Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf? Duncombe 1st Graders Perform "Three Piggy Opera" - from The Messenger

There was a lot of huffing, puffing and blowing down of houses Friday afternoon on the stage at Duncombe Elementary School.

All set to music.

"I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down." the first-graders sang as they presented ''The Three Piggy Opera'' to family members in the audience.

Mariah Messerly was among those in the audience. She watched her daughter, Addison Rauhausen, begin what may be a long career on stage and screen.

"It was very cute," she said. "They did an awesome job."

Messerly already knew the part as well as her daughter. 

"Of course we practiced." she said. "I've heard her part a few times."

Caden Traver had the coveted role of the Big Bad Wolf.

He enjoyed it.

"It was fun." he said.

As a bonus, his role came with a costume that featured a tail which was an experience he greatly enjoyed.

"Yeah." he said. "And ears, too."

His mom, Carrie Traver, gave the show a rave review.

"I think it was the best I've ever seen." she said. "When your son is the star of the show it's all the difference."

He, too, practiced at home.

"He would," she said. "He let me hear his lines at home. He loves music."

Teacher Kirstie Ron, along with fellow teachers Martha Contreras and Peggy Larson, served as directors for the production.

"They did awesome, all of them." Ron said.

Ron said that besides giving them a chance to be on stage, being part of a musical production also helps build the students' confidence and improves both their reading and public speaking skills.

It also gave them all a chance to make cards for the Big Bad Wolf that were displayed on her classroom window.

After all, he went hungry and in spite of his best efforts, failed at blowing down the sturdy brick house.

"You should make friends with the pigs." one of them said.