“The Emperor’s New Clothes”
Adapted for the Stage by
Kathleen Lockwood

About the Play: This version of the old children’s story was adapted for children with Hearing Impairment. All performers spoke in American Sign Language, while Hearing narrators performed the voices. This went over very well and provided twice as many participation opportunities.

The Characters:
The Emperor
The Empress
The Court Jester
The Court Page
The Court Herald
The Fat Prime Minister
Kiddingyou: A fake weaver
Metoo: His partner
Various extras as pages, courtiers, citizens

The Scenes:
ACT I
Scene 1: The Emperor’s dressing room
Scene 2: A road in the empire
Scene 3: The Emperor’s dressing room
ACT II
Scene 1: The Royal Weaving room
Scene 2: The Emperor’s dressing room
Scene 3: Parade at the Royal Palace

The Setting: Open staging with colorful large props, like a loom and a big trunk and some parade acts. Costumes are standard Fairy Tale.
Time: Days of long ago
Place: Great Empire of Noodle

From Act 1, Scene 2…..
The false weavers place the invisible cloak across the Emperor’s shoulders, and pretend to trim, pin and fit the magic cloth. The empress helps them.
Metoo: Me too! (He forgets he is holding a cloak. Kiddingyou smacks him. He holds out his arms.)
Emperor: (angry) Well, it’s getting late! (He looks around) Where are the robes? Where is the cloak? (Everyone looks scared)
Kiddingyou: (quickly) Here we are, Sire. (He starts putting the invisible robe over the Emperor’s head) I know you are speechless, Sire, at the beauty of your new robe.
Empress: (runs over to help Kiddingyou) Yes, and you will look handsome with the gold and silver threads all over the robe.
Emperor: (struggles at first, then just looks confused and miserable) But…wait…I don’t see…I mean…is this the robe?
Fat Prime Minister: Ah, your Highness, how the diamonds and rubies sparkle along each fold!
Emperor: Gold and silver threads? Diamonds and rubies?
Everyone: Oh yes, Sire! You look beautiful! How royal!
Emperor: It looks good? Very well, then! ( He stands, looking down at his underwear, slowly shaking his head)
Kiddingyou: It is the best weaving I have ever done, Sire.
Metoo: Me too!
Emperor: It’s so light, I feel as though I had nothing on but my underwear. (Everyone giggles) Let’s go! My people are waiting to see the parade. (The Emperor takes the Empress’ arm and waits for the pages to start the parade).

About the Playwright:
Kathleen Lockwood began her award-winning writing career at age fourteen as a National Merit Scholarship finalist for her short story. Her loves for both theatre and writing combined with her discovery of Playwriting! She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and has been associated with many Tidewater Theatres. She co-founded the Tidewater Dramatists Guild with Jean Klein in 1976, and served the City of Virginia Beach as Performing Arts Supervisor at the Kempsville Playhouse and with Shakespeare-by-the-Sea Festival. She founded Little Theatre for the Deaf and Shadows ‘n Lights Theatre Company under the auspices of VSAarts. Her adaptations of children’s stories and plays featuring characters with disabilities are featured on HaveScripts.com.