Rock the Presidents
Book and Lyrics by Dwayne Hartford
Music by Sarah Roberts
Are you ready to rock out with Millard Fillmore?
Just in time for the election, Childsplay presents
Rock the Presidents, a high-octane, multi-mediafilled musical revue spanning 223 years of the
American presidency – from George Washington
to Barack Obama. With rock concert music and a
super fun history lesson, this non-partisan musical
explores what it really takes to be our nation’s
president. You’ll be clapping and cheering as you
ponder the question, “Are you a president-to-be?”
Audiences young and old alike will learn
something new about our presidents, while
perhaps seeing something of themselves reflected
in the stories on stage.
LEADERSHIP
LITERACY
Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects (CCSS.ELALiteracy.RST.6-8.9): Compare and contrast the information
gained from experiments, simulations, video or multimedia
sources with that gained from reading a text on the same
topic.
21st CENTURY LEARNING
Creativity and Innovation (GK-12): Work Creatively with
Others - View failure as an opportunity to learn; understand
that creativity and innovation is a long-term, cyclical process
of small successes and frequent mistakes.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Civics/Government (NCSS Themes 6 & 10 K-12): 6) Power,
Authority, and Governance. 10) Civic Ideals and Practices.
©Childsplay 2016 www.childsplayaz.org
What is a touring show?
Childsplay creates a play with professional actors, a full set, costumes,
props, and sound, then packs everything in a van and brings the show to
venues across the nation. We perform in theatres, gyms, cafeterias, and
multi-purpose rooms.
How does it all come together?
The design team and production staff have many challenges when creating a tour. They have to consider how many months the
production will be on the road, how to fit all the elements (including the actors) into a van, and how to make the load-in, assembly of
the set, pre-set of props and costumes, sound check and load-out as easy for the actors as possible. This is accomplished by countless
meetings and planning sessions that occur as much as a year before the first performance.
Where do we go and how do we get there?
We travel all across the nation in a large van. In a week’s time, a touring company may perform up to 14 shows in as many as 8
different locations. Tours can be on the road anywhere from 6 to 12 months, sometimes even longer. By the end of the tour, the
actors may have performed as many as 200 performances.
How do you put everything in just one van?
All of the scenery, props, and costumes that you see in a Childsplay tour must fit into a van. The scenery usually comes apart into
several pieces and then stacks, folds or nests together in the van. There is also room in the van for the sound system, toolbox and the
cast – which could be as many as 5 actors. If the cast is lucky there is usually room to squeeze in a few suitcases when they go out of
town!
What happens when you arrive at a theatre?
Once the cast arrives at to their destination, they have to set everything up in less than one hour, and depending on the size of the
cast, with as few as 3 people. The Childsplay scene shop uses what they like to call “tool-less technology” to create tour shows. This
means tour sets get assembled with as few tools as possible, sometimes none! Pieces are held in place by screwing in knobs; pieces
interlock or rest on posts and sometimes fabric appliqués are Velcroed on to hard scenery frames. Tours also have a portable sound
system with sound effects pre-programed on a computer. Once the sound system is set up all the actors have to do is hit one button
on the computer to run sometimes very complicated sound sequences.
Use the restroom before seeing the show as we do not have intermission during our school performances.
Stay seated during the performance.
Be respectful to the performers and other people in the audience by not talking during the performance.
Appropriate responses such as applause or laughter are always welcome.
Food, candy, gum and beverages will not be allowed in the theater/during the performance. Bottled water is allowed.
Use of cell phones (including text messaging), cameras or any other recording device is not allowed during the
performance at any time.
©Childsplay 2016 www.childsplayaz.org
What have you done to pick yourself up after a failure?
What would be hard about being president? What would be awesome?
What does it mean to be a leader?
Throughout history, there have been many political parties. What political
parties are you familiar with? Why do we have different political parties?
First ladies always choose a cause or platform when they are in the White
House (Michelle Obama’s is fighting childhood obesity). If you were the First
Lady or the First Gentleman, what would your cause or platform be?
