Play
s
’
r
o
r
e
p
m
E New Clothes
The
Adapted for STORYWORKS by
SARI BODI AND Karen Trott
illu strations
A RRET
by T O M G
ng and a wise child.
ki
ish
ol
fo
ry
ve
a
t
ou
ab
le
ta
The classic
rite stars!
Featuring some of your favo
Rico ez
u
RodrigLord
e
h
t
as
ellor
Chanc
Derek Jeter
as the Roy
al
Dresser
Jason DeCrow/AP Images (Rico); Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection/Newscom (Taylor); Frederick M.Brown/Getty (Cymphonique); Tim Wiencis/Splash
News/ Newscom (Derek); Isabella Vosmikova/Disney Channel (Selena); David Livingston/WireImage (Jack); The Everett Collection (Kermit)
Selena Gome
as the Ministe z
r
of Culture
Jack Black
as the
Emperor
CHARACTERS
Taylor
Swift 1
or
as Tail
*Narrators 1, 2 & 3
*Emperor
CourtierS 1 & 2
*Lord ChancelLor
*Tailors 1 & 2
Palace Guard
Minister of Culture
*Royal Dresser
SubjectS 1 & 2
The child
*Indicates large
speaking role.
CYM
P
as THONIQ
ailo UE
r2
KERMIT
THE FROG
as the Child
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Moral of the Story Vain means too proud of
your appearance. As you read, think about how being
vain affects the Emperor and other characters in the
play. What lesson—or moral—do they learn?
Scene 1
The Imperial Palace
N1: Once there was a vain and foolish Emperor
who was obsessed with his wardrobe.
Emperor: So . . . how do I look?
Courtier 1: You look fantastic! Love the gold
embroidery on your robe.
Courtier 2: Of the five outfits you’ve worn
today, this is by far the shiniest.
N2: The Lord Chancellor shakes his head and
sighs.
Lord Chancellor: It is certainly the most
expensive.
N3: Word of the Emperor’s vanity spread far
and wide.
N1: Hearing it, two
scoundrels decide to
pose as tailors.
Tailor 1: I know
how we can take
advantage of this
fool.
Tailor 2: Flattery.
Works every time.
Let’s go talk to the
palace guard.
Palace Guard: No one
is allowed beyond
these gates to see
the Emperor.
Tailor 1: But we are
the best tailors in
the empire.
Tailor 2: We can
weave a cloth so
magnificent that
fools can’t see it.
Palace Guard: Hmm.
Wait here.
N2: The palace guard
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s t o r y w o r k s
Look for Word Nerd’s 10 words IN BOLD
whispers to the Minister of Culture.
Palace Guard: They say if you are stupid, the
cloth is invisible to you.
N3: The Minister of Culture speaks to the
Lord Chancellor.
Minister of Culture: A wise person like you is
sure to see the cloth.
N1: The Lord Chancellor speaks to the
Emperor.
Lord Chancellor: They say it is a cloth so fine,
fools can’t see it. Clearly, it’s all nonsense.
Emperor: Bring these tailors to me at once!
Lord Chancellor: But Your Majesty . . .
Emperor: I must have a suit of this magnificent
cloth for my annual appearance before my
subjects.
Lord Chancellor: But . . .
Emperor: At once!
Scene 2
The Royal Chamber
N2: The tailors begin
taking the Emperor’s
measurements.
Tailor 1: I’ve got 22 inches
for his arms.
Tailor 2: I’ve got 64
inches for his legs. Wow,
impressive!
Emperor: I pride myself
on my long legs.
Tailor 1: We’ll have to
weave yards and yards of
cloth to make this suit.
Tailor 2: It’s going to
cost three sacks of gold.
Tailor 1: At least.
Lord Chancellor: Three
sacks of gold? That’s
enough to buy two
Tim Wiencis/Splash News/Newscom (Derek); Isabella Vosmikova/Disney Channel (Selena); Adam Orchon/Everett Collection/Newscom (Jack)
UP
CLOSE
Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection/Newscom (Taylor); Jason DeCrow/AP (Rico); Dee Cercone/Everett Collection/Newscom (Jack); Lester Cohen/WireImage (Cymphonique)
castles and a moat!
Emperor: I could use a new moat . . .
Tailor 2: Ah, but Your Majesty, you
will have the finest suit in the
land!
Tailor 1: With a matching robe.
Tailor 2: And you will be able to
identify all the fools around you by
observing whether they can see your
fine suit or not.
Emperor: That settles it. Lord
Chancellor, open up my royal
treasury. Pay these tailors whatever
they request.
Lord Chancellor: Are you sure,
Sire? No one has ever heard of
these tailors.
Tailor 1: We’re the empire’s bestkept secret. Only the most
stylish royals know who we
are.
Tailor 2: And that includes
you, Your Majesty, does it not?
Emperor: Absolutely. I’ll go down in
history as the best-dressed Emperor
who ever lived.
Lord Chancellor: I fear, Your Majesty,
that you may go down in history as
a fool.
Emperor: How dare you question
me! Hand over the keys to the
treasury. Out of my sight!
