Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Presents ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO, 7/13- 8/28

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the world premiere family musical The Adventures of Pinocchio from July 13 to August 28, 2011. Based on Carlo Collodi's classic tale of a wooden puppet who yearns to be a real boy, this original CST Family commission will turn CST's Courtyard Theater stage into a larger-than-life, European-style marionette theater. Created by multiple Drama Desk Award-nominated team Neil Bartram (music/lyrics) and Brian Hill (book), The Adventures of Pinocchio is directed by Rachel Rockwell, who returns to CST after staging last summer's world premiere CST Family musical The Emperor's New Clothes. Tickets for The Adventures of Pinocchio from July 13 to August 28, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater are $18-$25 with special discuonts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

Continuing its commitment to young audiences and the development of new musicals, Chicago Shakespeare Theater commissioned Neil Bartram and Brian Hill to create this inventive retelling of Carlo Collodi's beloved story. Through several workshops at CST, Creative Producer Rick Boynton worked with Bartram and Hill to develop The Adventures of Pinocchio, leading to its world premiere this summer at Chicago Shakespeare. In this puppet-infused CST Family musical, the woodcarver Geppetto, mourning the loss of his wife, carves a wooden boy named Pinocchio in honor of the son they never had. Pinocchio is eager to explore the world and, before long, the fun-loving boy is tricked into working for a puppet master, swindled by smooth-talking scam artists Fox and Cat, and tempted to climb aboard a dangerous coach bound for "Terra di Ragazzi," the Land of Boys. Through their journey together, Pinocchio and Geppetto learn about the importance of family and that making choices is one of the most important and precious parts of being human.

Creators Neil Bartram (music/lyrics) and Brian Hill (book) garnered four Drama Desk Award nominations for The Story of My Life, which premiered on Broadway in 2009, including outstanding musical, outstanding music and lyrics, and outstanding book of a musical. The duo has collaborated on a number of other musicals, including Somewhere in the World, The Nightingale and the Rose and Not Wanted on the Voyage. Bartram is a past recipient of the Jonathan Larson Foundation Award, a Dramatist's Guild Fellowship and a Dora Award.

Celebrated Chicago musical theater director Rachel Rockwell returns to Chicago Shakespeare Theater to stage The Adventures of Pinocchio after directing last summer's critically acclaimed world premiere CST Family musical The Emperor's New Clothes. As a choreographer, her work has been seen on CST's stages in productions including The Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet and Measure for Measure. In addition to regional credits throughout the country, Rockwell's Chicago-area directing and choreography credits include Jeff Award-winning productions at The Marriott Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Noble Fools Theatricals and Drury Lane Oakbrook, where Rockwell garnered a Jeff Award for Best Director for Ragtime.

New to the city of Chicago and making his Chicago Shakespeare Theater debut in the role of Pinocchio is fresh talent Skyler Adams, who has worked with the Lyric Theater of Oklahoma and Music Theatre of Wichita. Returning to CST to perform the role of Geppetto is five-time Jeff Award nominee Don Forston, whose past roles in CST Family musicals include the Emperor in The Emperor's New Clothes, the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz and Smee in Peter Pan. Additional Chicago Shakespeare veteran actors in Rockwell's production are Melody Betts as Blue Fairy, Derek Hasenstab as Fox, Heidi Kettenring as Cat (through July 31), Ericka Mac as Cat (beginning August 3), Liz Pazik as The Driver, Ron Rains as Puppet Master and Hannah Sielatycki as Mary. The ensemble is rounded out by Dylan Saunders as Lampwick and Katie Spelman as Annette.

The production team for The Adventures of Pinocchio includes Scenic Designer Kevin Depinet, who returns to collaborate with Rockwell after designing the whimsical set for The Emperor's New Clothes last summer. Depinet most recently designed the set for Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin's celebrated Chicago Shakespeare production of As You Like It. The production team for The Adventures of Pinocchio is rounded out by Costume Designer Rachel Healy, Lighting Designer Jesse Klug, Sound Designer James Savage, Puppetry Designer MerEdith Miller, Wig and Make-up Designer Melissa Veal and Properties Master Chelsea Meyers.

The Adventures of Pinocchio is recommended for ages 5 and up, and runs July 13 through August 28, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater. Tickets are $18-$25 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is collaborating with the Chicago Children's Museum on the following programs in conjunction with performances of The Adventures of Pinocchio:
Bring a Puppet to Life Workshops on July 28 at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30p.m.; and on July 30 and 31 at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

CST's Pinocchio and Puppet-making at CCM's Great Hall on August 2 at 1 p.m. and August 11 at 6 p.m.
About the CST Family Series

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's CST Family Series presents a wide range of affordable programming especially for families. As part of CST's commitment to making theater and live performance accessible to all ages, offerings year-round include Short Shakespeare! adaptations of Shakespeare classics, summer musicals of imaginative children's tales and classical music concerts in collaboration with The Chicago Chamber Musicians. These programs reach more than 35,000 patrons each season making Chicago Shakespeare one of the largest providers of family programming in Chicago. CST has also championed the creation of new family productions, commissioning and producing two world-premiere summer musicals to great acclaim: How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back?, about students in detention who bring a modern twist to Aesop's fables, and last summer's The Emperor's New Clothes, based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale.

About Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Recipient of the 2008 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) offers a broad spectrum of theatrical experiences year-round, engaging and entertaining audiences from all walks of life and from around the world. CST has garnered acclaim under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, including 55 Joseph Jefferson Awards and three Laurence Olivier Awards. The Theater has experienced record growth since moving to its current, state-of-the-art facility on Navy Pier in 1999, and will celebrate its 25th Anniversary next season.

The 38-play canon of William Shakespeare forms the core of CST's work and Subscription Series, complemented by other dramatic works-from traditional classical theater to new classics that resonate with Shakespeare's timeless insights into the human condition. Through a 48-week season encompassing more than 600 performances, Chicago Shakespeare leads the community as the largest employer of Chicago actors. CST also contributes to an international community of creative exchange through its World's Stage Series, which affords Chicago audiences prime opportunities to experience the cultural and artistic traditions of some of the world's iconic theater troupes as well as sending some of CST's best works abroad. Chicago Shakespeare is committed to making theater an expansive, ever-changing and lifelong relationship. For family audiences, CST Family presents abridged Shakespeare productions, timeless fables and fairy tales, interactive music concerts and world-premiere musical theater created with families in mind. CST's education outreach program, Team Shakespeare, has served over 1 million students and teachers throughout the Midwest, introducing Shakespeare's legacy to a new generation.

 

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