The Treasure Inside

Production Notes

A Short Play in 10 Minutes with AI — by Chuck and Lola Wilcox, collaboratively composed with Claude AI.

This play demonstrates how a DT:FC play can be created quickly using AI collaboration. The cumulative “swallowing” structure — each animal swallows the previous one along with the treasure hidden inside — uses rhymed repetition that children can memorize rapidly. The rhyme scheme makes the play accessible even to non-readers.

About the AI Collaboration: The play was composed in response to a prompt asking Claude AI to transform a cumulative folk tale into a short play for K–3rd grade. Claude produced the script in fewer than ten minutes. The prompt and the resulting play serve as a model for how DT:FC facilitators can use AI to generate new plays from traditional story patterns.

Stage: An empty space only — a hallway, the empty middle of a room, an aisle in a classroom. All setting and props are suggested in the dialogue. The optional Treasure Box can be carried or worn by Mouse.

Key Staging Element: When animals are “swallowed,” they cluster behind the animal who swallowed them, making the group grow larger with each scene. When the Hunter calls each animal out, one steps forward from the cluster. The Treasure steps out last, to center stage.

Script

Treasure: (in a mysterious, echoing voice) I am the treasure, golden and bright, Hidden away, far from sight. Who will find me? Who will see? Hidden deep as deep can be!

Mouse: (scurrying in place) I’m a tiny mouse with whiskers so neat, Scampering through the grass so sweet. Something shiny caught my eye, Golden treasure, oh my, oh my! I swallowed it down in just one gulp, Now a treasure in my tummy with a thump! Squeak, squeak, oh what fun! The treasure and I are now as one!

Cat: (prowling, speaking smoothly) I’m a sleek cat with eyes of green, The best hunter you’ve ever seen. I spotted a mouse, so plump and round, And pounced on it without a sound. Gulp! Down it went into my tummy, That little mouse was oh so yummy! Wait! What’s this? I feel something shine! A treasure inside that mouse of mine! Purr, purr, oh what fun! The mouse, the treasure, and I are now as one!

Dog: (bouncing energetically) I’m a shaggy dog who loves to play, Chasing squirrels all through the day. I saw that cat, so smug and proud, And barked at it, so fierce and loud. Gulp! Down it went into my tummy, That sneaky cat was oh so yummy! Goodness me! What do I feel? A cat with a mouse and something that gleams! A treasure inside them both, it seems! Woof, woof, oh what fun! The cat, the mouse, the treasure, and I are now as one!

Wolf: (moving stealthily) I’m a fierce wolf with teeth so sharp, Hunting under the moon, so dark. I found a dog where it shouldn’t be, Wandering too close to my territory. Gulp! Down it went into my tummy, That silly dog was oh so yummy! Oh my! What’s this rumbling about? There’s more in this dog without a doubt! A cat and a mouse and — can it be true? A shining treasure in there too! Howl, howl, oh what fun! The dog, the cat, the mouse, the treasure, and I are now as one!

Bear: (lumbering in place) I’m a big bear with paws so strong, Looking for honey all day long. I heard a wolf with a howling tune, Beneath the light of the silver moon. Gulp! Down it went into my tummy, That howling wolf was oh so yummy! Great grizzlies! What’s inside this wolf? I feel a dog and a cat, what a gulp! And inside the cat is a mouse so small, But that’s not all, that’s not all! Something sparkles, something glows, A treasure inside them all, I suppose! Growl, growl, oh what fun! The wolf, the dog, the cat, the mouse, the treasure, and I are now as one!

Hunter: (stepping carefully) I’m a hunter who walks with care, When suddenly I met a bear. The bear was groaning, feeling ill, Lying there so very still.

Bear: (moaning, sitting up slowly) Oh Hunter dear, please help me, please! My tummy aches, I cannot ease! A wolf inside is causing pain, Can you call it out again? Growl, growl, oh what a pain! Please help me feel better again!

Hunter: (cups hands around mouth) Wolf, oh wolf, come out, come out! Come from the bear without a doubt!

