Once upon a time, three little pigs left their mother’s house and went out into the wide world to seek a grand fortune. Similarly, three billy goats gruff aimed to cross a bridge to reach the wondrous green grass on the other side. Meanwhile, 3 bears wanted nothing more than to return to the comfort of their own home.

We all know how these stories play out–or then again, maybe not.

“The Surprising Story of the Three Little Pigs,” held on April 2, 9, 16, and 30, gives new meaning to a classic story. In a twist on a typical children’s tale, the characters decide to change their fate and abandon their respective stories.

“It’s definitely different, but that’s what I like about it,” theater sophomore Chase Rook said, who played the Middle Billy Goat. “I auditioned for the show in the first place because I thought the concept of the show was so different and original. I haven’t regretted my decision for an instant; I love the costumes, the audience, the cast members, and the plot.”

The production was specifically targeted toward young children. Therefore, the audience was packed with little kids; their wide eyes glued to the stage as they became engaged in the storyline and the characters.

“I’ve never had so much fun putting on a production,” theater sophomore Madison Burmiester said. “I think the kids in the audience really liked it; they were laughing, singing, and dancing with us – and that absolutely melted my heart.”

Furthermore, extensive preparation went into organizing the play, which was director Marcie Gorman’s last show of the year.The stage crew had to create three different sets to accompany the three stories; the costume crew designed the costumes for each and every cast member; and the makeup crew spent hours painting snouts, spots, and fur on the cast to feign an animal-like appearance.

“Preparing for the play required a lot of patience, time, and dedication,” theater senior Zak Biggins said. “We spent weeks building and painting the sets, and we worked up until the day before the show. We also had to take down the set and put it up again every Saturday for four weeks. But just like with every production, the satisfaction you get from your finished work is worth every bit of effort.”

In “The Surprising Story of the 3 Little Pigs,” the 3 billy goats gruff, the 3 little pigs, and the 3 bears come face to face with the 3 villains of the story–the troll, the wolf, and Goldilocks. Initially, this unexpected plot change culminates in chaos and disaster as characters become displaced and leave the narrator and the stage crew running around in dismay.

However, the show ultimately ended with the traditional happy ever after–with all the characters taking to the stage, embracing their new friends and reflecting on their individual growth. The characters then engaged in an epic dance party, encouraging the audience members to join in.

“The dance party at the end was my favorite part,” theater junior Michael Joseph said. “I loved grabbing little kids from the audience and bringing them onstage. Their smiles and the surprise on their parents’ faces made my day. I’ve been in a lot of shows over the years, but it’s not often that we get to interact with our audience so personally.”

Essentially, the“Surprising Story of the Three Little Pigs” proves that traditional fairy tales are overrated, and that, if we have try hard enough, we can alter our fate.