Courtroom drama meets classic children’s literature in this fall’s Royal Kids Theatre production.

“Big Bad” pits the notoriously nicknamed Wolf against the characters he’s wronged in a class-action lawsuit. The “trial” is set for Friday, Nov 20, at Kids Unlimited Academy’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $20 apiece and include a three-course dinner catered by Pastabilities Unlimited.

He huffs. He puffs. But did the Big Bad Wolf really blow a house down? Or eat someone’s grandmother?

Pleading their case are Little Miss Muffet, the Three Little Pigs, the Boy Who Cried Wolf and, of course, Little Red Riding Hood. Audiences are invited to weigh the evidence and deliver their verdict!

“This show shines a brand-new light on familiar and infamous characters you only thought you knew, said BriAnna Johnson, KUA music and theater teacher, explaining that she was drawn to the show for its clever twist on beloved fairy tales. The original script by Alec Strum won the Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest.

Acting as attorneys for the plaintiffs and the defendant are fifth graders Kayzel Austria in the role of Fairy Godmother and Aria DeMarco in the role of Evil Stepmother. Classmate Val Damman is the honorable Judge Wise Old Man. Fourth grader McKinley Morris plays the show’s title character.

“This play provides a fantastic ensemble experience for our students, giving everyone a chance to shine while challenging them to deepen their character development and expand their acting techniques,” said Johnson, adding that 21 KUA students in grades 3-5 compose the cast and crew.

Students also will serve salad, pasta and dessert freshly prepared by KU’s Food Program, which provides free breakfast and lunch daily to KUA students and dinner to participants at KU’s nine Afterschool sites. A special encore performance by invitation only is a fundraiser for expanding the Food Program and supporting Pastabilities Unlimited, KU’s next youth entrepreneurial project with a culinary focus.

The show starts at 6:30 p.m., and doors open at 6:15. Tickets must be purchased by Nov. 13 at the KUA front office or kuaoregon.org/tickets