Reader's Theater: A 10 Minute Mixed up Mystery

 Act 1: The New Kid, the Brilliant Teacher, and the Missing Monet? 

(Jack and Samantha are playing outside when they notice Emma moving into the house next door. They go over to introduce themselves and welcome her to the neighborhood. While they are talking, they notice Mr. Taylor, their 4th-grade teacher, walking into his house. They wave hello, but he seems distracted and doesn't respond.)

Scene 1:

(Jack and Samantha are playing with a frisbee in front of Jack's house.) 

Jack: (Throws the frisbee to Samantha) Nice catch! 

Samantha: Thanks, Jack! (Throws the frisbee back)

 Jack: (Catches the frisbee) Whoa, check out the new girl moving in next door. 

Samantha: (Looks over) Yeah, we should go say hi. 

Jack: (Excitedly) Let's do it! 

Scene 2: 

(Jack and Samantha approach Emma, who is carrying a box into her new house.)

Jack: Hi, we're your neighbors! I'm Jack and this is Samantha. 

Samantha: Welcome to the neighborhood! 

Emma: (Smiling) Hi, I'm Emma. Nice to meet you both. 

Jack: (Curiously) Do you like playing frisbee? 

Emma: (Laughs) I haven't played in a while, but I'm always up for trying something new. 

Samantha: (Excitedly) We should all play together sometime! 

Emma: (Agreeably) That sounds like fun. 

Scene 3: 

(Mr. Taylor, their 4th-grade teacher, walks into his house next door.) 

Jack: (Waves) Hey, Mr. Taylor! 

Samantha: (Waves) Hi! 

(Mr. Taylor seems distracted and doesn't respond.) 

Jack: (Confused) That was weird. Mr. Taylor usually says hi to us. 

Samantha: (Curiously) Yeah, I wonder what's going on. 

Jack: (Shrugs) Maybe he's just having a bad day. 

Samantha: (Agreeably) Yeah, maybe. 

(End of Act 1) 

Act 2:

Jack and Samantha couldn't stop thinking about Mr. Taylor's sudden disappearance. They decided to investigate further by talking to some of their classmates who might have seen or heard something. They eventually learned that Mr. Taylor had been arguing with someone in French the day before he left town. They didn't know who the person was, but they were certain that it was a heated argument. 

The more Jack and Samantha thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. They couldn't imagine why Mr. Taylor would have to leave town so suddenly, especially in the middle of the school year. They knew they had to find out more, but they weren't sure where to start. 

That's when Emma, the new kid in the neighborhood, approached them. She had overheard their conversation and wanted to help. Emma was smart and resourceful, and Jack and Samantha were happy to have her on their team. They decided to start by looking for clues in Mr. Taylor's classroom after school. 

Jack and Samantha meet up at recess to discuss their findings. 

Jack: "Did you hear what the substitute teacher said? Mr. Taylor had to leave town unexpectedly? That's strange." 

Samantha: "I know, right? And then we find out he was arguing in French with someone in the parking lot? Do you think he's in trouble?" 

Jack: "I don't know, but we have to find out. Maybe we can ask Emma if she knows anything. She's new to the neighborhood, but maybe she overheard something." 

Samantha: "Good idea. Let's talk to her after school." 

Later that day, after school, Jack and Samantha go to Emma's house. 

Emma: "Hi guys, what's up?" 

Jack: "We were wondering if you've seen or heard anything strange in the neighborhood lately." 

Emma: "No, not really. I've just been busy unpacking and getting settled in." 

Samantha: "Well, our teacher Mr. Taylor had to leave town unexpectedly and we heard he was arguing with someone in the parking lot. Do you know anything about that?" 

Emma: "No, sorry. I haven't heard or seen anything like that." 

Jack: "Okay, thanks anyway. Let us know if you hear anything." 

As Jack and Samantha walk away from Emma's house, they can't help but feel like something strange is going on with Mr. Taylor. They decide to keep investigating and see if they can find any more clues.

Act 3:

As Jack and Samantha continue their investigation, they find out that Max's dad is an art dealer who specializes in selling rare and expensive paintings. They start to wonder if Mr. Taylor's sudden departure has something to do with the argument between him and Max's dad. 

Samantha turns to Jack and says, "Maybe Mr. Taylor had something that Max's dad wanted and he wasn't willing to give it up." 

Jack nods in agreement, "And maybe that's why Mr. Taylor left town so suddenly. We have to find out more about this." 

The two friends continue to gather information and soon discover that Mr. Taylor is a talented artist in his spare time. They also find out that Max's dad has been trying to get his hands on a rare painting by Monet for quite some time. Could there be a connection between Mr. Taylor's artistic abilities and Max's dad's desire for the Monet painting? 

Jack and Samantha are determined to find out the truth, but they know they need more evidence before making any conclusions. 

Act 4:

As they continue to dig deeper, they realize that Mr. Taylor was researching the works of Monet, and that the painting that was sold was a Monet replica. They start to piece together the clues and suspect that Mr. Taylor might be involved in art forgery. Emma suggests that they should investigate Mr. Taylor's house while he is away. 

