

Ye-Ha!
by Craig Hawes
NEW AND IMPROVED FORMULA for 2025!
"Ye-Ha!" mixes comical characters, a side-splitting script and sparkling songs in a musical that will make your cast shine and your audience go wild in a western way! With parts for between 28 and 52 children plus unlimited chorus parts, this show will suit any size school or group.
"Ye-Ha!" squeezes all the fun and adventure of the old west into a wonderfully wild musical comedy. Something stinks in Splodge City - and it ain't the drains! Mad Dog McNut and his gang are running wild and Wilbur Hubbard, cowardly cook at the Fordoor Saloon lands the job no-one wants - Sheriff of Splodge. Luckily for Wilbur, Billie-Jo Brisket and her faithful steed Lightning roll into town to lend a hand, and suddenly the race is on to save the town. It's a rootin- tootin tale of crazy cowboys, barmy baddies, masked heroes and hidden gold!
'Ye-Ha!' is full of action, dance and witty one-liners right from the start with the opening song 'In The Wild, Wild West!' The townsfolk enter and the drama begins as Chip discusses the no-good gang that runs riot in Splodge City. Wilbur is elected as the new sheriff whose job it is to solve the crisis, but unfortunately, as soon as a sheriff is elected, his coffin measurements are taken in the Fordoor Saloon a few moments afterwards by Philius and Festus!
The mayor, Tex Truman enters and we discover his wish to marry Ma Hubbard, Wilbur's mother and owner of the Fordoor Saloon. Wilbur doubts his ability to be the new sheriff, but the saloon girls nonetheless convince him otherwise and this is followed by Wilbur's solo 'Where Is The Hero In Me?'
Just like a scene out of the old-time musical 'Oklahoma!' Spooner and Rooster enter with a plan to sell their 'remedies' to make a fortune in 'Spoldge City'. Unfortunately, Spooner's tendency to mix up his words means that the audience is wary of his 'remedies' immediately! The heroine, Billie-Jo enters to music along with her horse Lightning and talks with the children on stage, asking for a blacksmith; this is an ideal opportunity for the chorus members to become involved. Wilbur and Billie-Jo meet, she is then introduced to the townsfolk and they all join together to sing 'Little Ol' Town'.
After much anticipation the McNut gang enter to music and introduce themselves. Drama soon follows as Wilbur attempts to settle this problem over a glass of milk (the naivety is quite sweet) and unsurprisingly is mocked. Yet the tables turn as a black-out follows and an unknown stranger succeeds in saving Wilbur with a surprising tactic...'Wild West Hero' follows. Following this lively number, two young boys reveal that there is gold hidden in Splodge City, - the mayor has known all along, - and in a sudden twist, the mayor reveals he is really the villain of the play, determined to get his hands on the gold. In a humorous scene between the Aldiolive Tribe and Tex, the mayor attempts to discover where the map leading him to the treasure is hidden.
Billie Jo then enters to music and sings 'Be A Boy'. Upon hearing the McNut gang, she hides and overhears their plan to lock Wilbur in jail. Following this, the Tribe enter to music and Tex pays them for their help, but without him knowing, the money is passed down the line to Billie Jo (hiding her true identity with a lone-ranger mask.) Billie-Jo then frees Wilbur from jail anonymously, and shares the mayors dirty secret. Spooner and Rooster enter to music, attempting to sell the topical tonic for life which is marketed brilliantly in 'Spooner's Spectacular'. Luckily, as the McNut gang enters, Billie-Jo reveals that the topical tonic is really a laxative and Wilbur successfully tricks the gang into taking it which really gets things moving! Everyone celebrates both Wilbur's and Billie Jo's achievements and we discover that the map to the gold is tattooed somewhere unexpected on Wilbur... In a happy ending, the Tribe reveal that the gold is really a bubbling Aldi olive oil well hidden in the backyard of the Fordoor Saloon and everyone celebrates in a typical Western song 'The Stetson Stomp'.
The Show closes with the energetic and uplifting 'Ye-Ha Megamix' which is sure to get those toes tapping!
Suggested Cast List For 52 Actors
N.B. In the following list, the number shows how many spoken lines each role has. An asterisk (*) before the character's name indicates that this character ALSO has solo or featured sung lines.
