Mo Willems' 'Elephant and Piggie' coming to COD

“Elephant and Piggie's We are in a Play!” comes to College of DuPage in February as part of a 20-city national tour of the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences.

The children's show will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, in the McAninch Arts Center on campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The show runs approximately one hour with no intermission and is recommended for ages 4 and older.

Based on Mo Willems' award-winning and best-selling “Elephant and Piggie” children's books,“Elephant and Piggie's We are in a Play!” has the duo singing and dancing their way through peril and suspense, facing fundamental questions like: What do you wear to a fancy pool costume party? Should you share your ice cream? And how can two friends play with one toy?

Backed by nutty backup singers The Squirrelles, the duo gets the audience involved in the action.

The production features script and lyrics by six-time Emmy Award-winner and popular children's book author Willems, music by Deborah Wicks La Puma and direction by Jerry Whiddon. Commissioned by the Kennedy Center, the family-friendly musical made its world premiere in November 2013.

Des Plaines-born Willems is a No. 1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator and is best known for his Caldecott Honor picture books “Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale” and “Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity.”

His “Elephant and Piggie” early reader series books have consistently topped The New York Times best-seller lists, been translated into numerous languages, and won two Theodor Geisel Medals and five Geisel Honors since debuting in 2007.

Tickets to the performance at COD are $20 for adults and $14 for youth. For tickets or information, call (630) 942-4000 or visit atthemac.org.