There's more that can turn a Penn State sophomore into a pig besides unlimited buffets at the dinning commons.

Take, for example, a play such as The Three Little Pigs performed by the Penn State Thespians.

The group's children's show is directed by Brittny Eckert, and it will be put on for area children in the community room of the Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 S. Allen St., tonight at 7 and Sunday at noon.

The plays include the stories of The Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks and The Three Bears with a slight twist from the original versions.

"Things like the children's show allow us to reach out into the community," Micheal DiMattesa (sophomore-film), the children's show co-chairman, said.

He said the Thespians create a children's show at the end of every semester so young children in the audience will be able to relate to the material.

"We try to mix it up," DiMattesa said, "but we try to base it on a well known children's story or book."

He said the Thespians try to work with the library when brainstorming ideas community children will enjoy.

In the past, the club adapted the story Ben and Me, which is a story about Ben Franklin and his mouse friend, during the library's mouse-themed month.

"Sometimes we try to break out of the traditional Thespians form and do new things in the community," he said.

Eckert said the biggest challenge was the short time-frame for rehearsal.

DiMatessa said the plays have two weeks of planning and two weeks of rehearsal before they are scheduled to perform for the kids.

Eckert said she has directed children's shows in the past, but she is enjoying her first experience with the Thespian's kids program.

"We have a nice mix where we can get our work done and still have fun," she said.

Even though the two plays only run about 30 minutes total, the actors will be in full makeup and costume, and the "stage" has a set.

Alex Jones (sophomore-premedicine) said he will be playing the "straw house pig." He said they have a "very small, simple set" and work with the space they have.

"We draw an imaginary line on the floor and tell the kids that that's where the stage starts," Jones said.

Anita Ditz, a children's librarian at Schlow, said the community room in the library is a great way for clubs at Penn State, such as the Thespians, and community groups to lend their talents and hold events.

"It's a great resource because we have the space, but not the staff [for elaborate events]," Ditz said.

Andrea Roposh (sophomore-secondary education), the children's show co-chairwoman, said Thespian members write the scripts for the short performances, adapting them from the original books. Members of the group are involved in the production, design and cast of the performance.

She said because of more interest in the children's programs last year, the chair positions are new this year.

Roposh said preparing for the children's show has a more playful decorum than that of the Thespians' main stage shows.

"We're all there because we enjoy it," she said.

"The whole atmosphere is a lot more fun, especially since it's for kids," she said.

Recalling her past work, Roposh said the reactions from the young audience are the best part of the entire experience.

"There are some nights when you have a million papers to write and 40 exams the next day, but when a kid asks for your autograph it's all worth it."