A
Thousand Cranes
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ArtReach's A Thousand Cranes is a playscript for a medium sized cast of about 13-15 students, recommended for tween and teen performers. It is the true story of young Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and her inspiring plea for peace. This award-winning play is told in simple but powerful terms that have a profound effect on audiences of all ages. First produced professionally, this script has become a children's theatre classic and is performed each year by schools and theatres around the world. A teacher-friendly School Play Package is available.
A
Thousand Cranes - Playscript for Young Performers
Honolulu Theatre for Youth - The
National School of Drama, Delhi, India - First Stage Milwaukee
For A Medium Size (Medium) Cast
of Teens, Middle Schools, High Schools
A Thousand Cranes is an extraordinary experience for young performers and young audiences. The cast size makes it perfect for Middle, Junior and Sr. High School students. This One Act Play may be staged with a few simple props and unlimited imagination. The result is always elegant and moving.
"It was an outstanding production. The performance left me with burning eyes and a lump in my throat and a fear that my heart would burst with pride!"
Greg Brooks, Headmaster, St. Mary's DSG School for Girls, South AfricaExcellent Roles for Middle School Performers
Play for Kids to Perform - Lansing Middle School, NY - Syracuse Stage
Easy to
Stage a Stunning Production
Somerset Co.
Vocational School, NJ - Asian Children's Theatre Festival
A Thousand Cranes is the true, poignant story of Sadako Sasaki. Sadako was only two years old when the Hiroshima bomb fell and seemed to be unharmed, but at twelve she was diagnosed with "radiation sickness". With boundless optimism, she takes an old story to heart: "If a sick person folds a thousand paper cranes the gods will grant her wish and make her well again." Sadako begins to fold her thousand cranes.
"I wanted to congratulate you on 1000 Cranes. It was more than a play, it truly was a total EXPERIENCE!! I loved it. Your very talented cast put so much life into such a poignant and important story!"
Sheryl Altman, Southboro, Prana Center, Holliston, MA
"A
Single Gesture of Kindness..."
Ashland Children's Theatre - Orcutt
Academy, Santa Maria, CA
"The
Students Were Amazing!"
Actors for Children Theatre, Flatwoods, KY -
Centenary Stage, MA - Majestic Theatre, Crovallis, OR
Before Sadako is able to complete her task, she is visited by her Grandmother who lovingly carries her on the back of a glorious crane, to the land of a thousand, thousand spirits. There Sadako joins her ancestors and learns that her true wish may be granted. Sadako's friends and classmates finished Sadako's work. They folded enough paper cranes to make a thousand.
“What an absolutely unforgettable experience. We had an overwhelming response to A THOUSAND CRANES. We had a total sold-out audience of nearly 600 and the show held everyone enthralled! No one moved a muscle during the entire show and there were always tears and prolonged applause.”
Sharon Sproule Ontario’s Espanola Youth Theatre
Lexington Children's Theatre
Why is ArtReach's A Thousand Cranes right for you and your school?
A Flexible Cast of 13: (4m, 4f, 5 m/f) Doubling & extras possible. You have permission to adjust the cast to your school's needs.
One Act Play Length: About 40-45 minutes long: Perfect for touring to your local elementary school.
Suggestions on how to use simple percussion instruments (raid the music room!) to excellent effect.
Easy staging, costumes, scenery: Inexpensive masks, fans and paper parasols create a setting of stunning drama. Several special costumes may be created in the shop or art room. Your students' imaginations will soar!
Open staging! Your gymnasium, cafeteria or any other large room is perfect.
A CD of original, beautiful poignant background music and sound effects.
You May Make Changes to the Script: The School Play Package gives you the rights to adapt, change, add anything you want to make it perfect for your kids.
Make a Video: The School Play Package gives you the right to make a recording of your performance.
"You offer a great product that is affordable for our school."
JoAnna Pillsbury, Brewster Elementary, Rochester Hills MI
Sadako's Friends Folded Paper Cranes
Lexington Children's Theater, KY - Seattle Peace Park“A Thousand Cranes made history come alive for these kids,” Director Wilson said. “It has given them a life experience that they would have never had without doing this dramatic piece. I think it’s touched them all greatly. District administrators watched a dress rehearsal of the play Wednesday with tears in their eyes."
Kids Grades 6, 7, 8 at Orcutt Acadmey, Santa Maria, CAToday children in Japan and all over the world, children fold a thousand paper cranes and lay them at the feet of Sadako's statue in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Their wish is engraved at the bottom of the monument.
"This
is Our Cry - This is Our Prayer..."
"Peace
in the World"
Play for
Schools, Theatres, Youth Groups
Fusion Youth Theatre, Grimsby,
UK - Asian
Children's Play Festival, Singapore
“AWESOME!” “LOVED IT!” “The dedication and outpouring of soul oozing from each cast member resonates beautifully.”
Brigham Young University, Utah, Utah Stages Review
Sadako
Flies on a Wonderous Journey!
A Thousand Cranes, Lexington Children's
Theatre, KY
National
Endowment for the Arts Winner
Winner of the National Endowment
for the Arts Playwriting Award
Phantom
Projects, La Mirada Theatre, CA - Syracuse Stage - Lexington
Children's Theatre
"The ideas and movements used are inspired by traditional, Japanese theatre, and are also visually beautiful," said the Players' artistic director Katy Brown, who's also directing A Thousand Cranes. "The audience will be taken to another country and culture through Japanese percussion, music, costumes, masks, glowing lanterns and a stunning set."