Scene 3
The Palace Sewing Room
N3: The day before his annual appearance, the
Emperor commands his royal dresser to visit
the tailors and check on their progress.
N1: The tailors put on quite a show.
N2: They snip the air with their scissors.
N3: They pretend to sew with their needles.
Tailor 1: Isn’t this pattern superb?
Tailor 2: The colors are dazzling. It almost
hurts my eyes.
Tailor 1: This is by far the most-fantastic fabric
we’ve ever woven.
N1: The royal dresser peers closely at the
“fabric.”
Royal Dresser (to himself): Oh no! I don’t see
anything!
Tailor 2: Worth every piece of gold we asked
for, right?
Royal Dresser: Well, tailors, I’ve never
seen anything like it. It’s truly . . . uh . . .
indescribable.
Tailor 1: So what will you tell the Emperor?
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N2: The royal dresser thinks really hard.
Royal Dresser (to himself): I don’t see
anything. If the Emperor finds out I’m a
fool, I’ll lose my cushy job.
N3: The royal dresser looks at the tailors and
smiles.
Royal Dresser: I think this garment will
suit the Emperor beyond his wildest
expectations.
Tailor 2 (smirking): Well said, my friend.
Scene 4
N1: The Emperor is pacing the floor of his
royal chamber.
Emperor: Where are my new clothes? The
ceremony begins in 10 minutes.
N2: The tailors burst through the door.
Tailors 1 and 2: We’re here!
N3: Their arms are outstretched, straining
with the weight of imaginary garments.
Emperor: Finally, my clothes!
Tailor 1: Try them on, Sire.
Emperor: Where are they?
Tailor 2: Can’t you see them? I’m holding
them up.
N1: The Emperor nearly faints. He sits down
on his throne.
Emperor (to himself): I don’t see them. This
can’t possibly be.
N2: The Emperor calls out to the royal dresser.
Emperor: Bring me my glasses.
Royal Dresser: Which glasses, Sire? You have
so many.
Emperor: The ones that help me see!
N3: Even with his strongest glasses, the
Emperor cannot see the new clothes.
N1: But he can’t possibly admit that.
N2: That would mean he is a fool.
Emperor: These clothes are truly magnificent.
This robe is just the right length.
Tailor 1: Robe? Those are the socks.
Emperor: Oh, yes. I meant socks.
Tailor 2: Just kidding. Of course it’s your robe.
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s t o r y w o r k s
We worked especially hard on your royal
coat of arms.
Tailor 1: Your Majesty, permit us to help you
try them on.
N3: As the Emperor begins to remove his
clothes, he hesitates. But he comforts himself
that in his new suit, he will appear undressed
only to fools.
N1: The royal dresser holds up a mirror.
Royal Dresser: Your Majesty, it’s astonishing
how well these clothes suit you.
Emperor: You really think so?
Royal Dresser: Without question! Courtiers,
don’t you agree?
Courtier 1: Yes, it’s a whole new you.
Courtier 2: And it really shows off your
complexion.
Chris Pizzello/AP (Rico); Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection/Newscom (Jack); Rob Kim/Everett Collection/Newscom (Derek)
The Royal Chamber
Michael Germana/The Everett Collection (Kermit); Jim Henson Productions/courtesy the Everett Collection (Kermit’s hand); Fotolia (crowd)
Tailor 2: Well, Your Majesty?
Emperor: You’ve done a splendid job.
Scene 5
Outside the Palace
N2: The Emperor’s royal subjects gather outside
the palace gates.
Palace Guard: Step back. You’ll all get a chance
to see His Majesty’s new clothes—unless
you’re a fool. Then you won’t see them at all.
Subject 1: I went to university. I’m sure to see
the clothes.
N3: The Emperor steps out onto the balcony
wearing only his crown.
Emperor: I proudly stand before you in my
magnificent new clothes!
N1: Shocked, the people hesitate, then start
cheering.
Subject 2: He looks amazing.
Subject 1: Dazzling!
Subject 2: So royal.
N2: Then a little child points at the Emperor
and laughs.
Child: Look, the Emperor has no clothes!
N3: As if a spell has been broken, everyone
begins to laugh.
Subject 1: He’s not wearing anything!
Subject 2: We can see his goose bumps!
N1: The Emperor runs from the balcony.
N2: He realizes he’s been tricked, but it’s too
late. The tailors have already fled with his
gold.
Tailor 1: And his pride.
Tailor 2: Ha-ha!
N3: The Emperor calls for his Lord Chancellor.
Emperor: I truly am a fool. Why didn’t you stop
me?
Lord Chancellor: I tried, but you didn’t want to
listen.
Emperor: Can someone bring me some clothes?
Some real clothes?
N1: From then on, the Emperor was never as
interested in his wardrobe.
N2: And he was a much better—and wiser—
Emperor.
WRITE TO WIN!
What lesson do the Emperor and the other characters learn from the
child? Write your answer in a well-organized paragraph, and
send it to “Emperor Contest” by October 15, 2012. Ten
Find an
winners will each receive a copy of Breadcrumbs by Anne
activity
sheet
Ursu. See page 2 for details.
online!
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