In one of the Elephant and Piggie children’s books, Waiting is Not Easy, by Mo Willems, Piggie says, “The surprise is a surprise.”

On November 13th, LHS drama will put on a musical that is a surprise to many.

This year, drama teacher Mr. Julian Lazarus has made a decision to put on musicals in both fall and spring. The Fall musical is going to be Elephant and Piggie’s We are in a Play. The show opens on November 13th and continues November 14th, 15th, 21st, and the 22nd. 

Elephant and Piggie is a musical based on a popular children’s book series, first appearing in 2007. These books explore the nature of  friendship and have been listed on Time magazine’s Top 10 Children’s Books of the Year.

In Linganore’s version, Kylan Connolly is playing the character of Gerald [Elephant], and Abbie Weinel is playing the character of Piggie. These main characters are best friends who love having fun and using their imagination. In the show, the two have been invited to a party hosted by the squirrels, who are played by Samantha Buntman, Alyssa Chiarelli, Cassia Connolly, Presley Dougherty, Elise Fenstermacher, and Sarah Maerten. Other characters include Dog, played by Eileen Rich, and two penguins played by Hugh Norko and Lincoln Robisch.

Although this show has been performed in the Emerald City Theatre and the Kennedy Center, Linganore will be the first high school in the U.S. to be putting on this musical. Tickets are available for sale on the LHS drama and dance website.

Some have been wondering who will come see the show since it is a children’s show.

“I took my boys to see the show at the Kennedy Center in 2013, and it is a really funny show. Even if you’re not little, it’s still a really funny show. When I first saw that the rights were active, I knew that it would be a really good choice for our show,” said Lazarus.

The drama department has to be conscious where the income comes from so Lazarus chose two musicals since they typically make more profits than plays.

Playing a squirrel in the show, freshman Presley Dougherty believes Elephant and Piggie is a great choice. She thinks it is such a fun, cute show for the audience and the actors due to its silly jokes and regular interaction with the audience.

“The show is very interactive, and it’s really about friends,” says Dougherty. “It doesn’t matter if the characters are in the form of animals. The show focuses on the same concepts we [teenagers] still pay attention to.”

Because this show is mainly based on imagination, the set is limited. Elephant and Piggie use their creativity to make up situations, and so will the audience.

Sometimes the drama department will use a live band to provide the music for the songs, but for Elephant and Piggie the department has decided to use a soundtrack. 

Elephant and Piggie is licensed by Music Theatre International and samples of the songs in the show are available at the MTI show website.