. He ate the green, green grass and apples. The troll went back under his bridge and went to sleep. SCENE THREE
Narrator: Big Billy Goat Gruff sees the rickety, old bridge. On the other side of the bridge is a meadow with green, green grass and apple trees. Big BG: "I'm the biggest billy goat. I have two brothers. I want to go across this bridge to eat some green, green grass and apples so I can get even bigger. Narrator: Big Billy Goat Gruff starts across the bridge. Bridge: "Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap." Narrator: Just as the Big Billy Goat Gruff came to the middle of the bridge, an old troll popped up from under the bridge."