Character Name | Number of Lines |
---|---|
Mayor Tex Truman | 75 |
* Wilbur Hubbard | 58 |
* Billie-Jo Brisket | 55 |
Ma Annie Hubbard | 42 |
Chip Checker | 31 |
Howling Mad Dog McNut | 25 |
Dwayne Dimples | 25 |
* Dr. Cornelius Spooner | 22 |
Bronco Bill | 19 |
Chief Walking Weasel | 18 |
Old Amos | 15 |
Old Seth | 13 |
Philius Snuffitt | 13 |
Festus Rott | 11 |
Rooster | 10 |
Buzz | 8 |
Miss Bracegirdle | 7 |
Buck | 6 |
Levi Vandergelder | 6 |
Towering Wild Bear | 6 |
Butch | 6 |
Dolly Vandergelder | 6 |
Smith Ironside | 6 |
Squatting Squirrel | 6 |
Leaping Leopard | 5 |
Jumping Jaguar | 4 |
Brad | 4 |
Bret | 4 |
Bud | 4 |
Claude the Barber | 4 |
Clifford the Barber | 4 |
Clint the Barber | 4 |
Clyde the Barber | 4 |
Sunny | 3 |
Nebraska | 2 |
Idaho | 2 |
Colorado | 2 |
Mississippi | 2 |
Kansas | 2 |
Sandy | 2 |
Rocky | 2 |
Dusty | 2 |
Blaze | 2 |
Blake | 2 |
Bart | 2 |
Beau | 2 |
Bruce | 2 |
Bronx | 2 |
Arizona | 0 |
Montana | 0 |
Indiana | 0 |
Lightnin The Horse | 0 |
Suggested Cast List For 28 Actors
Character Name | Number of Lines |
---|---|
Mayor Tex Truman | 75 |
* Wilbur Hubbard | 58 |
* Billie Jo Brisket | 55 |
Ma Annie Hubbard | 42 |
Chip Checker | 31 |
Howling Mad Dog McNut | 25 |
Dwayne Dimples | 25 |
Smith Ironside - also plays Chief Walking Weasel | 24 |
* Dr. Cornelius Spooner | 22 |
Old Amos - also plays Towering Wild Bear | 21 |
Bronco Bill | 19 |
Philius Snuffit - also plays Squatting Squirrel | 19 |
Old Seth also plays Jumping Jaguar | 17 |
Festus Rott - also plays Leaping Leopard | 16 |
Rooster | 10 |
Buzz | 10 |
Levi Vandergelder - also plays Nebraska | 8 |
Dolly Vandergelder - also plays Kansas | 8 |
Miss Bracegirdle | 7 |
Buck | 6 |
Butch | 6 |
Claude the Barber - also plays Idaho | 6 |
Clyde the Barber - also plays Mississippi | 6 |
Clifford the Barber - also plays Colorado | 6 |
Clint the Barber - also plays Arizona | 4 |
Sunny | 3 |
Sandy | 2 |
Lightnin The Horse | 0 |
Ye-Ha!
"Ye-Ha! is the most fantastic and energetic play in the whole of the wild, wild west! It is an action-packed musical with astonishing jokes and catchy songs. Full of witty one-liners to make the parents snigger, interesting characters and a thrilling story-line, this amazing play is great to do as an end of Y6 production because everyone can take part: there is a range of speaking parts from 3-100 lines as well as characters with no speaking at all for the more reserved students. Scenery and props were easy to make and the staff only had to change the background twice. The costumes, which are easy to source, really help to liven up the performance. We would recommend purchasing the downloads of the songs because our CD kept skipping on the final song! "If you're good, if you're bad, if you're ugly or mad, be our guest," and buy this play for your school! "Class 6BH, Whipton Barton Junior School, Exeter
Ye-Ha!
"Me and my year group have just started rehearsing for the play. Everyone loves their parts now. I got Verity Vandergelder and she's my favourite character now. This excellent play will fit any school. It's dramatic, humorous and a lovely tale from the wild west. we've written in some extra parts like Violet Vandergelder and Saloon girl Georgie. ''Ye-ha'' is the best play i've ever been in."Isobel, Year 6, Bishop wood, Tring, Hertfordshire
Ye-Ha!
"Our school has only just started practising ye-ha and already we all love it !!!!!!!!!!!! I am very exited about performing it and my favourite song is the Stetson Stomp . I recommend that other schools/clubs should do it to . Me and my classmates have even come up with handshakes for it. I can easily say it's my favourite production yet!"Caitlin, Stivichall primary, Coventry
Ye-Ha!
"One of the best Year 6 plays i've been involved with, the children loved the songs and the dances and the parents loved the jokes and storyline. Would definitely recommend it"The Study School, New Malden
Ye-Ha!
