Albion High School Brings Laughter to the Stage with The Big Bad Musical

The Albion High School Drama Department is all set to bring humor and fairy-tale chaos to the stage with its fall production of The Big Bad Musical, a courtroom comedy filled with familiar storybook characters and plenty of laughs. Performances will take place in the Albion Middle School Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday and noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $5 at the door (cash only), inviting the local community for a lighthearted evening of fun.

Senior Gideon Pask, who stars as the Big Bad Wolf, describes the show as “just a really fun time.” Having joined the Drama Department halfway through his freshman year, Pask is relishing the chance to take on a less serious role. “In a lot of my other roles, I’ve had to act super-mature and proper,” he said. “In this, I get to be more flashy, showy.” He added that even the director struggled to keep a straight face during early rehearsals, often laughing through scenes.

The story centers around the Big Bad Wolf, who finds himself the defendant in a class-action lawsuit brought by some of the most recognizable faces from fairy tales. Among the plaintiffs are Little Red Riding Hood, her Grandmother, the Three Little Pigs, and the Shepherd responsible for the Boy Who Cried Wolf. What sounds like a revenge plot quickly turns into a howling courtroom comedy that promises plenty of giggles for both kids and adults.

According to Co-Director Elliott Michki, this is the second time Albion has performed The Big Bad Musical, with the last production taking place in 2019. Michki explained that the Drama Department carefully selects each show to suit the students who will be participating the following year. “We, as a team, meet at the end of every school year to go over potential options and pick a show that we think will best fit the kids we know will be coming to us next year,” he said. “We also hope to encourage more kids to join us. This show just lent itself to that because it is a funny, full-cast show.”

Michki emphasized that every ensemble member will be active throughout the performance. “For this show, from a cast perspective, we cast every single kid that auditioned. We felt we had a wonderful place for them,” he said. The co-director also noted that although this is his first time working on The Big Bad Musical, having joined the district only three years ago, he has quickly come to appreciate the show’s playful spirit. “It’s a fun plot with familiar stories that both kids and adults know very well, with a nice comedic twist to it,” he added.

Joining Michki on the directing team are Kathy Winans and Kailey Winans. The cast includes Phoebe Allen as Sydney Grimm, Lily Brigham as the Fairy Godmother, D Johnson as Little Red Riding Hood, Aniela Wilson as Grandmother Hood, Reagan Flor as Pig One, Olivia Andrews as Pig Two, Lillian Fisher as Pig Three, Asher Curfman as Bill Woodcutter, Makenzie Cook as Shepherd, Bradyn Whittier as the Boy Who Cried Wolf, and Adelaide Pettit as the Evil Stepmother.

The show’s publisher, Pioneer Drama Service, describes The Big Bad Musical as “a lively, smart, and wickedly funny courtroom comedy that audiences of all ages will love.” With Albion’s talented young performers and an enthusiastic directing team, this production looks set to deliver a delightful evening that proves laughter really is the best defense.

For updates or event details, visit the Albion Central School District’s official site or follow the Albion CSD Facebook page.