News Photo by Julie Goldberg Ella White Elementary School students practice a scene Monday from the “Two Pigs, a Wolf, and a Mud Pie,” which the students will perform in front of the school on Feb. 27.

ALPENA — Ella White Elementary School students have been rehearsing the past few weeks on their first live performance.

“Two Pigs, a Wolf, and a Mud Pie” is a parody of different fairy tales that are all combined in one play.

Two shows are taking place at 1 and 2:15 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Ella White gym. Director Rodger McElveen said everyone is invited for the 30-minute show.

“It’s about all these different fairy tales that’s basically all combined into one,” fourth-grader Caroline Robertson said.

The different fairy tales are the stories of Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Annie, and others.

The play is comprised of third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders who almost all are performing live in a play for the first time.

“You got to teach them all sorts of things, being quiet backstage, listen for their cues so they make sure they come on stage in time,” McElveen said. “They’re having a good time and I’m having a good time.”

McElveen held auditions for the different roles, which gave the students a sense of what auditions are like.

“They’re learning terminology, what to do on stage,” McElveen said. “It’s all brand-new to them.”

The students are excited for the play, but also are nervous.

“I’m nervous because I have to sing in front of the school,” Robertson — who is playing Annie — said. “I think a lot of people are feeling nervous.”

Fourth-grader Hannah Brownridge is playing Cinderella, and said she’s excited because it’s a big show that they get to perform in front of everyone.

Brownridge performed last summer in a play for camp, so she has a little experience that can help the rest of the students.

Her advice to her fellow students?

“If you mess up, your friends will be able to support you when you get off stage,” she said.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.

If you go

∫ WHAT: “Two Pigs, a Wolf, and a Mud Pie”

∫ WHEN: 1 and 2:15 p.m. Feb. 27

∫ WHERE: The gym at Ella White Elementary School, 201 N. Ripley Boulevard

∫ INFO: Students performing a play that is different fairy tales all combined into one. For more information, call 989-358-5950.