PLAY IN A DAY – such a fun youth activity! I loved this event because it helped the kids make new friends, combined fun Disney music with important principles from “For the Strength of Youth,” and was all done in a day! We asked our friend Karen to share the details on the blog.
Recently I had the privilege of organizing a “Play in a Day” for about 350 youth.
The theme for our activity was “Come Unto Christ” and each play was to be based on a “For the Strength of Youth” standard and would be portrayed through Disney movies.
Weeks before our Play in a Day arrived, I sent out a brief explanation to all the adult leaders of what was expected on the actual day. I also provided a list of costume/prop ideas that they could bring with them and a list of what we would be providing for them. In addition to this, we pre-assigned each group a Disney movie with song options that they could choose from so they could start thinking of ideas, but they did not find out the standard they were assigned until the morning of the Play in a Day.
The morning of our much anticipated play in a day, we met in the cultural hall of our church and divided all the youth into 14 groups, with approx. 25 youth per group. Each group received a Disney movie and a standard from the “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet, around which they based their play.
We gave the following rules:
-Skits must not be over 8 minutes long. This time must include set up on stage, performance of skit, and tear down from stage. (5 Minute skit, 1.5 minutes on, and 1.5 minutes off) There will be no curtains!
-Each group needs to make a poster-board-size marquee title for their skit.
-Every member of the group must participate in preparation as well as presentation.
-No awards will be given. Just have fun!
Each group went to their assigned rooms to brainstorm ideas for the plot of their play, make costumes and props, and develop a dance to go with the song they chose. The characters and storyline of the Disney movies needed to be “fractured” to produce a story that teaches the assigned standard. There should still be enough resemblance to the original story that the audience could recognize which Disney movie is being used. Characters could be added so that all youth may participate. For those that prefer not to be in the limelight, they could be part of the set (e.g. trees, archway, walls, clocks, etc.).
After a few hours of preparation we met back together in the cultural hall and each group presented their play. Parents were invited to come for the performance. This activity made for a fun day and all those involved had a great time!
Things we provided for the groups:
- A list of youth for each group, along with room assignments for preparing skits.
- An easel to display marquee titles
- Poster board for making title marquee
- We will have a few markers, scissors, poster paper, tape, staplers
- 3 different songs from your Disney Movie you can choose from to use in your skit.
- A copy of those songs for practice and to play during performance
- Sound system
- Paper and pens for writing script
- Butcher Paper for scenery
Prop ideas for Play In A Day:
-Cardboard boxes
-Fake flower bouquets
-Large pieces of fabric (bed sheets, blankets) can be used to make capes, clothing, curtains, table clothes, etc.
-Paper crowns (Burger King)
-Fly swatters
-Different sizes of sticks
-Rope. String can be used to hang a sign “saying” what a prop or person is supposed to be.
-Toy swords
-Buckets
-Stapler, markers, scissors and duct tape can turn butcher paper into almost anything.
-We will provide butcher paper in a variety of colors.
Bring whatever you’d like—have fun and use your imagination, These items will stay with you and your group, but please keep in mind that any props or costumes you bring may not get back to you in the same condition you brought it.
Here is a list of the Strength of Youth Standards and Disney movies we chose:
(Groups, Strength of Youth Standard, Disney Movie and Songs)
Group 1: Disney Movie ~ Little Mermaid / Agency and Accountability, p.2
- Songs: Part of Your World, Under the Sea, Kiss the Girl
Group 2: Disney Movie ~ Beauty and the Beast / Dating, p. 4
- Songs: Gaston, Be Our Guest, Beauty and the Beast
Group 3: Disney Movie ~ Aladdin / Dress and Appearance, p. 6
- Songs: One Jump Ahead, Friend Like Me, A Whole New World
Group 4: Disney Movie ~ Tangled / Service, p. 32
- Songs: When Will My Life Begin, I See the Light, Something That I Want
Group 5: Disney Movie ~ Enchanted / Work & Self –Reliance, p.40
- Songs: Happy Working Song, That’s How You Know
Group 6: Disney Movie ~ Toy Story / Friends, p. 16
- Songs: We Belong Together, You’ve Got a Friend in Me
Group 7: Disney Movie ~ Mulan / Honesty & Integrity, p. 19
- Songs: Honor to us All, Reflection, I’ll Make a Man Out of You
Group 8: Disney Movie ~ Tarzan / Language, p. 20
- Songs: Two Worlds, Son of Man, Trashin’ the Camp
Group 9: Disney Movie ~ Hercules / Physical & Emotional Health, p. 25
- Songs: Go the Distance, Zero to Hero, I Won’t Say I’m in Love
Group 10: Disney Movie ~ Lion King / Repentance, p. 28
- Songs: I Just Can’t Wait to be King, Can you Feel the Love Tonight, Hakuna Matata
Group 11: Disney Movie ~ Cinderella / Gratitude, p. 18
- Songs: Work Song, A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes, Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boo
Group 12: Disney Movie ~ Jungle Book / Education, p. 9
- Songs: The Bare Necessities, I Wanna Be Like You
Group 13: Disney Movie ~ Mary Poppins / Music and Dancing, p. 22
- Songs: A Spoonful of Sugar, Supercalifragilisticexpialidious, I Love to Laugh
Group 14: Disney Movie ~ Pinocchio / Entertainment and Media, p. 11
- Songs: Give a Little Whistle, I’ve Got No Strings