Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

Classic plays performed by elementary school students: recommended works roundup

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Plays performed at elementary school arts festivals and graduation ceremonies are important events that leave lasting memories for children.

For a truly memorable stage, you’ll want to choose pieces that let each child’s individuality and growth shine.

Still, many teachers and parents may be worried that “the classics are too boring” or that “the scripts are too difficult.” In this article, we introduce enjoyable plays suitable for elementary school students.

By creating a wonderful production together with classmates, it’s sure to become a cherished memory.

Popular anime characters (1–10)

The Lion King

Musical “The Lion King”

The Lion King

Just seeing the title, you can almost hear that line echoing from afar, right? The Lion King is a Disney film released in 1994.

In Japan, the Shiki Theatre Company’s stage musical version is also well known.

It tells the story of Simba, a lion who, despite being knocked down by reality, grows into the king of the savanna with the help of his friends.

And since it’s a musical, it’s packed with famous, fun songs like “Hakuna Matata”! Sing them out loud!

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Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo

Packed with songs and dance! Stage adaptation “Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendo” open dress rehearsal | #EnterStage

Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo

Create a world and perform it! Here are some ideas inspired by The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendō.

Hugely popular from children’s novels to anime and film, The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendō is known for its thrilling, heart-pounding stories and distinctive worldbuilding centered on sweets.

The characters are unique, of course, but focusing on the worldbuilding above all might be the key to creating a wonderful play.

Adding clever twists within the story will likely capture the audience’s attention.

Be sure to give it a try!

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Chibi Maruko-chan

Stage play “Chibi Maruko-chan” opens! The boys of Class 3-4, eight years later, take the stage—does the friendship between Sugiyama-kun and Ōno-kun still hold strong!? A string of classic hits and a song show, too. Chibi Maruko-chan THE STAGE: “High School Days.”

Chibi Maruko-chan

Let individuality shine! Here are some ideas inspired by Chibi Maruko-chan.

When you think of Chibi Maruko-chan, it’s not just the classmates—each family member and local resident has a unique personality, which makes it so entertaining.

In particular, some characters have distinctive catchphrases or sentence endings, which should be easy to incorporate.

The gap of high school students playing elementary school kids could also be a great hook to capture the audience’s interest.

Try acting while weaving everyday, ordinary moments into your script.

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Frozen

2017 Recital: Frozen

Frozen

Disney’s film Frozen sparked a global craze.

Its fantastical world—unfolding while shining a spotlight on the relationship between the sisters Anna and Elsa—captured the hearts of audiences.

The music is outstanding as well, with songs like “Let It Go” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” If you can perform this as a play, you can’t go wrong! Following the original, you’ll especially want to put emphasis on the musical numbers.

Even if some roles overlap, having a larger cast is fine—the more people on stage, the more visually dazzling it will be!

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Doraemon

Rehearsal and message video for the stage play Doraemon: Nobita and the Animal Planet has arrived!

Doraemon

Let’s put on a performance based on a beloved national anime! Here are some ideas inspired by Doraemon.

When you think of Doraemon, it’s an anime and a set of characters cherished by people of all ages, from children to adults.

Many viewers get excited about the secret gadgets that pop up in its everyday-life stories.

Because it portrays daily life, it’s easy to adapt into original stories, and with its large cast of characters, it seems perfect for creating a play with the entire class.

Be sure to give it a try!

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Lilo & Stitch

Lilo and Stitch’s carefree day ✨ Their pranks are perfectly in sync!? The live-action “Lilo & Stitch” is a huge hit in theaters now!

Lilo & Stitch

A ghost? An alien? An animal? Stitch may look like an unidentified creature, but in fact he’s a fictional lifeform created by a scientist living on a distant planet far across the galaxy.

He can seem a little scary at first, but the more you watch him, the more endearing he becomes, right? Lilo & Stitch, which portrays Stitch and Lilo—who lost her parents in an accident—living on Hawaii’s island of Kauai, is also a beloved work.

It would be great if you could prepare an original script and turn it into a story where lots of Lilos and Stitches can shine.

You could even incorporate songs and dances to give it a Hawaiian musical vibe!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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My Neighbor Totoro

Play 'My Neighbor Totoro'

My Neighbor Totoro

How about performing My Neighbor Totoro, one of the most popular Studio Ghibli works, as a play? The props might take some time, but since it’s a story that almost everyone knows, I think it will be easy for the audience to follow.

In the video, there’s even someone playing a soot sprite, and it turns into a parody with laughs, so I think adding your own twists would be great too!

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