Wolf: (jumping out from behind Bear) Thank you, Hunter, I’m now free! But there’s a problem, as you see. A dog inside is causing pain, Can you call it out again? Howl, howl, oh what a pain! Please help me feel better again!

Hunter and Wolf: (together, cupping hands) Dog, oh dog, come out, come out! Come from the wolf without a doubt!

Dog: (jumping out from behind Wolf) Thank you, friends, I’m now free! But there’s a problem, as you see. A cat inside is causing pain, Can you call it out again? Woof, woof, oh what a pain! Please help me feel better again!

Hunter, Wolf, and Dog: (together, calling out) Cat, oh cat, come out, come out! Come from the dog without a doubt!

Cat: (jumping out from behind Dog) Thank you, friends, I’m now free! But there’s a problem, as you see. A mouse inside is causing pain, Can you call it out again? Purr, purr, oh what a pain! Please help me feel better again!

Hunter, Wolf, Dog, and Cat: (calling gently together) Mouse, oh mouse, come out, come out! Come from the cat without a doubt!

Mouse: (jumping out from behind Cat) Thank you, friends, I’m now free! But there’s a treasure inside of me! The golden treasure causes pain, Can you call it out again? Squeak, squeak, oh what a pain! Please help me feel better again!

All Animals: (kindly, all together) Treasure, treasure, come out, come out! Come from the mouse without a doubt!

Treasure: (jumping to center stage) I’m the treasure, shining bright, Free at last and in the light! Gleam, gleam, oh what fun! My journey through tummies is finally done!

Hunter: (surprised) A treasure found, what a surprise! Golden and bright before my eyes!

Bear: (moving forward) This treasure was inside us all, From the biggest to the small.

Wolf: So together we must share, Each animal gets their fair share.

Dog: Everyone gets a piece so bright, To bring them joy both day and night.

Cat: No one animal should keep it all, Not the big and not the small.

Mouse: Even me, so tiny and wee, Gets a piece, as you can see!

Hunter: (nodding) And for my help along the way, A piece for me, if I may?

All Animals: (nodding in agreement) Yes! The Hunter shares our gold! For helping us, both young and old!

Treasure: (breaking into pieces that can be mimed) A piece for bear so big and tall, A piece for wolf who likes to call, A piece for dog who likes to bark, A piece for cat who hunts at dark, A piece for mouse so small and sweet, And for the Hunter, a special treat!

All: And that’s our tale of treasures rare, And how these friends all learned to share! From tiny mouse to Hunter bold, They shared the joy of shining gold! The end of our tale is now complete, Sharing makes life oh so sweet!

Facilitator Notes

This play is designed for the youngest audiences — kindergarten through third grade. The rhymed repetition supports rapid memorization, and children who have heard it once can often join in on the collective lines.

Debrief Prompts:

• Every animal had a treasure inside — but the treasure could only come out after everyone was called out one by one. Was it hard for the animals to let the treasure out? Why?
• The Hunter helped everyone feel better. Who helps you when something doesn’t feel right?
• At the end, everyone shared. Was that the right thing to do? How do you decide how to share something?
• The play was written with AI in 10 minutes! If you could give AI a story to turn into a play, what story would you choose?

Extension Activity: Ask the class to choose a different cumulative story and, using the same AI prompt model, collaboratively write a new play. This directly models the DT:FC method of fearless creation with available tools.

Please take this children’s story and create a short play to be performed by children K-3rd grade. For this Developmental Theatre: Fearless Creativity play explore an innovative approach.

Players: this play is for young children; rhymed repetition aids rapid memorization and hopefully is familiar to the children from nursery rhymes. Make a list of players at the beginning.

Stage: need only an empty space — e.g. a hallway, the empty middle of a room, an aisle in a classroom.

Suggest all necessary setting, set pieces or props in the text of the play only. One exception may be considered: A Treasure Box carried or worn by the first animal.

Here is the story (or game) I wish you to transform. (Post story or game)