New Twist on 'Three Little Pigs' at Media Theatre this Fall

"The Adventures of The Three Little Pigs" huffs and puffs new life into an old tale at The Media Theatre Saturday mornings October 6 through November 3. With lessons on work before play, proper eating habits, and team work, the hour long musical presents a funny, upbeat take on what it takes to become responsible.

The mother and daughter writing team of Laura and Tricia Kiehner, who created last season's "Rapunzel: Here and Now" and "Sleeping Beauty," created the script and score for "Adventures of the Three Little Pigs" during their summer respite in a Canadian cabin.

"Being away from the hectic routines we deal with in the fall, winter, and spring allows us to find time to focus on our writing," Laura Kiehner said. "As a mom, I am very concerned about what children are learning currently as they watch television programs and see what is happening on so-called 'reality' shows. When they are introduced to theatre, it's very important that stories that have been around for many years are re-imagined a bit so that the focus is not lost, but a contemporary spin is placed on the plot. This way, the young audiences remain attentive and are, at the same time, being taught lessons that they keep with them."

The songs in this new version of "Three Little Pigs" assist in the lessons. "The music has been created with various styles," Tricia Kiehner, a student at Temple, said. "The personalities of each little pig are unique. Each song needed to represent who they are."

The contemporary spin includes the little pigs' parents, who are represented as Mr. and Mrs. Hog because they ride motorcycles.

Denzel Thomas, an actor who has appeared in The Media Theatre's Broadway Series production of "Rent" and is also in "Hairspray" this fall, portrays the Wolf. "But I'm not the Big Bad Wolf," he said. "We changed it to Big Dad Wolf, so the reason he is seeking to huff and puff the houses down is because he is trying to make sure his children have what they need. He is not necessarily a bad dude, just someone who is trying to survive."

The show also includes acknowledgements to healthy eating. "Even though we sing about bacon and pizza, we made sure to mention the importance of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables," Laura said. "In this day and age when children are bombarded with advertisements about candy and unhealthy items, my daughter and I wanted to be sure to include statements on maintaining proper eating habits."

Within the structure of the simple plot and lessons, there is plenty of humor. "The characters are humorous within and among themselves," Laura added. "Just imagine an artist who wants to do nothing but paint while singing opera! This is the personality of one of the little pigs."

Several of The Media Theatre's New School students portray the characters including 2012's top two Delco Idol Junior winners Gianni Palmarini and Dan Briglia. Another Delco Idol Junior contestant, Elaina Fitzgerald, is featured in the show.

For tickets to "The Adventures of the Three Little Pigs" at The Media Theatre, call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org. The production is Saturday mornings at 11 a.m., October 6 to November 3.

Pictured: Three of The Media Theatre's New School students who portray the title roles in "Adventures of The Three Little Pigs" at The Media Theatre this fall: Dan Briglia, Elaina Fitzgerald, and Gianni Palmarini. The show plays Saturday mornings at 11am October 6 to November 3.

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