Next up for Raleigh Little Theatre is Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood, Joan Cushing’s 2005 musical for children of all ages, based on Mike Artell’s 2001 book, illustrated by Jim Harris, in which Artell transposes the familiar European folk tale to the French Catholic section of Louisiana. RLT’s associate education director Kathleen Rudolph will direct Petite Rouge, which features a Zydeco-driven score and plays Nov. 3-5, 10-12, and 16-18 in RLT’s Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre.

“Last year,” says Rudolph, “RLT produced Miss Nelson Is Missing! by the [same] playwright, Joan Cushing. She came to see our production, and mentioned that she had written another play. Since Miss Nelson was such a huge success, we decided to give this one a try as well.”

Kathleen Rudolph adds, “There are only six characters that are able to tell the entire story of Little Red Riding Hood. It is based on the story we all know and love, but with a Cajun twist which makes it extremely funny.

“I like small casts and the ability for actors to play numerous roles,” Rudolph admits. “There is also a great deal of singing and dancing, which help to bring the story to life!”

When the curtain rises, Rudolph says, “Petite Rouge (Allison Powell), who in this play is a duck, and her friend TeJean (Zackery Morris), who is a cat, travel through the bayou to bring Cajun delicacies to Grandmere (Lormarev Jones). Along the way, they meet up with a hungry gator named Claude (J. Michael Beech), who tries to become their friend. There are three chorus members (Lormarev Jones, Rebecca Leonard, and Aaron Wright) who each play seven different roles to help the journey along.”

Besides director Kathleen Rudolph, the show’s creative team includes assistant to the director Jamie Powell, choreographer Angela Davis, musical director Mary Kathryn Walston, technical director Roger Bridges, set designer Rick Young, lighting designer Andy Parks, costume designer Su-Jung Lee, properties mistress Andrea Savage, sound designer Becca Easley, and stage manager David Watts.

Rudolph says, “My scenic designer, Rick Young, really wanted to give a swampy feel to the show, so he built docks that move with every new scene. And because Petite Rouge and TeJean travel through the swamp, there is a boat to deal with! There are so many costume changes for the chorus, designed by RLT newcomer Su-Jung Lee, that three dressers are required for each show.”

She adds, “There are several different locations: the swamp, the bayou, Petite Rouge’s back porch, a riverboat, Mardi Gras, and Grandmere’s house. The cast makes all the [scene] changes themselves.” Rudolph says, “There are some scenes that are a bit dark as they travel through the swamp, but the lights at Mardi Gras are absolutely amazing!”

Kathleen Rudolph says, “All the characters are animals, but the three chorus [members] play other roles also. So, Su-Jung has given them a wonderful look with them being able to alter their look easily.”

She also notes, “There is a lot of running and chasing—it is the story of Little Red Riding Hood, no?”

Raleigh Little Theatre presents Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood Friday, Nov. 3 and 10, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 4-5 and 11-12, at 1 and 5 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, Nov. 16-17, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1 and 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. in RLT’s in Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh, North Carolina. $12 ($7 students and children). 919/821-3111 or click here. Note: All shows are wheelchair accessible, and assistive listening devices are available for all shows. Raleigh Little Theatre: http://www.raleighlittletheatre.org/performances/petiterouge.html.

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