Adventures of Tom Sawyer Reader's Theater Script | Adapted from Mark Twain

This Adventures of Tom Sawyer Adapted Readers' Theater Script is based on Mark Twain’s 1876 classic tale of boyhood mischief and daring. Spanning 35 acts across 2 parts, this 21,000-word script adapts the novel’s 35 chapters, following Tom Sawyer through the sleepy yet thrilling streets of St. Petersburg. Alongside his free-spirited friend Huck Finn, loyal pal Joe Harper, and spirited love interest Becky Thatcher, Tom navigates a world of tricks, bravery, and growing up, all spiced with Twain’s sharp humor and heart. This dialogue-rich script brings to life a timeless saga of imagination, friendship, and adventure, engaging students with its playful antics and gripping stakes

Teacher’s Notes

This script is moderately lengthy compared to other "Classic Literature" scripts, and depending on your classroom’s reading level, it may take over a week to complete. To manage its 21,000 words effectively, the teacher’s guide and worksheet are divided into two parts: Part A (Acts 1-17) and Part B (Acts 18-35). This split allows teachers to tackle manageable chunks.

• Character Roles: Adjust roles to suit your class size by combining or splitting character lines.
• Act-by-Act Character Roles: With a sizable cast, consider rotating roles every few acts to give all students a chance to perform during class sessions.
• Small Groups: Alternatively, split students into small groups, cycling through acts and reassigning roles often to maintain high engagement.

What's included?

1) Teacher's Guide & Answer Key

• Standards Alignment (CCSS Grade 5, CCRA)
• Teacher Tips
• Answer Keys for all worksheet sections
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts
• Format: DOCX (15 pages)

2) Readers Theater Script

• ~44 Characters, 21,000 words,
• Format: Google Doc & PDF (52 pages) (Can be downloaded to DOCX, etc)

3) TWO Worksheets each containing:

• 10 Vocabulary Words
• 10 Short-Answer Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script.
• 3 Reflection Questions
• Format: Google Slides (40 Slides) (Can be downloaded to PDF, etc)

Will this work for my classroom?
Download this similar FREE Peter Pan Adapted RT Script

Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about a week and depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.
• An extra time should be planned for practice/rehearsal, discussion and worksheet activities.

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Script Summary:

(Note: Each act covers a chapter from the original Mark Twain version)

Act 1: Tom’s Mischief: Tom Sawyer hides from Aunt Polly in St. Petersburg, gets caught with jam, and escapes her punishment with a trick, later meeting a finely dressed new boy and fighting him.

Act 2: The Whitewashing Adventure: Facing a dull Saturday painting a fence, Tom cleverly tricks other boys into doing it for him by making it seem special, earning treasures and finishing the job.

Act 3: Tom’s Triumphs and Tangles: Aunt Polly rewards Tom’s whitewashing with an apple, he pelts Sid with clods for snitching, leads a mock battle, and falls for a new girl, Becky Thatcher.

Act 4: Sunday Struggles: Tom trades for Sunday school tickets to win a Bible, impressing Becky, but stumbles when quizzed by Judge Thatcher, mixing up disciples’ names.

Act 5: Church Chaos: During a sermon, Tom’s pinchbug escapes, sparking chaos with a poodle, delighting him as the congregation hides laughter.

Act 6: Monday Misadventures: Tom fakes a sore toe to skip school, loses a tooth to Aunt Polly’s cure, meets Huck Finn to plan a wart cure, and flirts with Becky at school.

Act 7: Schoolyard Secrets: Tom and Joe Harper play with a tick, he pledges love to Becky, but mentioning Amy Lawrence breaks her heart, sending him fleeing in despair.

Act 8: Dreams in the Woods: Tom escapes to the woods, dreams of piracy, hunts lost marbles with superstition, and plays Robin Hood with Joe Harper.

Act 9: Graveyard Shadows: Tom and Huck witness Injun Joe murder Doctor Robinson in a graveyard, blaming Muff Potter, who’s too drunk to recall the truth.