"Our Yr 5s and 6s have just performed Ye-Ha! as their end of year show. I have been teaching for over 20 years, and this certainly ranks as one of the most successful and enjoyable performances I've been involved in. The songs are catchy and easy to learn and the script full of one liners which amused children and adults alike. There are plenty of parts to involve reluctant boys - the McNut gang with their undies were very sought after parts."Helen Hitchins, Redgate Junior, Hunstanton
Ye-Ha!
"Ye-Ha is one of the best productions I have ever done. I have to say, that Ma Hubbard is definitely the best character."Sandra, Cast member, Splodge City
Ye-Ha!
"Such a good play and we enjoyed ourselves so much"Michael, Stagecoach , Chester
Ye-Ha!
"Me and my clas did Ye-Ha, and it was probably one of the BEST experinces of my life, thank you."Nicole, St Bridgets School, West Kirby
Ye-Ha!
"Best year 6 performance i have ever seen."Anon, Lincoln Birchwood Junior School
Ye-Ha!
"Me and my classmates haven't performed the final play yet, but we are rehearsing and it's getting so close to showtime. Brilliant scenes, fun to rehearse, great catchy songs, fun costumes, side-slitting script- why, this play has it all! I really recommend this play because it is enjoyable for children, the audience, and also the teachers that help us to make the play happen!"Lilah, aged 10, Saltdean Primary School, Brighton
Ye-Ha!
"We did Ye-Ha! in 2009 and it was FANTASTIC. This year's cast is SO excited to do it again!! GREAT PLAY!!"Sandy Stone, California
Ye-Ha!
"I love ye ha it is very very good"Anon
Ye-Ha!
"Ye-ha is a fantastic show!!!!!!!!!!! I played Ellie and it was so much fun. It's a great show to do, I could do it every day!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ********** for YE-HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"Ellen, Good Shepherd Primary
Ye-Ha!
"Ye-Ha was such a hoot.... we had a blast with cream pies and silly string. The set designers had so much fun with the fordoor salon and Slodge city... The cast (3-10 years) loved the music and The Stepson Stomp is now our official song and dance of the Drama School. We have a whole new generation of Country and Western fans. We even had to have a Hoe-down for them to get into character... The Kids loved it!"Anon, Rising Starz Performing Arts Trust, Whangarei, Northland
Ye-Ha!
"Great and funny script leading to a very enjoyable production. There are lots of diferent parts to play from saloon girls, cowboys, tribes people to villagers. I must say with hand on heart it was the best thing we have ever done in our school and it was enjoyed by all, parents and children. I thoughly recommend this show to any school!"Anon, Stagecoach, Highgate
Ye-Ha!
"One of the best shows we have ever done. The show really captured the Wild West and was enjoyed by boys and girls alike. The parents roared with laughter. Inspired writing from Craig - thank you."Corrine Wellby, Upper Beeding Primary School, West Sussex
Ye-Ha!
"Year 5 and 6 performed Ye-ha at the end of this academic year and it was brilliant. The script is witty and intelligent, appealing to the adults and children alike. The music is toe-tappingly good and very easily learnt - producing some of the best singing the year groups have ever achieved. All in all a hugely positive experience for all of us."Jenny Carlyle, Pulham Primary School
Ye-Ha!
"KS2 performed this for their end of year show and it went down a storm. We had great fun in learning to line dance for the finale, and the puns and one liners were appreciated by the audience. Our more reluctant children were keen to join in."Anon, Bishop Rawle Primary, Cheadle
Ye-Ha!
"Great play it has been better then all the other ones PS The Outlaws rock!!!! PSS I'm an outlaw!"Marcel, Student, BPPS
Ye-Ha!
"Our production of Ye-Ha! was great. The costumes were easy to provide and the script and songs were excellent. We love Craig's jokes."Hill Top Primary School, Leeds
Ye-Ha!
"As director of the JUNIOR PRODUCTION OF 'YE-HA' I could see that my class really enjoyed acting this play. Brilliant!"Class Teacher, St. Andrews School
Ye-Ha!
""Ye Ha" is a great play to do in Year 5. We have been practising and we are getting very good at the songs because they are easy to learn. We are going to start the drama soon. It is going to be the best school production I've ever been in."Sage, Cast Member, Fynamore Primary School, Calne
Ye-Ha!
""Ye-ha" is the best play that I have ever done with my school. All of my class are enjoying it so much. We have only been practising for a short while but are really getting the hang of it! It's really good how mostly every part has something to say. "Yeha" is great fun. I think it is helping some people getting rid of stage fright because all your friends are there with you!!!!!!!!!!"Liv, Cast member