Performing piggies: Students present fairytale-themed opera for kids

top-pigThey huffed and they puffed and they sang the house down at UW-Green Bay Tuesday, April 22, as the University’s Opera and Musical Theatre students presented a very special performance of “The Three Little Pigs.”

The adapted 35-minute opera/musical featured the students of UW-Green Bay Prof. Sarah Meredith Livingston in one of three culminating performances for the semester. Featuring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with words and story adaptation by John Davies, this musical rendition of the classic fairytale is designed to engage the youngest of audiences — primarily those in grades K through 3.

“It’s a different kind of theatre, and as actors you have to become a child again, in a sense,” Meredith Livingston said. “This is a terrific way to interest kids in theatre and the power of live performance.”

Students who attended Tuesday’s musical/opera were engaged in the performance and an after-show question and answer session. Their curiosities were many — how long the performers had to practice, how they became so good at singing, how old they were; and of course, how those piggy ears stay attached. One youngster asked whether they had to wear the curly tails in order to practice (they didn’t).

The April 22 performance was the group’s first, and was followed by a Wednesday, April 23 performance at Green Bay’s Wequiock Elementary School. A second public performance will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, also in the Jean Weidner Theatre at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. UW-Green Bay faculty and staff who have young children are particularly encouraged to attend, Meredith Livingston said.

Cast members for “The Three Little Pigs” are UW-Green Bay students Kate Akerboom, Hannah Blecha, Leah LaMalfa, Victoria Schwenn, Cody Galligan and Evan Roberts Ash. Production personnel are Sarah Meredith Livingston, stage and music director; Emily Sculliuffo, accompanist; and Bill Florescu of Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera, consultant.

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Photos by Kimberly Vlies, Marketing and University Communication

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