Every year, Winona State University’s theatre department works hard to put on amazing plays and musicals not just for Winona State students, but for the whole community. It used to be a tradition to do a children’s play and have classes of children from nearby schools come and see the show, but due to COVID-19, that tradition was put to a halt. But the tradition may be coming back this year, as we got Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”  

This play is based on the Elephant and Piggie children’s books by Mo Willems, following an excitable pig named Piggie and a neurotic elephant named Gerald. The play follows the two friends as they get invited to a party, and chaos ensues. 

I was able to speak to someone heavily involved in the play, that being Elizabeth Schieffelbein. She was not only one of the leads in the play, staring as Piggie, but also did hair and makeup, and was a costume shop assistant and part of the scene shop crew. When asked what being involved in all those aspects of a play was like “Being able to be involved in all parts of the show is always important to me, I like to make sure I’m helping out everywhere,” Schieffelbein said. “You need crew just as much as you need actors.”

I also asked Schieffelbein what she thought children would get from seeing the play, because the children are why it exists, after all. “I think this was a great show for children to see, it speaks a lot about friendship and being there for each other,” Schieffelbein said. “Gerald and Piggie are there for each other over and over again, and promote great friendship skills.”

In conclusion, Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” was a great show for both Winona State students and children. Let’s hope the theatre department is able to put on more great children’s plays for years to come!