Elephant and Piggie's WE'RE IN A PLAY! Coming to Columbia Children's Theatre

Get ready for a musical experience ripped from the pages of Mo Willems's beloved, award-winning, best-selling children's books that will leave you doing the "Flippy Floppy Floory" dance all night long! In Elephant & Piggie's "We Are in a Play!", Gerald and Piggie take to the stage in a rollicking adventure perfect for young audiences at Columbia Children's Theatre (CCT) February 19 - 28.

The production opens February 19 with a special red carpet event at 6:00 p.m. followed by the show at 7:00. Regular show times are Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. All performances are held at Columbia Children's Theatre on the 2nd level of Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive. Opening night tickets are $15.00 for children and $20 for adults. Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday performances are $10.00 for children three years of age through adult. The 7:00 p.m. performances on Saturday evenings will have a special ticket price of $5.00 for everyone. Advance tickets can be purchased securely online at columbiachildrenstheatre.com. For more information, contact CCT at 803-691-4548.

About the Production

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, Elephant & Piggie's "We Are in a Play!" is the perfect way to introduce young people to live theatre.

The small cast of five is led by CCT's Paul Lindley as Gerald and Georgie Harrington as Piggie. The Squirrelles are played by Brandi Smith, Carol Beis, and Toni Moore. The production is directed by CCT Artistic Director Jerry Stevenson with costumes by Donna Harvey. "After Chad Henderson's wonderful production of Knuffle Bunny three years ago," says Stevenson, "we jumped at the chance to do another Mo Willems piece when it was released."

Special Performances

On Friday, February 19 at 6:00 p.m., CCT is partnering with Columbia SC Moms Blog to host an opening night party. Pre-show activities include door prizes, interactive games, photo booth, craft station, magic by John Tudor, and a costume contest. Guests will nosh on goodies by PDQ and TnT Sweets. At 7:00, attendees will be treated to the premiere performance of Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!" followed by a meet and greet with the cast. Tickets for the opening night performance and reception are $15 for children and $20 for adults and are available at columbiasc.citymomsblog.com.

Friday, February 26 at 8:00 p.m. will see the return of CCT's underground, adults-only experience, Late Night Date Night. A unique concept for a children's theatre, this performance allows the cast to perform the script with strategic emphasis and innuendo that gives rise to unpredictable comedy best reserved for ages 16 and older. Admission to Late Night Date Night is by donation at the door, and patrons donating at least $10.00 will have the opportunity to send a word backstage that the cast must work into the show.

Columbia Children's Theatre is a professional resident not-for-profit theatre dedicated to providing quality live theatre experiences for families and young audiences, and is supported in part by the City of Forest Acres, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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