Elephant & Piggie's "We Are In A Play!" JR.
Elephant and Piggie sing and dance their way through this vaudevillian romp
Show Essentials
18
Roles
+ Ensemble
G
Rated
1
Act

Full Synopsis

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” JR. opens with melancholic elephant Gerald frantically searching for his enthusiastic, energetic friend Piggie. As they try and fail to find each other, the Stage Manager announces that the show will begin in five minutes, then notices that the audience is already watching. The Stage Manager calls for places, and Gerald and Piggie find each other onstage (“Lucky To See You”).

Delivery Dog arrives with an invitation for Piggie to a party being thrown by the Squirrelles. Piggie is nervous, but Gerald helps her try several different possible party themes. They settle on “fancy pool costume party,” dress appropriately, and head to the party.

As it turns out, fancy pool costume party is the theme of the Squirrelles’ party! (“Swimmy! Fancy! – Part 1”). Gerald’s mood sours when he struggles with the dance moves. In frustration, he jumps wildly up and down. Gerald’s crazy moves draw the attention of the Squirrelles, who say they want to learn “The Elephant” (“Swimmy! Fancy! – Part 2”).

Having a blast at her first party, Piggie retrieves a trumpet and plays it for the crowd, but the resulting sound is not pleasant. She gradually drives away all the partygoers except Gerald, who gently tells her the music was not good, but Piggie was not trying to play music – she was trying to say, “Thank you” in Elephant! Gerald happily teaches her the proper way to do this.

Piggie tells Gerald she has to go. Desperate to keep her there, Gerald begs her to stay, with the help of the Mice (“Don’t Go – Part 1”). Piggie insists she has to go, and Gerald and the Mice beg the question: Why? (“Don’t Go – Part 2”) Finally, Piggie interrupts. She has to go… to the potty. Embarrassed, Gerald tells her to go ahead. While he waits for her return, the Ice Cream Penguin enters with an ice cream cart, and Gerald decides to buy a cone. Just as he is about to take a big bite out of his treat, a thought occurs to him: he could share the ice cream with Piggie! After much debate and encouragement from the Penguins, he agrees to share (“Ice Cream Hero”). Unfortunately, Gerald’s ice cream has melted. He is defeated… until Piggie returns with an ice cream cone that she shares with him.

Piggie has also returned with a new toy (“Ode To Toy – Part 1”). She is reluctant to share her toy, but she finally agrees to let Gerald see if it is a “throwing toy.” Gerald prepares to throw (“Ode To Toy – Part 2”). The elephant launches the toy into the air, and when it falls, it breaks in two. Piggie is furious (Toy Breaker). However, her mood quickly changes when the Squirrelles make a discovery. Her new toy is a “snap and break toy,” which can easily be put back together. Piggie is embarrassed, but the two friends quickly make up (“Elephant In The Room”).

Gerald and Piggie hug, and Gerald makes a discovery: an audience is watching them! Piggie realizes they must be in a play. The two friends invite the rest of the cast onstage to observe the audience (“We’re In A Play”). After the song, Piggie realizes that, eventually, the play has to end. Gerald has a moment of panic, but Piggie calms him down, reminding him that they will still be friends after the end of the play (“We’ll Be Friends”). The lights gradually fade, and the cast is left in darkness. However, after several of them speak, they all realize they are still onstage, and decide to celebrate their time together (“We’ve Been Lucky”).

Casting
← Back to Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.
Cast Size: Large (21 or more performers)
Cast Type: Children
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Gerald

A lumbering, somewhat formally attired elephant who loves nothing more than to have an adventure with his best friend, Piggie. Gerald can be a bit of a worrywort and prone to bouts of melancholy, but he tries to keep it together.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Piggie

An ebullient, inquisitive pig who loves to spend time with her best friend, Gerald. She has a big personality and feels her feelings deeply.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Stage Manager

A take-charge character and a perfect role for someone who can tackle a big monologue.

Ice Cream Penguin

A boisterous character who enjoys being larger than life and a little sarcastic.

Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: C#4
Patricia Penguin

A sweet, caring, and unassuming penguin who is probably the youngest of the penguins

Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: Eb4
Shakesperian Penguin
Array
Paulette the Pelican

A silly penguin who is always ready with a joke!

Delivery Dog

A dutiful, fun-loving character with a few great features in the show

Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: F4
Don, Dan, Dee, and Dru Dog

Dogs on Delivery Dog’s team and all have small featured duets.

Sammi Squirelle

The ringleader of the Squirrelles. She is confident, friendly, and always ready to have a good time.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Brian Bat
Array
Ensemble

Includes MICE, additional SQUIRRELLES, YOUNG PENGUINS, PENGUINS, DOGS, ICE CREAM HERO CHOIR, ONLOOKERS (ONLOOKER #1, ONLOOKER #2), PARTY GUESTS (PARTY GUEST #1, PARTY GUEST #2), and PIGEON STUFFED ANIMAL PUPPETEER.

Sophia Squirelle
Array
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: F4
Santana Squirelle
Array
Gender: female
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: D4
Shayna Squirelle
Array
Gender: female
Vocal range top: A#4
Vocal range bottom: F4
Full Song List
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Lucky To See You
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Skipping Ping-Pong Hats
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Swimmy! Fancy! (Part 1)
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Swimmy! Fancy! (Part 2)
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Don't Go (Part 1)
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Don't Go (Part 2)
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Ice Cream Hero
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Ode To Toy (Part 1)
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Ode To Toy (Part 2)
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Toy Breaker
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: Elephant In The Room
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: We're In A Play
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: We'll Be Friends
Elephant and Piggie's We Are In A Play JR.: We've Been Lucky

Curriculum Connection

  • Fine Arts
  • Writing / Language Arts
  • Math
  • Social Studies
  • Science
  • Technology - theatre tech

Billing

Based on the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems

Requirements

You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Licence Agreement, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on house-boards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind. You agree to supply to the Licensor full details of all such material for Licensor’s approval prior to printing and distribution and supply two (2) copies of the program after printing.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.
Name of [Organization]
Production of
 
Based on the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems
50%
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
25%
 
Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems
50%
 
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
50%
 
You must also provide the following credit on the title page for all programs:
This play was commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and was first produced at the Kennedy Center during the 2013 – 2014 season.
 
In addition, you must also provide the following credit in advertisements where full production credits are given:
This play was commissioned by and first produced at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Video Warning

If you purchase a separate license to allow non-commercial video recording of this production, you must print the following in your program. ANY VIDEO RECORDING MADE OF THIS PERFORMANCE IS AUTHORIZED FOR PERSONAL, AT-HOME, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH RECORDING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED UNDER FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW. If you do not purchase the separate license for video recording, you must print the following in your program. The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
ACTOR'S BOOK30
CHOREOGRAPHY VIDEOS DIGITAL1
DIRECTOR'S GUIDE1
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES AND MEDIA1
GUIDE VOCAL AND PERF TRACKS DIGITAL1
PIANO VOCAL SCORE1

Production Resources

Resource