South Coast Repertory's PINOCCHIO Clowns Around in the Theatre for Young Audiences Series

The tale of the naughty puppet hoping to become a real boy gets an infusion of music, clowning and fun when South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences series presents Pinocchio by Greg Banks, based on the classic story by Carlo Collodi. Pinocchio runs Feb. 5-21 on the Julianne Argyros Stage and is directed by Jeremy Aluma. Tickets are on sale at www.scr.org.

Pinocchio will never be a "real boy" until he goes to school-and stays out of trouble. But, there are so many temptations along the way-who wouldn't want to go to Playland where it's Saturday all week long? In the end, Pinocchio learns about love and family-and what it means to be human.

Jeremy Aluma is a multi award-winning theatre director and producer. He founded the international touring clown troupe, Four Clowns, and has served as artistic director for the past six years. At SCR, Aluma previously directed Robin Hood, part of the Theatre for Young Audiences series, and Four Clowns, part of the SCR Studio Series. For SCR's production of Pinocchio, Aluma will be able to use his clowning background, along with his cast who also are members of his troupe.

"I really liked the way Jeremy approached the challenges and pleasures of Robin Hood," said Associate Artistic Director John Glore. "He knows this kind of theatre like the back of his hand. He and the cast will deliver a really enjoyable show for our audiences, one that will appeal to both kids and the grown-ups who accompany them."

The cast for Pinocchio includes Tyler Bremer, Jennifer Carroll, Joe DeSoto, Dave Honigman and Kevin Klein.

The design and creative team includes Fred Kinney, scenic design; Leah Piehl, costume design; Francois-Pierre Couture, lighting design; Mark Caspary, sound design; Jackie S. Hill, production manager; Joanne DeNaut, CSA, casting; and Talia Krispel, stage manager.

The media partner for Pinocchio is OC Family magazine.

Tickets start at $21 for children ages 4-12; $26 for adults. For complete information, visit: www.scr.org.

Related Information for Pinocchio

Tickets: May be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Ticket prices start at $21 for children ages 4-12; $26 for adults. Low-priced preview performances run Feb. 5-7 and Feb. 12. Performances run Feb. 5-21.

South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the David Emmes/Martin Benson Theatre Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available on Park Center Drive, off Anton Blvd.

More information is available online: www.scr.org.

Current and Upcoming Productions: The Madwoman in the Volvo* by Sandra Tsing Loh (ends Jan. 24); Going to a Place where you Already Are* by Bekah Brunstetter (March 6-27, Julianne Argyros Stage); Future Thinking* (March 25-April 24, Segerstrom Stage); Office Hour* by Julia Cho (April 10-May 1, Julianne Argyros Stage); Amadeus by Peter Shaffer (May 6-June 5, Segerstrom Stage); and The Light Princess by Mike Pettry and Lila Rose Kaplan (May 20-June 5, Theatre for Young Audiences, Julianne Argyros Stage). The 19th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival runs April 22-24.

*Denotes world premieres

ABOUT SOUTH COAST REPERTORY: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964 by David Emmes and Martin Benson and now under the leadership of Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Paula Tomei, is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theatres in the United States. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theatre, SCR is renowned for its extensive new-play development program, which includes the nation's largest commissioning program for emerging and established writers. Of SCR's 496 productions, one-quarter have been world premieres. SCR-developed works have garnered two Pulitzer Prizes and eight Pulitzer nominations, several Obie Awards and scores of major new-play awards. Located in Costa Mesa, Calif., SCR is home to the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio. www.scr.org