Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!"
2026-03-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-21 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-03-21 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-25 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-03-26 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-03-27 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Jump into the joy of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!—a rollicking musical adventure straight from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved, award-winning children’s books. This high-energy show features best friends Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig as they navigate the ups and downs of friendship, big feelings, and unexpected surprises.
When Gerald, the thoughtful elephant who tends to worry, and Piggie, his endlessly upbeat best friend, are invited to a party by the Squirrelles—a trio of singing, dancing squirrels—their day takes a delightful and unexpected turn. Gerald’s doubts and anxiety bubble up, while Piggie throws herself into the fun with fearless enthusiasm. As surprises unfold, the two navigate soaring highs, sudden hiccups, and joyful discoveries—realizing that true friendship means sticking together, even when things feel uncertain.
Brimming with toe-tapping tunes, unforgettable characters, and big belly laughs, this delightful musical invites audiences to join in the magic of live performance—with plenty of playful, interactive moments along the way. With clever storytelling and joyful energy, it’s full of heart, humor, and meaningful moments that linger long after the final bow.
Stay after the show to meet the cast!
Running Time: 50 minutesRecommended Age: 3 and up

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation and the McMath Family.
Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is supported in part by Caroline and George Makris III.

Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!"
2026-03-14 10:30 - 11:30
Jump into the joy of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!—a rollicking musical adventure straight from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved, award-winning children’s books. This high-energy show features best friends Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig as they navigate the ups and downs of friendship, big feelings, and unexpected surprises.
When Gerald, the thoughtful elephant who tends to worry, and Piggie, his endlessly upbeat best friend, are invited to a party by the Squirrelles—a trio of singing, dancing squirrels—their day takes a delightful and unexpected turn. Gerald’s doubts and anxiety bubble up, while Piggie throws herself into the fun with fearless enthusiasm. As surprises unfold, the two navigate soaring highs, sudden hiccups, and joyful discoveries—realizing that true friendship means sticking together, even when things feel uncertain.
Brimming with toe-tapping tunes, unforgettable characters, and big belly laughs, this delightful musical invites audiences to join in the magic of live performance—with plenty of playful, interactive moments along the way. With clever storytelling and joyful energy, it’s full of heart, humor, and meaningful moments that linger long after the final bow.
March 14 is Book Day! Stay after the show to meet the cast, enjoy special activities, and enter giveaways in partnership with local libraries.
This performance features audio description.
Running Time: 50 minutesRecommended Age: 3 and up

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation and the McMath Family.
Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is supported in part by Caroline and George Makris III.

Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!"
2026-03-14 14:00 - 15:00
Jump into the joy of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!—a rollicking musical adventure straight from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved, award-winning children’s books. This high-energy show features best friends Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig as they navigate the ups and downs of friendship, big feelings, and unexpected surprises.
When Gerald, the thoughtful elephant who tends to worry, and Piggie, his endlessly upbeat best friend, are invited to a party by the Squirrelles—a trio of singing, dancing squirrels—their day takes a delightful and unexpected turn. Gerald’s doubts and anxiety bubble up, while Piggie throws herself into the fun with fearless enthusiasm. As surprises unfold, the two navigate soaring highs, sudden hiccups, and joyful discoveries—realizing that true friendship means sticking together, even when things feel uncertain.
Brimming with toe-tapping tunes, unforgettable characters, and big belly laughs, this delightful musical invites audiences to join in the magic of live performance—with plenty of playful, interactive moments along the way. With clever storytelling and joyful energy, it’s full of heart, humor, and meaningful moments that linger long after the final bow.
March 14 is Book Day! Stay after the show to meet the cast, enjoy special activities, and enter giveaways in partnership with local libraries.
This performance features ASL interpretation.
Running Time: 50 minutesRecommended Age: 3 and up

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation and the McMath Family.
Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is supported in part by Caroline and George Makris III.

Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!"
2026-03-15 14:00 - 15:00
Jump into the joy of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!—a rollicking musical adventure straight from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved, award-winning children’s books. This high-energy show features best friends Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig as they navigate the ups and downs of friendship, big feelings, and unexpected surprises.
When Gerald, the thoughtful elephant who tends to worry, and Piggie, his endlessly upbeat best friend, are invited to a party by the Squirrelles—a trio of singing, dancing squirrels—their day takes a delightful and unexpected turn. Gerald’s doubts and anxiety bubble up, while Piggie throws herself into the fun with fearless enthusiasm. As surprises unfold, the two navigate soaring highs, sudden hiccups, and joyful discoveries—realizing that true friendship means sticking together, even when things feel uncertain.
Brimming with toe-tapping tunes, unforgettable characters, and big belly laughs, this delightful musical invites audiences to join in the magic of live performance—with plenty of playful, interactive moments along the way. With clever storytelling and joyful energy, it’s full of heart, humor, and meaningful moments that linger long after the final bow.
Stay after the show to meet the cast!
This is a sensory-friendly performance.
Running Time: 50 minutesRecommended Age: 3 and up

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation and the McMath Family.
Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is supported in part by Caroline and George Makris III.

Elephant & Piggie Art Experience (Grades K-2)
2026-03-21 13:30 - 16:30
This special program invites young artists to enjoy an afternoon of live theatre and hands-on artmaking!
Young artists will begin in the Windgate Art School, exploring drawing and sculpture as they start a creative project inspired by storytelling. At 2:00 p.m., students will attend a live performance of Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” in AMFA’s Performing Arts Theater.
After the show, students return to the studio to finish their artwork, using the characters and animal adventures they saw on stage to bring their ideas to life.

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is supported in part by Caroline and George Makris III.
Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation and the McMath Family.
The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
The Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2026.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Elephant & Piggie Art Experience (Grades 3-5)
2026-03-21 13:30 - 16:30

Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!"
2026-03-24 10:30 - 11:30
Jump into the joy of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!—a rollicking musical adventure straight from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved, award-winning children’s books. This high-energy show features best friends Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig as they navigate the ups and downs of friendship, big feelings, and unexpected surprises.
When Gerald, the thoughtful elephant who tends to worry, and Piggie, his endlessly upbeat best friend, are invited to a party by the Squirrelles—a trio of singing, dancing squirrels—their day takes a delightful and unexpected turn. Gerald’s doubts and anxiety bubble up, while Piggie throws herself into the fun with fearless enthusiasm. As surprises unfold, the two navigate soaring highs, sudden hiccups, and joyful discoveries—realizing that true friendship means sticking together, even when things feel uncertain.
Brimming with toe-tapping tunes, unforgettable characters, and big belly laughs, this delightful musical invites audiences to join in the magic of live performance—with plenty of playful, interactive moments along the way. With clever storytelling and joyful energy, it’s full of heart, humor, and meaningful moments that linger long after the final bow.
Stay after the show to meet the cast, play lawn games, and eat ice cream at Kickoff to Spring Break!
Running Time: 50 minutesRecommended Age: 3 and up

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation and the McMath Family.
Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is supported in part by Caroline and George Makris III.

Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!"
2026-03-28 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-03-28 14:00 - 15:00
Jump into the joy of Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!—a rollicking musical adventure straight from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved, award-winning children’s books. This high-energy show features best friends Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig as they navigate the ups and downs of friendship, big feelings, and unexpected surprises.
When Gerald, the thoughtful elephant who tends to worry, and Piggie, his endlessly upbeat best friend, are invited to a party by the Squirrelles—a trio of singing, dancing squirrels—their day takes a delightful and unexpected turn. Gerald’s doubts and anxiety bubble up, while Piggie throws herself into the fun with fearless enthusiasm. As surprises unfold, the two navigate soaring highs, sudden hiccups, and joyful discoveries—realizing that true friendship means sticking together, even when things feel uncertain.
Brimming with toe-tapping tunes, unforgettable characters, and big belly laughs, this delightful musical invites audiences to join in the magic of live performance—with plenty of playful, interactive moments along the way. With clever storytelling and joyful energy, it’s full of heart, humor, and meaningful moments that linger long after the final bow.
Stay after the show to meet the cast!
March 28 is Dress Up Day! Dress up as your favorite character—or wear anything that sparkles, twirls, or inspires a happy dance—and join a raffle for tickets to future AMFA performances.
Running Time: 50 minutesRecommended Age: 3 and up

Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation and the McMath Family.
Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” is supported in part by Caroline and George Makris III.

Youth Theatre Auditions
2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:00
AMFA is casting community youth actors aged 10 and up for our upcoming season of Children’s Theatre productions! Register now and come prepared to sing, dance, read scenes, and play theatre games – all materials will be provided.
Community roles are volunteer positions. Actors must be able to commit to evening and weekend rehearsals.

Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation.
Photo: Iwan Baan.