Act 10: Oath of Silence: Frightened, Tom and Huck swear a blood oath to stay silent about the murder, fearing Injun Joe, as omens and guilt haunt them.

Act 11: The Murderer Caught: The village finds the doctor’s body, Muff Potter’s arrested based on Injun Joe’s lie, and Tom’s secret torments him sleeplessly.

Act 12: Pain-killer and Pride: Depressed over Becky’s absence, Tom endures Aunt Polly’s cures, doses the cat Peter with Pain-killer for fun, and perks up when Becky returns.

Act 13: Pirates Set Sail: Feeling unloved, Tom, Joe, and Huck run off to Jackson’s Island as pirates, stealing a raft and reveling in freedom.

Act 14: Island Awakening: The boys enjoy island life—swimming, fishing, and exploring—until cannon shots reveal the village thinks they’ve drowned, boosting their pride.

Act 15: Tom’s Secret Journey: Tom sneaks home, overhears Aunt Polly’s grief, resists revealing himself, and returns to the island with a secret plan.

Act 16: Island Games and Storms: The trio hunt eggs and play, but homesickness hits Joe and Huck; Tom’s secret cheers them, and a storm tests their grit.

Act 17: Funeral Fancies: The village mourns the “dead” boys, but they crash their own funeral at church, turning sorrow to joy and basking in heroic fame.

Act 18: Dreams and Jealousy: Tom’s “dream” from his secret island visit fools Aunt Polly until Joe reveals he was there, sparking jealousy as Becky flirts with others at school.

Act 19: The Lie Unraveled: Aunt Polly scolds Tom for his dream lie, but his confession of love and a hidden bark note soften her, proving his good intent.

Act 20: Noble Deeds: Tom apologizes to Becky, who snubs him, but when she’s caught with a torn book, he takes her whipping, earning her admiration.

Act 21: Examination Evening: Mr. Dobbins drills the school for a big night, where Tom flops a speech, and boys prank him with a cat snatching his wig.

Act 22: Vacation Blues: Vacation bores Tom; he quits the Cadets, gets measles, and finds his pals pious until they backslide, lifting his gloom.

Act 23: The Murder Trial: Tom’s guilt over Muff Potter’s trial peaks; he testifies against Injun Joe, who flees, freeing Muff and making Tom a hero.

Act 24: Hero’s Burden: Tom’s fame soars, but Injun Joe haunts his dreams, leaving him and Huck terrified despite Muff’s gratitude.

Act 25: Treasure Quest: Tom and Huck hunt treasure, digging at a dead tree and planning to raid a haunted house, spurred by robber tales.

Act 26: Haunted Hideout: They explore the haunted house, spot Injun Joe with gold, and learn of his “Number Two” den, narrowly escaping.

Act 27: Dream or Danger: Tom confirms the treasure’s real, and they plot to track Joe to Number Two—a tavern room—despite Huck’s fears.

Act 28: Alley Ambush: Tom nearly stumbles over a drunk Injun Joe in the tavern, and they decide to watch nightly for the treasure’s move.

Act 29: Picnic Peril: Becky’s picnic lures Tom to McDougal’s cave, while Huck tails Joe to Widow Douglas’ house, foiling his revenge plot.

Act 30: Aftermath and Alarm: Huck alerts the Welshman, who scares off Joe, but Tom and Becky vanish in the cave, sparking a town panic.

Act 31: Lost in the Labyrinth: Tom and Becky wander the cave, facing bats, hunger, and Injun Joe, until Tom finds a daylight exit.

Act 32: Rescue and Revelation: The village celebrates their rescue, and Tom learns Joe’s trapped in the sealed cave, easing his fears.

Act 33: Treasure Triumph: Tom finds Joe dead in the cave, uncovers the treasure under a cross, and surprises a party with the haul.

Act 34: Party and Profit: At Widow Douglas’ party, Tom reveals their $12,000 riches, stunning all, as Huck’s heroism is honored.

Act 35: Riches and Rebellion: Wealth transforms the boys; Huck flees the widow’s rules, but Tom lures him back with a robber gang promise.