Emma: "Maybe he went to Paris to get some inspiration for his own paintings." 

Samantha: "But why would he leave in such a hurry and not even tell his students?" 

Jack: "And why would one of his paintings end up at an art auction? Something doesn't add up." 

Emma: "Maybe we should investigate Mr. Taylor's house and see if we can find any clues." 

Samantha: "That's a good idea. But we have to be careful not to get caught." 

Jack: "I know, we'll go after school when no one's around." 

The three of them make a plan to sneak into Mr. Taylor's house after school. 

Acr 5:

Act 5: Jack and Samantha confront Max, who finally admits that he took the painting for his dad who is struggling after the pandemic, they sold it for the money so his dad could stay in business. He didn't realize how valuable it really was he just wanted to help his dad, and play a joke on Mr. Taylor. However, he has no idea who the buyer was. 

Jack and Samantha are shocked by Max's confession. They understand his motive but also know that what he did was wrong. 

"You should have told someone," Samantha scolds Max. "We could have helped you and your dad in a different way." 

"I know, I'm sorry," Max replies, looking down at his feet. 

Jack intervenes, "Do you have any idea who bought the painting?" 

"No, we sold it anonymously through a friend of my dad's," Max says. 

Jack and Samantha exchange worried looks. If they can't find the buyer, they might never solve the mystery of the missing paintings. 

"We have to tell someone about this," Jack says, determined. 

"But who?" Samantha asks. "We don't want to get Max in trouble." 

Jack thinks for a moment before replying, "I have an idea." 

Act 6: 

Jack and Samantha's investigation led them to Mr. Taylor's doorstep. As soon as he saw them, he knew what they were there for. 

"Mr. Taylor, did you buy the painting that was stolen from your classroom?" Samantha asked. 

Mr. Taylor sighed deeply before answering. "Yes, I did. I bought it back at the auction."

"Why would you do that?" Jack asked, puzzled. 

"Because it's a Monet," Mr. Taylor said, looking down at his feet. "And I'm an art forger by accident." 

The kids gasped in disbelief. They had never heard of an art forger before. 

"I was living in Sweden and was approached to paint some Monet replicas that were sold as real Monet paintings," Mr. Taylor explained. "I was suspected as an art forger and had to lay low for years." 

"So, you were planning to work as a 4th-grade teacher and live a quiet life here in our neighborhood?" Samantha asked. 

"Yes, I was," Mr. Taylor said. "But then Max's dad had other plans. He had his son take the painting and they were going to buy it anonymously like I did, for just a few thousand and claim that it was a lost Monet painting, making them millions." 

"That's not right," Jack said. "They were going to cheat people out of their money!" 

"I know," Mr. Taylor said. "And that's why I had to stop them. I couldn't let them get away with it." 

"But what about the other missing paintings?" Emma asked, who had been listening intently. 

"I sold them to a collector, my Friend Barry Lane, to pay for my trip ti Paris so I could see who Max’s dad was working with." Mr. Taylor said. "I didn't mean to cause any harm. I just wanted to start over and live a peaceful life." 

The kids looked at each other, unsure of what to do next. They knew they had to tell someone, but they also didn't want to get Mr. Taylor in trouble. But they thought he really didn’t do anything wrong, 

"We have to tell the police," Samantha finally said. "It's the right thing to do." 

Mr. Taylor nodded sadly, knowing that Max’s dad had to face the consequences of his actions. He was worried about his student Max.’.

Act 7:

As Max's dad is taken away by the FBI, Jack, and Samantha turn to Mr. Taylor with a mix of confusion and anger. 

"You knew the painting in your class was a real Monet  painting all along, worth millions?" Samantha demands. 

"Yes, I did," Mr. Taylor admits. "But I didn't know at first who took it or why. I didn't think it was worth getting the police involved, I was afraid my past would come out and people would claim I was somehow involved." 

"But how did you know Where to buy it yourself?" Jack asks. 

"Barry Lane notified me, I wanted to keep it out of the wrong hands," Mr. Taylor says. "I couldn't risk it being sold as a Monet replica, its worth million.. But now that I know the truth about the people behind the theft, I'm glad it's being used to prosecute Max's dad and bring him to justice." 

Emma chimes in, "I can't believe something like this could happen in our quiet neighborhood." 

Mr. Taylor nods in agreement. "Art forgery is a serious crime that affects the entire art world. It's important to always be honest and ethical in everything we do, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be." 

As they all walk back to their respective homes, Jack and Samantha reflect on the events of the past few weeks. They realize that even the most trusted people can sometimes be involved in something shady and that it's important to always ask questions and follow through with investigations. 

"I'm glad we were able to solve the mystery," Jack says. 

Samantha nods. "Me too. And I'm proud of us for doing the right thing, even when it was hard." 

As they wave goodbye to each other, they know that this adventure has taught them a valuable lesson that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Reader's Theater for Kids Ages 8 and Up.

