“Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play” Kicks Off Tibbits’ Popcorn Theatre Season
COLDWATER – Tibbits Popcorn Theatre kicks off its 39th season with “Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play!” on June 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27 at 10am. Get ready for a musical experience, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved, award-winning, best-selling children’s books, that will leave audiences doing the “Flippy Floppy Floory” dance all night long!
An elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie are best, best, “bestus” (a word Gerald and Piggie made up that means “very best”) friends, but Gerald worries that something could go wrong that would end their friendship. Piggie is not worried at all. She’s even happier and more excited than usual. That’s because she and Gerald are invited to a party hosted by the Squirrelles, three singing squirrels who love to have a good time. And so begins a day when anything is possible.
Filled with beloved characters and lively songs, with five actors and a small band, “Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play!” is a perfect way to introduce young people to theatre.
“There’s nothing more exciting than seeing your favorite characters jump off the page and onto the stage,” said director and choreographer Sam Carter. “’Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play!’ is a delightful exploration of what it means to be a true friend. With toe-tapping music, head-scratching dilemmas and side-splitting antics straight from your favorite Elephant and Piggie shenanigans, this show is fun for the whole family! Keep an eye out, you might spot even more of Mo Willems most iconic characters right here on the Tibbits Opera House stage.”
“Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play” stars Gerard Wells as Gerald, Frankie Alba as Piggie, and Serendipity, Sydney Mistretta and Mika Umemura as the Squirrelles. The production staff includes stage manager Marlie Dietz, music director Zeb Fulcher, scenic designer and painter Andrea Imsland, costume designer Hayden Elowsky, lighting designer Tyler Pavlik, sound designer Thess Holloway, costumer Gianna Bratke, technical director Sebastian James, props artisan Lindsey Hall, carpenters Ryan Hodges and Oliver Fisher-Rohde, electrician Jeff Harvey, and assistant props artisan and scenic painter Sara Czerniawski.
Tickets for “Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play” and all other Popcorn Theatre shows are priced $10 each, and include complimentary popcorn and juice, donated by Dr. Ed Lake and McDonald’s: The Maynard Organization. Children ages 2 and under are free but must have a comp ticket reserved by calling the Tibbits box office at 517.278.6029. Discounts for groups and families of five or more are also available by calling the box office. Families are encouraged to secure their tickets early for these popular shows. They can be purchased at Tibbits.org, by calling Tibbits Opera House, or visiting the administration office located at 93 West Chicago St.
Tibbits extends its heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors who make these performances possible: The Bushouse Family, Dr. Jon and Seibra Herbener, Highstreet/Vested Risk Strategies, Matthew C. Christopher, DDS, PC., Asama Coldwater Manufacturing and the Exchange Club of Coldwater. Additional support is provided by The Philip & Sarah Rosenberg Family Trust. Their generous support played a crucial role in bringing these vibrant cultural experiences to the community.