Interactive Innovation: ADVENTURES WITH THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

Committed to serving our youngest audiences even in this challenging time, First Stage found a new way to bring our First Steps Series into area classrooms and homes this spring through the virtual interactive theater experience of ADVENTURES WITH THE THREE LITTLE PIGS.

 

First Stage’s intimate and interactive First Steps Series, traditionally produced at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, serves as a young person’s introduction to the theater and teaches the role and etiquette of an audience member. Geared towards young children, ages 3-6, and their families, First Steps productions aim to inspire a life-long love of the performing arts, increase the cultural vibrancy of our community and encourage reading together as a family.

 

Our strong partnerships with educators at schools throughout southeastern Wisconsin help to ensure that our First Steps Series addresses the academic needs and social and emotional learning of young people and families. In fact, the creation of ADVENTURES OF THREE LITTLE PIGS, as well as the creation of First Stage’s virtual Theater in Education programming during the pandemic this season, was a result of the relationships our Education team has developed with local educators.

 

Unable to visit area classrooms to provide our in-school Theater in Education programming, First Stage’s Education team consulted with our partner schools to learn how we could best support their learning objectives during the pandemic. As a result, First Stage created the interactive theater experience of ADVENTURES OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS and our library of on-demand virtual Arts-Integrated and Early Literacy Workshops.

 

Live-streamed through Zoom, ADVENTURES WITH THE THREE LITTLE PIGS was a 35-minute presentation that brought the well-loved children’s storybook of The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall to life and allowed young people the opportunity to become part of the story through active engagement in the storytelling, songs, dances, and tactile experiences. All participating classrooms also received a virtual Show Experience Kit, which included music tracks, choreography instructions, templates for set, props and costume pieces and a cut and color storyboard to build simple rod puppets. During the presentations, First Stage teaching artists performed the story while incorporating audience ideas in real time—ensuring each audience member was recognized for their contributions throughout the performance.

First Stage has offered 46 performances of ADVENTURES WITH THE THREE LITTLE PIGS and reached a total audience of 1,036 young people, their families and teachers. First Stage also sold-out three of the eight school performances presented live through Zoom.

 

“I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to ‘go on a field trip’ with my students. The show was adorable and my students loved it! We always enjoy First Stage shows and Adventures with the Three Little Pigs did not disappoint. I’m looking forward to next year’s show!” – classroom teacher, Lyons Center School

 

First Stage is grateful to our sponsors, PNC, and proud to be a partners through their Grow Up Great initiative.

Although ADVENTURES WITH THE THREE LITTLE PIGS has closed, be on the lookout for more First Steps interactive theater experiences from First Stage in the future! This interactive innovation is here to stay.