ACTORS AS CLOSE READERS
When a playwright writes a play, sometimes they just want to entertain their audience and sometimes there’s a deeper
message. The same is true of musicals, except that the story, themes, and messages are also communicated through lyrics
and music. The audience must listen carefully to lyrics and music to understand the story and to find clues about the theme
and/or message of the musical.
Activity:
Listen to the two songs, First Ladies and I am More Than Four Years, from Rock the Presidents (YouTube links below, printed
lyrics on last page). Based on the lyrics you hear in the song, what do you think the song is about? What do you think the
playwright’s message is? What might be one of the themes in the play? What knowledge did you gain from listening to the
songs?
First Ladies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOE9ZJ4OIF4
More Than Four Years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnoC9Eth_uY
(if you are unable to access YouTube from the classroom, these songs are available on iTunes and CD Baby)
The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman
Liberty Porter, First Daughter by Julia deVilliers
The Ghost, The White House and Me by Judith St. George
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Capitol Mysteries Series by Ron Roy
The Congress of the United States by Christine Taylor-Butler
How Do We Elect Our Leaders? by William Thomas
WHERE EDUCATION AND IMAGINATION
TAKE FLIGHT
What Are the Parts of Government? by William Thomas
©Childsplay 2016 www.childsplayaz.org
First Ladies
from Rock the Presidents
Book and Lyrics by Dwayne Hartford
Music by Sarah Roberts
James and Dolley were quite a pair.
Him with his intellect, her with her flair.
He was pretty small when it came to height,
But with his brains and his wife, he was full of might.
Dolley was popular, the belle of the ball.
She saved our history when Washington did fall.
The British they invaded, burned the White House
down.
Dolley took all she could as she got out of town.
The Presidents may have been all men,
But their wives have proven, time and again,
Women sang their share of history’s song.
Men have led the way so far, but that lead won’t last
for long.
Woodrow Wilson led us through a World War,
Then had a stroke, so his wife took the floor,
Edith saw what was needed, stepped up to the plate.
Ran the country with him, she was truly his mate.
Franklin and Eleanor saw the Depression through.
For him, she traveled the world, and spoke for him,
too.
Eleanor ignored the polls, pushed Franklin to do
what’s right.
He pushed his New Deal, for the common man they’d
fight.
The Presidents may have been all men,
But their wives have proven, time and again,
Women sang their share of history’s song.
Men have led the way so far, but that lead won’t last
for long.
It’s just a matter of time ‘til that day arrives,
When a woman, to the Oval Office drives.
And on that day we’ll celebrate that starting then,
With our First Ladies, we’ll have our First
Gentlemen.
I am More Than Four Years
from Rock the Presidents
Book and Lyrics by Dwayne Hartford
Music by Sarah Roberts
My name is Jimmy Carter,
And one term is all I had.
I didn’t get re-elected,
But don’t think that I feel bad.
I founded the Carter Center
To build hope for humanity.
I work to end all fighting.
And bring a mad world sanity.
And I’m more than four years, more than four years.
A lost election does not define me.
I do not mourn. No. And I shed no tears.
Loser’s not a tag you assign me.
William Howard Taft was my name,
Had one term then I was through.
My wife wanted me President,
But I knew there was more that I could do.
Later on I got my dream,
I led the nation’s highest court.
And I was very good judge,
Who cares if my White House time was short?
And I’m more than four years, more than four years.
A lost election does not define me.
I do not mourn. No. And I shed no tears.
Loser’s not a tag you assign me.
I’m John Quincy Adams,
And my dad was President, too.
My name is George Bush senior,
My son was president. Yes, it’s true.
I fought for human rights for all,
And I loved to write poetry.
I served my country in war and peace,
And I am good with diplomacy.
And I’m more than four years, more than four years.
A lost election does not define me.
I do not mourn. No. And I shed no tears.
Loser’s not a tag you assign me.
