1. Suggested levels for Guided Reading, DRA,™
®
Lexile, and Reading Recovery ™ are provided
in the Pearson Scott Foresman Leveling Guide.
by Leah Johnson
Comprehension
Genre Text Features
Skills and Strategy
Skill and Strategy
Expository
Nonfiction • DrawItem
First Conclusions • Captions
Item 1
nonfiction
Fiction • Generalize
Second Item • Glossary
Item 2
• Answer Questions • Item 3
• Item 4
Scott Foresman Reading Street 4.2.3
ISBN-13: 978-0-328-39480-7
ISBN-10: 0-328-39480-7
9 0 0 0 0
9 780328 394807

2. Vocabulary
advice
arguments
arrangements
descendant
dishonesty
script
snag
Word count: 769
by Leah Johnson
Note: The total word count includes words in the running text and headings only.
Numerals and words in chapter titles, captions, labels, diagrams, charts, graphs,
sidebars, and extra features are not included.
Glenview, Illinois • Boston, Massachusetts • Mesa, Arizona
Shoreview, Minnesota • Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

3. If you’ve ever seen a play, you know that
at the end of the play, you clap for the actors.
Their performance is entertaining. But they are
just one part of the performance. Many people
work together for many hours to put on a play.
Without teamwork, a play could not go on. You
see the actors on stage, but there are many other
people who work behind the scenes. Do you
know what they do? Let’s go backstage and
find out!
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ISBN 13: 978-0-328-39480-7
ISBN 10: 0-328-39480-7
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The actors take a bow at the end of the show.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 V0G1 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08
3

4. Costumes help transform the actors into their characters.
The people who work behind the scenes of a
play are called the “crew.” Some crew members
control the show’s lighting. The costume crew The costumes often begin as drawings
designs and sews the costumes. The props crew made by the technical director.
finds the “props,” or things that the actors will
touch, hold, or use during the play. The technical director is in charge of the set,
The costumes are an important part of the play. or scenery. He or she designs the set for each
They help make the characters in the play look scene in the play. The technical director’s crew
real. Some costumes look like everyday clothes. builds and paints the set. He or she also designs
Other costumes are fancy. Plays about kings and the costumes and decides how lights will be used.
queens need costumes that will transform the The technical director gives his crew advice on
actor into a descendant of a royal family. how to make the stage look its best for the play.
4 5

5. Set builders are busy backstage. Much of the stage manager’s job is
to control the special effects on stage.
Every play needs a stage manager. The stage
Backstage there is the buzz of activity. Clap! manager is the person who makes the show
Bang! Buzz! The crew is building the sets. Builders go smoothly. He or she has many jobs, such as
hammer, saw, and sand pieces of wood. Some making sure that the lights come on at the right
of the wooden frames are covered with cloth to time. The stage manager is also in charge of
make “flats.” Other crew members paint the flats special effects like smoke and rain and sound
to make them look like clouds, buildings, and effects like thunder. The stage manager tells the
other backgrounds. The painted flats will look crew when to change the scenery or put props
real from the seats in the audience! on the stage.
6 7

