Submitted by Linda Lawson, Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Idea posted January 7, 2011

Christmas At The O.K. Corral is just too cute! If you're considering doing this one and are seeking ideas to enhance the production, consider using shadow puppets, Silly String, and shaving cream.

Bad Bart "covered this town with bubble gum goo," by squirting silly string over the main characters. He then ran out of the gym giving his evil laugh. Two other students were in the limelight with him, by portraying gum. One little girl (a special needs student) wore a pink shirt with pink balloons pinned on her. In addition, helium balloons were attached to her pigtails. Another boy, a quite shy one, wore a black shirt with different types of clip art gum pinned on it. The clip art was blown up, cut out, then outlined with bold glitter. It's a great way to include students who otherwise wouldn't be able to handle a speaking part. Their big job during the play was to look cute, and also to ceremoniously hand the silly sting to Bubble Gum Bart.

In addition, shaving cream was used when one of the characters told Bart that he couldn't stop Christmas. Bart said, "Oh, yeah?" and then smeared the shaving cream on the student's face. The audience and all students said, "Ewh!" and meant it.

Another silent student part added was a bold green sign with "applause" on one side and "boo" on the other. The student holding the sign entered with Bart (boo) and also with the Candy Cane Kid (applause). Everyone enthusiastically complied with the sign's instructions.

Three other main characters added were shadow puppeteers. The gym pull-up bar was covered with canvas (purchased online). The lower half was also covered with black paper to hide the puppeteers. The back light was three overhead projectors. Shadow puppets were made mostly from clip art and included: a horse and rider (Bart), another horse and rider (this one had a lasso), a toy trumpet, various Christmas symbols, a violin, dancing boots, music notes, and a smiley face wearing a cowboy hat.

What fun! The year's Christmas program was a rootin' tootin' (couldn't resist) success. Thank you, Teresa Jennings!