CMU’s production of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play will take place on Saturday, October 19
Colorado Mesa University's theatre department is shining a spotlight on the creativity and dedication of its students with special productions of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play. A public performance will take place in CMU’s Robinson Theatre on Saturday, October 19 at 11am, with additional shows for District 51 school children scheduled for October 17, 22 and 24.
Based on Mo Willems' beloved children's book We Are in a Book, this production transforms the story into a lively theatrical experience. Similarly to the book, the play follows the adventures of best friends Gerald and Piggie as they discover they’re characters in a play. By blending the book’s whimsical narrative with engaging performances, the show invites young audiences to interact with the characters, inspiring them to use their imaginations and explore the world of performing arts.
This interactive children’s show was entirely produced by students in CMU’s Children’s Theatre class. The course allows students to immerse themselves in all aspects of putting on a production while also exploring the unique elements that set children’s theatre apart from traditional productions.
Instructor of Musical Theatre Jeremy Franklin is overseeing the play as director along with Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Katherine Stepanek, who is acting as the main design mentor. Both Franklin and Stepanek have experience in the world of children’s theatre and have lent their professional expertise and insights to the class.
"Children’s theatre has the power to give people a lifelong love of the arts," said Franklin. "It’s not just about entertaining the kids; we’re introducing them to creativity and storytelling. For our CMU students, this production is an opportunity to practice their skills in a real-world setting and understand the impact their work can have."
Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play is one of the class’s major projects, with students taking on a range of roles to bring the story to life. From performing and costuming to set design and construction, they’ve been involved in every aspect, gaining valuable experience for their future careers in theatre and the entertainment industry in the process.
“We’ve been extremely fortunate to have such helpful advisors with professional experience in the realm of children’s theatre. They helped us utilize the skills we’ve all been working on during our time here,” said CMU student and assistant producer for the play Jake Lende.
Lende and fellow classmates are eager to share their hard work with the community, especially the children who will form the core audience of the show.
“I’m super thrilled to share this show with the community and to see how children react to it. It can be really difficult when rehearsing something for a target audience that isn’t there during rehearsal. I’m so excited for the actors to experience performing the show in the way it was intended, and share it with the community at large,” said Lende.
Students in the class hope that this production of Elephant & Piggie will inspire children in the community to engage with the arts. By introducing them to the joy of theatre at a young age, they hope to plant the seeds of creativity that could blossom into a lifelong passion for the arts.
“Children’s theatre is such a special niche that I never really thought about until taking classes like this one. I wish I had seen shows like this one as a child - I think it would’ve really opened up some possibilities in my mind and allowed my imagination to reach places it hadn’t yet. I feel very grateful to provide that kind of experience to kids in town,” said Lende.
Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play is set to take the stage in CMU’s Robinson Theatre on Saturday, October 19 at 11am. Tickets are available for purchase at CMUstages.com/tickets.