Adult Theatre Auditions
2026-04-11 13:00 - 17:00
AMFA is casting professional adult actors for our upcoming 2026-2027 season of Children’s Theatre productions!
At AMFA, we believe in the power of live theatre to shape young lives. That’s why we’ve been writing, producing, and staging exceptional live theatre for youth and family audiences for more than 40 years.
AMFA is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in our organization, community, and beyond. We are seeking a broad spectrum of artists, and people of all ages, races, gender, backgrounds, and abilities are encouraged to apply. We are a professional, non-equity theater for young audiences.
How to Prepare

Bring a current headshot and resume (stapled together) that contains your contact information.
Prepare 16-32 bars of an upbeat musical theatre song of any genre.
Prepare a 30-60 second comedic monologue from any time period. Monologue must be memorized.
Live accompaniment will be available. Please bring sheet music in the correct key. A Bluetooth speaker will be available, as well.
Please make sure your audition does not exceed two minutes and 30 seconds.

Callback auditions will take place by invitation only on Monday, April 13, at 5:00 p.m.
Please contact theatre@arkmfa.org if you have any questions. Appointments are required – see link below for scheduling.
All cast and crew positions are paid. Housing is not included in the contract and is the actor’s responsibility.

Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported in part by The Shubert Foundation.
Photo: Iwan Baan

Flurffy in the Land of Almost Awake
2026-06-06 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-06-06 14:00 - 14:30, 2026-06-07 14:00 - 14:30, 2026-06-09 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-06-10 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-06-11 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-06-12 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-06-13 10:30 - 11:00 and 2 more dates
Join Flurffy, AMFA’s canine puppet-in-residence, on a whimsical, dreamlike adventure as he prepares for his 10th birthday celebration with his best friend, Emily! After a long day of planning, they finally drift off to sleep, and their imaginations carry them to the magical Land of Almost Awake—a place where clouds become stages, pajamas become costumes, and everyday moments transform into something extraordinary.
Designed for early learners (ages 5 and under) and their caregivers, this original, immersive experience features imaginative lighting, painterly visuals, and a sensory-rich environment that invites children to explore art and imagination together.
After the performance, receive a special birthday invitation that guides you into the Galleries, where the theatrical experience continues through playful engagement with select works on view.

Flurffy in the Land of Almost Awake is supported in part by Art Bridges.

The Comedy of Errors
2026-07-16 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-17 19:00 - 20:30
Experience Shakespeare’s classic The Comedy of Errors as you have never seen it before —a fast-paced, 90-minute, five-actor production bursting with SHAKE Theatre’s signature audience interaction, slapstick, live music, and high-energy physical comedy.
When two sets of identical twins, separated at birth, unknowingly arrive in the same city, chaos erupts in a whirlwind of mistaken identity, comic confusion, and joyful reunion. Beneath the hilarity, the play explores timeless themes of belonging, finding your place in the world, and the power of togetherness.
This production is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Pre-Show Entertainment
Included in your ticket to The Comedy of Errors is access to a 6:15 p.m. pre-show performance of The Revelers! Celebrate the next generation of performers in this lively “young players” production filled with music, ensemble storytelling, and improvisational spirit.
Written and directed by Brett Ihler—whose credits include performances with Utah Shakespeare Festival, AMFA Children’s Theatre, Improv Little Rock, and the Arkansas TV series Taste Buds—this high-energy theatrical prelude echoes the humor, physicality, and themes of belonging found in The Comedy of Errors.

The Comedy of Errors
2026-07-18 14:00 - 15:30
Experience Shakespeare’s classic The Comedy of Errors as you have never seen it before —a fast-paced, 90-minute, five-actor production bursting with SHAKE Theatre’s signature audience interaction, slapstick, live music, and high-energy physical comedy.
When two sets of identical twins, separated at birth, unknowingly arrive in the same city, chaos erupts in a whirlwind of mistaken identity, comic confusion, and joyful reunion. Beneath the hilarity, the play explores timeless themes of belonging, finding your place in the world, and the power of togetherness.
This production is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Pre-Show Entertainment
Included in your ticket to The Comedy of Errors is access to a 1:15 p.m. pre-show performance of The Revelers! Celebrate the next generation of performers in this lively “young players” production filled with music, ensemble storytelling, and improvisational spirit.
Written and directed by Brett Ihler—whose credits include performances with Utah Shakespeare Festival, AMFA Children’s Theatre, Improv Little Rock, and the Arkansas TV series Taste Buds—this high-energy theatrical prelude echoes the humor, physicality, and themes of belonging found in The Comedy of Errors.
