Jury duty rarely involves as many musical numbers — or pig puns — as it does in Constellation Stage and Screen’s “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!” The Big Bad Wolf is accused of the murder of two little pigs and audience members must deliver the verdict on his innocence or guilt.
Constellation Stage and Screen, a professional theater company in Bloomington, is presenting the musical on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 25 to Nov. 10. A sensory-friendly performance will be held at 4 p.m. Nov. 10.
The theater company selected director Mitchell Ward after deciding to produce “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!” as part of its 2024 season. But from Ward’s enthusiasm you would think he chose the musical himself.
“That was the great thing about ‘True Story,’” Ward said. “From the moment it was presented to me, I was like ‘this is a story I remember, and I really can’t wait to get my hands on it.’”
The 30-year-old Ward said he read “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!” as a child and the tale has stood the test of time. The book, written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith and first published in 1989, was adapted into a musical by Robert Kauzlaric, Paul Gilvary and William Rush and premiered in 2007.
Ward said he teaches theater in various schools and kids still know the book. Now they have the chance to experience the story in a new way, as a musical.
“It is a courtroom drama with pig puns and music that gets to give the wolf his final say in court on the trial of his life,” Ward said. “Will he spend the rest of his life in prison for the crimes of huffing and puffing or will he get set free?”
IU senior Nicole “Nikki” Stawski, who plays Julia the prosecutor, doesn’t know the answer to Ward’s question ahead of time. Stawski said that the audience, as the jury, gets to choose the ending of the show. Stawski’s character will be either indignant or elated depending on the outcome.
During the first show Oct. 25, Stawski was indignant and the audience cheered when verdict was rendered “not guilty.”
“(I voted) not guilty because I read the book. And he’s telling the truth,” Rozlyn Law, a child in the audience, said. She, like many others in the jury box, was wearing a headband with pipe-cleaner pig’s ears on them.
Audience participation wasn’t limited to jury duty or piggy headbands. Toward the beginning of the performance, judge Juris Prudence, played by IU senior Alanna Porter, directed the audience to stand and place their hands on their hearts while the cast sang the anthem of Piggsylvania, the fictional setting of the musical.
Piggsylvania was just one of the many pig puns that Ward alluded to. The show also used George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” as the sacred text on which witnesses swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help them “hog.”
Stawski highlighted the humor of “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!” when describing why the musical can appeal to parents and children alike.
“People should come see the show because it will leave you laughing, it will leave you angry —for the wolf or the prosecution, whatever you decide,” Stawski said. “It’s just one of those shows that you can sit back, it’s easy to watch and everybody can enjoy — it’s universally funny.”
Showtimes and tickets can be found on Constellation Stage and Screen’s website. Adult tickets are $28, student tickets are $21 with an ID and child (12 or younger) tickets are $18. The show is held at the Waldron Auditorium, 122 S. Walnut St.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to accurately reflect the spelling of Mitchell Ward's name.
