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Drama Skits
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Style: |
Comedy/Informative |
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Characters: |
10 (6 Females, 4 Males and 1 or 2 extras with no lines) |
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Length: |
8-10 minutes |
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Cost: |
$10.00 |
| Themes: | Rosa Parks, Black history, Civil rights, Segregation |
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| Summary: When it comes to writing about
black historical figures, Shondra has an edge: her grandmother knew Rosa
Parks. It came as no surprise then, when Shondra and her friend,
Jackie were asked to write about an event in black history, they chose the
story of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a
bus.
In this skit, the stage is divided into 3 small sections: a table and chairs for the grandmother and the 2 girls; a middle section where Rosa and Louise (a younger version of the grandmother) wait for the bus; and the bus itself made up of rows of chairs. As the grandmother recalls the story of Rosa, as it was told to her by Rosa herself, the various scenes switch back and forth, so the audience sees "first hand" how this important even in history may have played out. |
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| Excerpt: This is a sample taken from the 2nd and 3rd pages of the skit.
The Seat of her Pants Jackie: We were wondering if you’d mind telling us about what happened the day she was on that bus. Grandma: Well, that was a long time ago , but I could never forget that day. It was the day Rosa made history. Shondra: So, you’ll tell us? Grandma: Of course I will. Let me get comfortable. (she sits in the rocking chair, as the girls grab their notebooks and pencils) Jackie: This is so exciting! An actual eye-witness! Grandma: I wasn’t actually on the bus, you understand, but this is how Rosa told it to me: (as she talks, the girls take notes & Grandma rocks in the chair as she speaks) It was a cold day in Alabama. It was Dec. 1st, 1955. Rosa Parks would have been about 43 years old then. We’d just ended a long shift at the Montgomery Fair department store. Jackie: What did you and Rosa do there? Shondra: They were seamstresses, right grandma? Grandma: That’s correct, Shondra. On that particular day I had just come out of the store and started to walk home, when I spotted Rosa waiting for the bus. (These characters freeze, as the attention turns to the scene in the middle) Louise: Hi, Rosa. The bus hasn’t come by yet? Rosa: One of them did, but all the seats were full—standing room only. I thought I’d wait and catch the next one so I could get a seat. Louise: Long day, huh? Rosa: Seemed longer than most, anyway. Louise: You look tired. Rosa: I am, and my back and shoulders are aching something fierce! I just want to sit down and take a load off of my feet. Louise: Sounds like you could use a hot bath. Rosa: I’d love one, and I’d have me one too, if that next bus would ever get here. Louise: It looks like you’re in luck. Here it comes now. Rosa: (strains to see if there are any seats available) At least there’s some seats on this one. Louise: Have a good night, Rosa. Enjoy your hot bath and I’ll see you tomorrow. Rosa: Good night, Louise. (Louise exits, as Rosa approaches the bus. Bus driver goes through motions of opening the door etc. Rosa steps near the bus driver, goes through the motions of paying the money, then exits off the bus, and re-enters from the rear, finding a seat in the middle row next to Marjorie.) Jackie: Wait a minute, why did Rosa get on the bus, pay the money and then get off the bus, go around to the back and get on the bus again? Was she crazy? Grandma: (chuckles) No, Jackie. Rosa Parks was not crazy. That happened to be the proper custom back then. Jackie: People paid their fares up front, then went around the back to get on the bus? Grandma: No, white people could enter from the front, black people had to enter from the back. Shondra: Are you serious, grandma? Grandma: I’m afraid so. |
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