1. Carnival Clown Murder

Act 1: "New Neighbor, New Mystery"

Setting: Jack's backyard

Characters: Jack, Samantha

Jack and Samantha are playing catch in the backyard when they notice a new girl, Emma, moving into the house next door. Jack, being the curious and adventurous kid that he is, decides to introduce himself and find out more about the new neighbor. As they approach Emma's yard, they notice a creepy, actually very scary clown statue that wasn't there before.

Act 2: "The Carnival Comes to Town"

Setting: Schoolyard

Characters: Jack, Samantha, Emma, Max

At school, the kids are excited about the carnival that's coming to town. Jack and Samantha tell Emma about all the fun games and rides. Max, the practical joker, tells them about a creepy scary clown that's rumored to be at the carnival.

Act 3: "The "Pennywise" Clown Statue"

Setting: Emma's front yard

Characters: Jack, Samantha, Emma

After school, Jack and Samantha decide to investigate the creepy clown statue, kind of a cross between Ronald McDonald and Pennywise the Clown. But why in Emma's front yard. They discover that it's a prop from the carnival and that the carnival workers must have left it there by mistake. But as they're examining the statue, they notice that something is off about its eyes.

Act 4: "The Missing Clown"

Setting: Carnival

Characters: Jack, Samantha, Emma, Max

At the carnival, Jack and Samantha go on all the rides while Max plays practical jokes on everyone. They notice that the scary clown that Max mentioned earlier is missing from its spot. Jack becomes suspicious and decides to investigate.

Act 5: "The Murder Mystery Unfolds"

Setting: Carnival

Characters: Jack, Samantha, Emma, Max

While investigating, Jack and Samantha stumble upon a clown's dressing room and find a note that says "I know what you did,,,," They realize that this must be connected to the missing clown and the creepy clown statue in Emma's front yard. Suddenly, they hear a scream and run to investigate.

Act 6: "The Bigger Mystery"

Setting: Carnival

Characters: Jack, Samantha, Emma, Max, carnival worker

They find the missing clown, who has been murdered. The carnival worker explains that the clown, who was actually an undercover detective, was investigating a murder that happened at the previous town the carnival had visited. The murderer had followed the carnival to this town and killed the detective in order to cover up their tracks.

Act 7: "Solving the Real Mystery?"

Setting: Jack's backyard

Characters: Jack, Samantha, Emma

After unraveling the enigma surrounding the elusive clown, Jack, Samantha, and Emma found themselves gathered once again in Jack's backyard, deep in conversation about the perplexing case. The unexpected arrival of the detective had caught them off guard, but the unsettling presence of the eerie clown lingering in Emma's yard remained a baffling mystery. Nonetheless, as they exchanged thoughts and ideas, a realization dawned upon them—they were an exceptional team, capable of conquering even the most puzzling conundrums. With newfound determination, they unanimously decided to forge ahead together, resolved to uncover the truth behind both the real killer and the sinister connection to the spine-chilling clown haunting Emma's yard.

In the midst of their ongoing investigation, Emma mustered the courage to confess her initial apprehension about relocating to this unfamiliar town. However, her fears now felt overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the friends she had made. Jack and Samantha, touched by her vulnerability, reassured Emma that she had become an integral part of their lives. United by their shared purpose and unwavering bond, the trio set forth with renewed vigor, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As the curtain fell on their theatrical tale, Jack, Samantha, and Emma basked in a triumphant atmosphere, relishing the satisfaction of their accomplishments thus far. Yet, an exhilarating anticipation danced in their hearts, for they knew that the true identity of the killer and the enigmatic link to the forbidding clown were just within their grasp. With their collective spirits ablaze and their determination unyielding, they eagerly embraced the next chapter of their investigation, prepared to confront the chilling unknown and unveil the intricate web of secrets shrouding their small town.

1. My Pal Patsy Pennywise
2. Death Calls at Daybreak 
3. Buffoon Blood Brothers 
4. Best Laid Plans of Mice
5. Three Scarlet Letters
6. Murder on Diamond Street
7. No Legs to Stand On
8. The Missing Sand Ruby
9. Command Performance
10. Death in a Turkish Bath
11. Case of Oversight
12. The Radium Murder Case
13. Methodical to a Fault
14. Squealing Gearshift
15. Announcer's Delight
16. Man in the Back Seat
17. Return of Mr. Lawrence
18. Collector's Item
19. Broken Pencils
20. Misfit Clue
21. Murder Sounds the Alarm
22. Marks of Death
23. The Masquerade
24. The Weapon
25. The Needle
26. Scientific Clue
27. Zombie
28. Snap Judgement
29. Too Early Bird
30. The Fine Art of Murder
31. Murder If You Please
32. Murder in Blue
33. Spitting Revolver
34. Blood on My Hands
35. Broken Window
36. Alibi in Red
37. Murder in Cairo
38. The Postman Didn't Ring
39. Clue in the Hand
40. Death at X Bar
41. A Study in Ornithology
42. Fisherman's Clue
43. Trial by Fire
44. Murder Under the Big Top
45. Tune into Murder (aired on November 15, 1948)
46. Death Driver
47. The Grip of Death
48. Murder Will Out
49. The Bray of the Mule
50. A Toast to Death
51. Visit from the Unknown
52. The Case of the Missing Heir