©Childsplay 2016 www.childsplayaz.org
By Allison Gregory
Rock the Presidents
Book and Lyrics by Dwayne Hartford
Music by Sarah Roberts
Directed by Anthony Runfola
Musical Direction by Mark 4man
Choreography by Molly Lajoie
Scenic Design by Holly Windingstad
Costume Design by D. Daniel Hollingshead
Projection Design by Limitrophe Films
Sound Design by Christopher Neumeyer
Stage Manager: Koryn Weiman
The Cast
Amy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Moylan
Harry. . . . . . . . . . . . .Matt Miazgowicz
Ted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Bei
LEADERSHIP
What are 3 things you learned about any of the presidents from the performance?
What different styles of music do you recall from the production? Why do you think the playwright and composer chose
different styles of music for this production?
Would you want to be the president? Why or why not?
What are the things you would want to change if you were president?
Because it’s a touring show, all of the set, costumes, sound, props and projections for Rock the Presidents have to fit into a
van. If you could design the production elements and had endless money and space, what would you do differently?
Many presidents are known for the legacy they leave behind. What does it mean to leave a legacy? What would you want
your legacy to be?
If one of your parents were president and you were going to live in the White House, what would you want to bring with
you?
Now that you’ve seen the play, which president do you want to learn more about?
Presidents want to make a difference in our country. What is something you want to do to make a difference?
Most presidents had pets living in the White House. What would your pet be if you lived in the White House?
©Childsplay 2016 www.childsplayaz.org
Associate Production Manager
What does an Associate Production Manager do? We
asked Rachel Solis, Associate Production Manager at
Childsplay to tell us about this theatre job:
As the Associate Production Manager I work mostly with
our local and national tours. My favorite part about being
the Associate Production Manager is how many different
things I get to do on any given day. My days never look
the same which is why I feel like my job is so much fun!
Every season several of Childsplay’s shows will tour
around the entire state of Arizona, and one will tour
across the United States. This year our national tour will
also tour in Canada! When we tour a show, our
professional actors pack everything we need – set,
costumes, props, sound equipment – into our tour vans,
travel to our performance location, unload and set
everything up, perform, and then pack it all back up
again. While we’re in rehearsal for a touring show, like
Rock the Presidents, I am in charge of making sure the
actors and our stage manager are trained and ready to
go out on the road. During the rehearsal process not only
do the actors and stage manager have to learn the
movement, music, and lines, they also have to learn how
to put up the set, run everything for the computer and
speakers so we have sound, drive the vans, maintain
their costumes, work with our education department to
come up with the Q&A portion of the show, and many
other things. Together we have to figure out how to fit
our set, costumes and sound equipment into one van!
We always have to think on our toes because anything
can happen out on the road, and you have to be able to
adapt to all kinds of situations. Touring shows are really
fun because every day is different. On any given day we
can perform between 1 to 3 shows at 2 different
locations. One of my most important jobs is to create and
maintain our touring schedule. Once the shows are ready
and out on the road my job is to be there for them if they
need anything while they’re out. Sometimes a prop will
get broken or a costume piece will get ripped and I will
communicate with our Prop Master, Jim Luther, or the
Costuming and Wardrobe Supervisor, Daniel
Hollingshead, to coordinate repair of the item before the
tour hits the road the next morning. One of the best
parts about the local tours is that we’re so close to the
audience that you can see their reactions to everything.
Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio
Capital Mysteries Series by Ron Roy
Otto Runs for President by Rosemary Wells
George Washington’s Teeth by Deborah Chandra
My Teacher for President by Kay Winters
So You Want to be President? by Judith St. George
The New Big Book of U.S. Presidents by Todd Davis
Don’t Know Much About the Presidents by Kenneth C. Davis
Obama by Ann Bausum
How Do We Elect Our Leaders? by William Thomas
What Are the Parts of Government? by William Thomas
©Childsplay 2016 www.childsplayaz.org
LITERACY
Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.9): Compare and contrast the information gained
from experiments, simulations, video or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.
Activity: Information can be presented in a variety of ways. Have students watch the video below about the
Electoral College, and then read the article below about the same topic. Students should compare what they learned from
each source. Students can use the compare/contrast graphic organizer to record what they learned. What was effective
about each source? Which source did students prefer, and why?
