'ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE' Begins 9/26 at CTC

Children's Theatre of Charlotte will kick off its exciting 2015-16 season with "Elephant and Piggie's We are in a Play!," based on the popular series by award-winning author Mo Willems. The show runs Sept. 26-Oct. 11 and is recommended for ages 4 and up. Tickets start at $12.

Elephant Gerald and his best friend Piggie are surprised to find themselves on a fun musical adventure in front of an audience with the help of nutty backup singers, The Squirelles, in this adaptation of the Geisel Medal-winning and NY Times-bestselling Elephant & Piggie books.

The script and lyrics were written by Willems, and the musical was commissioned in 2012 by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Broadwayworld.com called the show "a fun experience and a great way to introduce your child to theatre."

CTC Artistic Director Adam Burke said the series was a hit with his own children, and after reviewing the source material and the show, he sees why.

"The music is fantastic, and the story is great," Burke said, adding that the message of the show is important for kids. "It's about friendship and about these two young people who are just discovering what it means to be a friend in the playground, in the classroom."

"I couldn't think of a better show with which to start our season," said CTC Executive Director Hannah Grannemann. "The characters are colorful and fun, the story is positive and inspirational, and the show has real heart. There's a reason why Mo Willems' books strike a chord with so many people."

Children's Theatre offers several ways for families to save on tickets including subscription plans for three age groups: Explorer Series (ages 4-6), Dreamer Series (ages 6-8) and Adventurer Series (ages 8-14). Highlights from the 2015-16 season include: "Coraline," "Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz Age Cinderella," "Journey to Oz," "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" and more.

Individual tickets are also on sale and start at just $12. For more information or to order, visit ctcharlotte.org or call the Customer Sales and Service Center (10-5 M-F): 704-973-2828.

Children's Theatre of Charlotte is a national leader among theatres for young audiences, serving nearly 300,000 young people and families annually with professional productions and innovative education initiatives.

Children's Theatre of Charlotte is supported, in part, with an Operating Grant from the Arts & Science Council, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc. and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.