6. ON STAGE Casting
BROADWAY Brenda: CAST. Female, 20s. Southern
belle nurse with a heart of gold.
Works with and falls in love with
Auditions will be held on Wednesday,
November 28 and Thursday,
November 29 at 7 p.m.
Catch Me If You Can, The New Frank at a hospital while Frank is All auditions will be held at The
Broadway Musical - Equity Principal posing as a doctor. Sweet, innocent, Chatham Playhouse, 23 North Passaic
Auditions gullible. Strong singer. SUPPORTING. Avenue, Chatham, NJ
Category: Performer Casting Director’s statement: “ We The Chatham Community Players
Description: Based on the 2002 welcome actors of all ethnicities to has an open casting policy. All roles
DreamWorks film of the same name. attend.” are open; none are pre-cast. For
Seeking: Union Information: AEA more details, please visit www.
chathamplayers.org/auditions.htm. If
Frank Jr.: Male, 18+ to play late teens. Salary: $478/week minimum
you have any questions or concerns,
Young, intelligent, seductive con artist Company Telsey + Company
please contact Kristin Barber at
extraordinaire who can outsmart Address New York City, NY USA (732) 208-4184 or email casting@
almost anyone. s. LEAD.
Respond Method(s) At Audition chathamplayers.org
Cheryl Ann: Female, 20s. A beautiful
Audition Information Synopsis
model who thinks highly of herself.
When: Equity Principal Auditions: O’Neill called his only comedy,
Strong singer. SUPPORTING.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 Ah, Wilderness! “A comedy of
Ensemble Singers: Males and recollection.” However, the family life
10 AM - 6 PM
females, 20s – 40s. Interesting types that is portrayed by the Millers was
Lunch from 1:30 – 2:30
to play an assortment of characters. in actuality the ideal life that O’Neill
Lots of speaking and singing lines Where: Telsey + Company wished he had had. In this large, small
and “moments.” Strong singers. 315 West 43rd St., 10th Floor town in Connecticut in the year 1906,
ENSEMBLE. New York City we watch an all American family deal
The following roles are cast. Notes/What to bring: Please prepare with an adolescent son’s misbehavior
Auditioning performers will be a brief contemporary musical theater and growing pains. At the same time,
considered as possible replacements. song or pop song showing range. we learn more about the rest of the
Bring sheet music; an accompanist will Miller family and see how the entire
Carl Hanratty: CAST. Male, 40s. FBI
be provided. family dynamic impacts on the son’s
bank fraud agent whose mission is to
Please bring a picture and resume, evolution. O’Neill tells this story with
The director leads the actors and crew.
catch Frank Jr. Humorless, dour, lonely, great tenderness and affection. .
stapled together
relentless, compassionate. Strong
Casting Breakdown
singer.s LEAD.
Nat Miller: 40-50 years old. Even-
Frank Sr.: CAST. Male, 50s. Frank
Jr.’s father and a has-been swindler
OFF-BROADWAY tempered owner of the local paper.
As a father, her prefers to guide his
whose age is catching up with him. Ah, Wilderness! children to choices rather than force
Loves his son dearly and teaches him his own on them.
The Chatham Community Players is
con skills. SUPPORTING.
Auditions are announced in
pleased to announce auditions for Essie Miller: 40-50 years old. Mother
Paula: CAST. Female, late 40s – 50s. Ah, Wilderness! by Eugene O’Neil. and wife and heart of the Miller
Frank Sr.’s wife and Frank Jr.’s mother, The show opens February 29 and runs household. She is in the midst of
who was born in France. Disapproves through March 15, 2008. Director the painful process of watching her
of her husband and son’s schemes. John Stringer asks that actors come children mature.
Strong singer. SUPPORTING. prepared to read from the script.
newspapers and on the Internet.
Arthur Miller: 19 years old. A solemn
collegian from Yale. He takes himself
Of the dozens of people who work on the play, The director chooses the actors, or cast, for the
the person “in charge” is the director. This person play. Nothing is more important than choosing
knows everything about the play. The director has the right actors to fill each role.
studied the script and knows how he or she wants
to present the play to the audience.
8 9

7. Actors must audition to win a role in the play.
The director makes arrangements to hold
tryouts, or auditions at the theater. The Once the play has been cast, rehearsals begin.
director needs to cast the play. Many actors
will audition, but not everyone will get a part. The first rehearsal includes the entire cast
Auditions may go on for many days. Sometimes and crew. The cast sits around a table to read
actors must come back to audition a second the script aloud, while the people who work
time. When the director decides who will have backstage listen. The director gives everyone a
each part, a cast list is posted. The actors who rehearsal schedule. The cast and crew will work
find their name on the list will be in the play. together for several weeks to get ready for
The other actors will not. opening night.
10 11

8. Finally, rehearsals begin. This is an exciting The director must be able to get along with
time for everyone. The cast and crew must work everyone who works on the play. Sometimes
as a team. While the actors practice onstage, the director has to settle arguments between
everyone else puts the pieces of the play people who work on the play.
together backstage.
12 13

9. The audience applauds to show their
appreciation for the cast and crew.
All of a play’s props and scenery must be
purchased or built, and the play’s program
and posters must be paid for.
Staging a play is hard work. The play usually
runs into a snag or two. Costumes rip. Props
Another person behind the scenes is the break. Actors sometimes forget their lines. But
business manager. All those props cost money! the show must go on! A good cast and crew will
Lumber, cloth, and paint cost money too. The not let a snag ruin the show. If everyone works
business manager takes care of these kinds of together, even the worst problems can be solved.
expenses and balances the budget. The business The next time you see a play, remember to
manager is trusted to carefully handle the play’s cheer for the people backstage too. Without
money. There’s no room for dishonesty. them, the play would not have been possible.
14 15

10. Glossary Reader Response
advice n. an opinion descendant n. person 1. What conclusion can you draw about the work
about what should be born of a certain family needed to present a play on a stage? Use a
done; suggestion or group graphic organizer like the one below to help you
arguments n. dishonesty n. lack of with your answer.
discussions by persons honesty
who disagree; disputes Details
script n. manuscript of
arrangements n. a play, movie, or radio Conclusion
Details
adjustments, or TV show
settlements, or
snag n. a hidden or Details
agreements
unexpected obstacle
2. What questions do you have about the role of the
technical director in a play? Where could you find
the answers to your questions?
3. Reread page 14. Why would a dishonest business
manager be harmful to a stage production?
4. Now that you know about what it takes to stage
a play, which job do you think you would do best?
Explain your answer.
16