TEDEd video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9H3gvnN468
Article: http://www.gallopade.com/client/electionsForKids/ElectoralCollege.html
Compare/Contrast organizer: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/graphic/graporg28.pdf
21st CENTURY LEARNING
Creativity and Innovation (GK-12): Work Creatively with Others - View failure as an opportunity to learn;
understand that creativity and innovation is a long-term, cyclical process of small successes and frequent
mistakes.
Activity: Individually, or in small groups, have students choose a US President and research their successes and
failures. Students should then identify what they believe was the President’s most significant failure during their time in
office. Using their best critical thinking skills, students should analyze the failure to determine the
effects of the failure. What did the President, his administration, his party, or even the country learn from the President’s
failure? How did the President recover (or did he) from his failure?
SOCIAL STUDIES
Civics/Government (NCSS Themes 6 & 10 K-12): 6) Power, Authority, and Governance. 10) Civic Ideals and Practices.
Constitutional Democracy: (n) a system of government based on popular sovereignty in which the
structures, powers, and limits of government are set forth in a constitution.
Activity: When an elected official takes office they promise to defend and protect the constitution of the
United States. As a class, have students discuss the big ideas presented in the US Constitution. In small groups
students should create the perfect presidential candidate. Groups should include all of the character traits a president
should have in order to preserve and improve the constitutional democracy of the US. Students can create a campaign
poster for their presidential candidate and present it to the class.
Extension Activity: Groups can create an entire election campaign including a poster, slogan, 15-second
commercial, and speech. Hold an election for the candidates and have the class elect the perfect president.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
WHERE EDUCATION AND IMAGINATION
©Childsplay 2016 www.childsplayaz.org
We asked the cast of Rock the Presidents to answer the following questions:
1) What was your first rock or live music concert?
2) Who is your favorite president and why?
Megan:
1) The first time I performed in a musical was when I was 6 years old playing the title role in Annie, but my family has been bringing me to see musicals for as long as I can remember. Rock
music was always being played in my house, so my favorite band has always been Queen. My
first true rock concert I ever saw was their tour with Adam Lambert. Although I've been singing
rock music my entire life, the only context in which I've had the opportunity to perform it is musicals. Hopefully I'll be singing in more rock concerts soon!
2) Tough question! Every day in this show I learn more about each president, so it's hard to pick
a favorite. That being said, I've always had a soft spot for John Adams. Although he was seen as
rude, abrasive, and obnoxious, I always saw him as one of the most passionate men who wouldn't let anything stand in the way of what's right. He may have been hard to get along with, but it was because he cared
so much about what was best for the country and fought so hard for what he believed. Every time I think about how
lucky I am to have the freedoms I do, I send a big "thank you" to the man who made it happen, John Adams.
Matthew:
1) My dad took me to my first concert when I was twelve years old: Jethro Tull at the Detroit
Opera House. A huge fan of the band, he passed that love on to me, in no small part due to
the experience at this concert. Not only was the blues rock (and electric flute) unlike anything I'd ever heard, the band's presence onstage was absolutely irresistible. It's so exciting
to be able to channel them in Rock the Presidents!
2) My favorite president is, without a doubt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I know, I know, such
a common answer, but come on! What's not to love? Not only is he the only president to
have served more than two terms (he won four elections and served for a total of twelve
years!), but he steered the country through the Great Depression with his revolutionary New
Deal and ushered the United States through most of the Second World War. What more could you ask for?
Adam:
1) What was your first concert ever attended?
The first concert I attended was an N'SYNC show when I was 6 years old. I grew up listening
to what music was popular at the time, but I did branch out as I got older. Eventually I played
piano and sang in many different rock bands. I loved listening to the vocal harmonies in music, so I began singing my own harmonies to any song I could. That's the reason I became
passionate about singing, so I guess I have N'SYNC to thank for my singing career!
2) Who was your favorite president and why?
My favorite president was Thomas Jefferson. He was a creative type, a fresh voice from the
mold of political discussion. He felt strongly about collaboration and teamwork to create
solutions. He challenged people to think critically about what people believe in. He was also
known as a virtuoso violinist! His ability to freely express himself made him a relatable and
honest leader.
©Childsplay 2016 www.childsplayaz.org