Mo Willems' children's book series Elephant & Piggie comes to the stage with Elephant & Piggie's "We Are in a Play!" JR., now available to license via Music Theatre International. The work features a book and lyrics by Willems and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma.
Now part of MTI's Broadway Junior collection, the title is adapted from a musical that premiered at The Kennedy Center in 2012. This story sees Gerald the elephant worried that his best friendship with Piggie the pig might hit a snag, but that's before they get an invite to the Squirrelles' party.
Broadway Junior titles are designed to be performed by young performers. Shows have a 60-70 minute runtime and keys chosen to suit young voices. MTI also provides a host of resources to help make the process of making it to opening night as easy as possible, including rehearsal and performance tracks, a director's script with lots of helpful tips and tricks, and more.
“Deborah and Mo are a great team who have created something truly special together,” says MTI President and CEO Drew Cohen in a statement. “Elephant & Piggie’s: 'We Are in A Play!' JR. has a wonderfully rich and catchy score complemented by a beloved story and clever lyrics. We are delighted to welcome this show to our catalog of Broadway Junior musicals and know Elephant & Piggie will become a perennial favorite.”
“The Elephant & Piggie books are predicated on the idea that reading is fun for everyone,” adds Willems. “So, it’s extra thrilling to have a stage version of Elephant & Piggie’s adventures that has a role for everyone as well.”
Says La Puma: “Since the first day of my collaboration with Mo Willems, this show has been a delight, so no wonder I am beyond delighted it is now available as a Junior show with MTI! I have seen the joy the show brings young audiences, but I can’t wait to see how much joy it will bring young performers as well! This Junior adaptation invites both performers and audiences into a big, silly, playful, and musical group hug.”
Visit MTIShows.com for more info.
