Elephant & Piggie’s - PowerPoint Presentation

Elephant & Piggie’s“We Are In a Play”Based on the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems McAninch Arts Center SchoolStage Series

What Happens in the Show This is the a story about Friendship – “Bestus” a word Gerald and Piggie made up that means: very best friends. For Gerald and Piggie – friendship means Taking Turns Sharing Being Compassionate Telling the TruthGerald and Piggie share a day when anything is possible. They solve problems together, sing and dance, make each other laugh, get mad and sad with each other, and even do a little goofing around with you – the audience! This play is adapted from six books: I’m Invited to a Party!, Listen to my Trumpet!, I Am Going!, Should I Share My Ice Cream?, I Love My New Toy! and We Are in a Book!

Gerald: is a careful, somewhat formally attired Elephant – prone to worry. His best friend is Piggie Piggie: is a playful, inquisitive pink pig. Piggie is an optimist whose best friend is Gerald. The Squirelles: A trio of fun-loving squirrels. Dog: A dutiful Delivery Dog Penguin: A sarcastic ice-cream sellerCharacters in the playWho are you most like? After the show, what other words can be used to describe these characters?

About the Author & Composer MO WILLEMS - Author #1 New York Times Bestseller Mo Willems was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. While in high school, he created a comic strip for a weekly newspaper and performed stand-up at a comedy club. After graduating college, Mo traveled abroad and then began his career working many different jobs. He auditioned and was hired as a writer and animator for Sesame Street from 1993-2002. Early influences on his work include Charles Schulz and Saul Steinberg. He has received three Caldecott Honors for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knuffle Bunny and its sequel.Mo wrote the script and lyrics for both play productions of Knuffle Bunny and Elephant and Piggie that were commissioned by and debuted at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Mo says, “When I was a kid, I wanted to draw and be funny.” Today, he lives in Massachusetts with his family, and they like to draw together every night at dinnertime.DEBORAH WICKS LaPUMA - Composeris a composer, music director, and orchestrator who grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Lisbon, Portugal. Her prolific collaboration with Karen Zacarias includes Chasing George Washington: A White House Adventure (Kennedy Center), Frida Libre (La Jolla Playhouse), Ferdinand the Bull (based on the book by Munro Leaf) Einstein Is a Dummy  (Alliance Theatre ),  and Looking for Roberto Clemente (Imagination Stage). Other premiere works for young audiences include Elephant and Piggie's We are In a Play  with author   Mo Willems and Nobody's Perfect (based on the book by Marlee Matlin) with Doug Cooney, a musical in English and American Sign Language, commissioned by VSA and the Kennedy Center. A proud Mexican-American, she is also a member of the board of directors of TYA USA/ASSITEJ International, ASCAP, and The Dramatist Guild. 

Bringing Stories to Lifewho does it take? Composer: who writes the music Director: who guides the whole teamChoreographer: who plans all the dance movementsMusic Director: who directs the musical part of the performanceSet Designer: who decides how the stage will lookLighting Designer: who plans how to use lights to help tell the storyCostume Designer: who plans what the performers wearStage Manager: who runs the show from behind the stage

Pre-Show Vocabulary Unintended Consequences: t hings that happen that surprise you . Pachyderm: a thick-skinned animal like an elephant or hippopotamus.Swine: a short-haired animal with a curly tail and hooves, like a pig.Unpossible: a made-up word Gerald uses when he means not possible or impossible.Contingency: something that might happen in the future but is not certain.Sty: a fenced area, usually for pigs.Manipulate: to change what people do or the way something happens.

Big Feelings During the performance, Gerald and Piggie have strong emotions or feelings Joy Anger LoveWorryFearEmbarrassment (feeling uncomfortable with something you have done)Think about how these two good friends share such different feelings. Discuss with your family/teachers/friends what you think makes a good friend and why.

PRE & POST ACTIVITY: What’s in a song? Lucky to See You Swimy! Fancy! Don’t Go Ice Cream HeroOde to ToyToy BreakerElephant in the RoomWe’re in a PlayWe’ll Be FriendsWe’ve Been LuckyAfter the show, discuss how each song made you feel and why?Which song was your favorite?During the show, listen for how performers communicate when they sing these songs. Listen for rhyming words like “Piggie” and “biggie” or “fear and “dear”, or soft rhymes like “prince” and “audience”

PRE & POST ACTIVITY: Know that Tune? Listen carefully when Piggie sings about her new toy – does the music seem familiar? It is from “Ode to Joy” a piece composed more than 200 years ago by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is often used in concerts, commercials, TV shows and movies. Listen to Ode to Joy .

Post Show - Playing Dress up Actors pretend to be different characters. To become their various animal characters they have to change how they Talk Dance SingMoveHow can you transform to be an elephant or pig?If you were the show’s costume designer and had to use ordinary clothes for Gerald & Piggie what would you choose? Make a list – draw a picture. Use your imagination!

Post Show – Endless Possibilities Gerald and Piggie love using their imaginations and realize they can do anything together – play Ping-Pong, wear silly hats. What would you and a friend/teacher/parent do with endless possibilities? If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could travel anywhere in the world, we would go to: _____________________ If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could meet anyone in the world, we would meet: ___________________If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could build anything in the world, we would build: ________________________If my (friend/teacher/parent) and I could cook anything in the world, we would create:____________________

A Swimming Pool How the Squirrelles sometimes play other characters in the story – name the other animals they play Props (objects used on stage) like an ice cream cone and a toy How the lights and music change to show slow or fast motion Flippy Floppy Floory DanceWhat does the trumpet sound likeSpecial magic word Gerald and Piggie use for “please”During the show – Can you find

What are some examples of when Gerald and Piggie used their imaginations during the play? What makes a good friend? Do you think Gerald and Piggie are good at helping each other? What is something you have done to help a friend? What is something that you have taught a friend? What is something a friend has taught you? What is your favorite activity to do with friends? What makes it special? What are examples of when Gerald and Piggie shows appreciation for each other?Post Show Discussion Questions

Post Show – Review the Show A reviewer’s job is to see a play and write about what they liked and what they didn’t like. It is your turn to write or draw a review and share your ideas about your experience. Write or Draw what was your Favorite part and why If you could change one thing to make the play better – what would it be?Sign your name and share with your teachers/friends/parents.Feel free to share your reviews with us! Mail or email: McAninch Arts Center, Attn: Janey Sarther, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL or sarther@cod.edu

SchoolStage Series is supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. Special thanks Resources Kennedy Center “Cuesheet Performance Guide”