Josh Bough knew theater was for him after seeing a production of “Little Shop of Horrors” in grade school.

“That’s what made me want to live theater,” Bough said.

Bough, a freshman undecided major, played Alexander T. Wolf, the “Big Bad Wolf,” in the play “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.”

The student-run production was presented Friday and Saturday at the Village Theatre.

Bough said he liked playing Wolf because it allowed him to portray someone he is not.

“I enjoy being myself, but it’s nice to get away every once in awhile,” he said. “Theater does that for you.”

The musical took place in the fictional setting of “Piggsylvania,” and also featured students Aubrey Wiggs, Caitlin Bieda and Richard Guss.

Guss, a freshman theater arts major, played different characters throughout the play.

He played Rocky, the bailiff of the Courtroom; Dr. Billy Shears, who was a witness for the prosecuting attorney; and Maxwell and Martha, two pig characters.

“She is one of the prosecutor’s eye witnesses, not to mention the most witnessiest-witness the jury ever witnessed,” Guss said of his character Martha.

Guss said the most enjoyable part of the play was portraying all the characters.

“My favorite part of the play is when Martha appears from backstage for the first time,” he said. “The look on the children’s faces as I take the witness stand is priceless. They know that I am still partially Rocky, but the whole Martha get-up is priceless.”

Wiggs, a sophomore theater arts major, played Magill, a news reporter pig.

Magill eventually got to interview Wolf and thought she could prove his innocence. But it was to no avail because Wolf was found guilty

The audience had the chance to interact with the actors by playing the role of the “jury pigs” to decide whether or not Wolf was guilty. The audience even had to snort like a pig to cast their vote.

The interaction was Wiggs’ favorite part.

“I think it is neat and helps the children get more involved in the production, and it keeps us on our toes,” she said.

Powers, a junior theater arts major, played Prudence, the pig who was the judge in Wolf’s trial.

Powers said watching children come to see the play was gratifying.

“I love the interactions with the kids,” she said. “I remember plays that I saw in grade school and when a little kid feels like they’re in the story along with the actors, it is the coolest thing,”

Ashley Mefford can be reached at 581-7942 or at almefford@eiu.edu.