Barter Theatre, Abington, VAUIL (University Interscholastic League) Approved Play
Lansing Middle School, NY - Harvey Middle, Katonah, NY
"An
Unforgettable Experience!
Resonates Beautifully"
University
of Wisconsin
- Majestic
Theatre, Crovallis, OR
UIL APPROVED! The University Interscholastic League (UIL) approves plays and other performing arts for participation in high school competitions in Texas. The UIL One-Act Play Contest is the largest high school play production contest in the world. It was founded in 1927.
"We did 'A Thousand Cranes' and it turned out great! The audience loved it, and we got the community to help us fold and collect cranes which we used as part of the play backdrop, then we sent them off to the Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima - 1700 or so cranes! Wonderful story."
Marcy Donnelly Del Castillo, Fremont Civic Theatre, CO
Medium
Cast for Teens to Perform
Western Academy of Beijing
- Bednarcik Junior High School, Oswego IL
One-Act Play
Award Winner! - Send Your Cranes to Sadako
Barter Theatre, Abington, Va -- Lansing Middle
School, NY -- Somerset County Vocational School, NJ
"A wonderful One Act Playscript that gives the actors and director complete artistic choice! There were very few dry eyes in the house at the end of this performance."
Stephanie Brotherton, Drama Teacher, Marion C. Early High School, MO
A Thousand Cranes has three versions:
Large
Cast School Play Version
Flexible Cast of 17-38 (2M,
4F, all others M/F) for grades K-6
Medium Cast
Version (this page)
Flexible Cast of 13 (4M, 4F,
5M/F) for grades 6-12
Small
Cast (Touring) Version
Cast of 3 (1M, 2F) for adult actors.
More Great Comments...
Who's producing A Thousand Cranes? Click for Productions
Free Resources: In the News, Behind the Scenes, Directing Tips, Classroom Activities
ArtReach's Famed Award-Winning Play 'A Thousand Cranes' has been performed around the world. Sadako's message inspires young people with hope and peace. Running Time: About 40 minutes. ArtReach's Medium Cast is Flexible for a Medium Size Flexible cast of 13, 4 Male, 4 Female, All others M/F. Easily adapted for larger or smaller cast. UIL (University Interscholastic League) Approved Play. Medium Version: This one act play is perfect for Middle Schools, High Schools, Community Theatres, One-Act Play Contests and One-Act Play Festivals. A Beautiful Soundtrack CD with easy cue sheet will add incredible polish and professionalism to your production. Instructions on How to Fold a Paper Crane and where to send them to Sadako's Statue in Japan are in ArtReach's Teacher's Guide.
"A local touring troupe for children won top honors at the Kentucky Theatre Association Community Theatre Festival. Actors for Children Theatre of Flatwoods, KY was selected as KTA’s 2013 “Outstanding Production” for its performance of A Thousand Cranes."
Herald-Dispatch, Huntington WV
"As a young girl I read Sadako's story and remember how much it resonated with me. Here is a girl with dignity, grace and irrepressible spirit. Sadako reminds us what a single gesture of kindness can have on future generations."
Lauren Unlekant, Educational Outreach, Syracuse Stage, NY
"In honor of this amazing story of one little girl who helped change the world, PPT is encouraging all the students attending the school shows to fold an origami crane to be hung in the Norvell Theater throughout the run of the show."
Piedmont Players, Salisbury, NC
"My high school drama club won the North Dakota State One Act competition yesterday, mostly because the possibility of great things with your script."
Melissa Entzi, Drama Teacher, Edgeley High School, NC
"If you haven't seen A Thousand Cranes, don't miss it! It was incredibly moving. Until you see these young actors and actresses portray the life of one affected 12 year old girl, you haven't really felt the story with your heart."
Ceci LeBeau, Holliston Prana Center, MA
Published: 20 Great Plays
for Children - Scholastic
East Central High School Drama Club (Kathy Ebnet, Director), of Sandstone, MN, Minnesota. Their A Thousand Cranes was selected out of 481 nominations to represent the US in the American High School Theatre Festival, Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“I hope that young people, teachers, and parents watching this show are able to discuss with each other the importance and need for peace and reflection before making any decisions. I encourage everyone to learn to fold a crane and use those few moments to reflect on those that have gone before us and to find peace within ourselves.”
Octavia Biggs, Director, Lexington Children's Theatre
"This is a story of beauty and hope."
Lauren Unlekant, Educational Outreach, Syracuse Stage, NY
"A Thousand Cranes left me emotional but hopeful for a future where we have learned from the past."
Katie Roundy, Utah Theatre Bloggers
"A THOUSAND CRANES is a moving story of one girl's courage and triumph."
Julia Magnasco Education Director, First Stage, Milwaukee, WI
“Telling the true story of a young Japanese girl who lived through Hiroshima in World War II, allowed ACT to bring history, literature, art, science and world studies to hundreds and hundreds of local students.”
Director Sarah Diamond Burroway, Actors for Children Theatre, Flatwoods, KY
"A Thousand Cranes", was presented Saturday at the One Act Festival at Cumberland High School where Galileo nabbed second place overall in the district competition."
Director Glenn Weyler
"Thanks again for a wonderful story. Everyone in the audience loved our A Thousand Cranes. Our cast has been proud to tell this story. We all agreed that we would be a little sad to perform A Thousand Cranes for the last time."
Jan Thompson, Central High School Wise, VA
"A Thousand Cranes is filled with messages of hope, strength, and courage and continues to encourage young people throughout the world to work for peace."
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, NC
"This multiple award-winning play has been produced by countless professional and community theatres in the United States and in other countries around the world."
Skwalking Heads, Chattanooga Center, TN
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