Running Rabbit Family Theatre Presents PINOCCHIO Thru July 23

Running Rabbit Family Theatre (Montclair, NJ) presents the beloved children's classic Pinocchio in the exciting musical rendition by Patricia Goldberg and Kevin Arruda. Running Rabbit Family Theatre's production will be showing from March 23-July 23 2010 in Bloomfield, West Long Branch and Union, NJ.

Directed and Choreographed by Patrick Starega, Pinocchio is the story of a wooden puppet that is magically given the gift of animation by a loving Blue Fairy. Geppetto, the puppet maker sends Pinocchio out into the world with hopes that he will learn to become a real boy. On the puppet's fantastic journey, he encounters the wily team of cat and fox and an evil puppeteer who seeks to exploit Pinocchio's unusual talent by capturing him. Coaxed into an amazing trip to a candy island and then to the belly of a whale, Pinocchio's adventure is sure to dazzle and delight audiences of all ages.

"This is the classic tale told with a wicked sense of humor," says Starega. "It's as much fun for the adults-if not more-as it is for our young audiences!"

Lilly Baldassare makes her Running Rabbit debut as Pinocchio. Lilly is a student at Glen Ridge Middle School and has appeared on the stages of Gas Lamp Players and GL Academy of Performing Arts for the past five years, where roles have included Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical Jr. and a Silly Girl in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Jude Madigan will portray the loveable Geppetto. Jude has been seen on New York and regional stages across the country. His favorite roles include Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Stride in Jekyll and Hyde and Little Mary Sunshine in Chicago.

Greg Scalera is Fortunato Fox and Mollie Gash is Katrina T. Cat. Greg is a theatre arts student at Kean University, where he has portrayed Sebastian in Twelfth Night and Beethoven in Dog Sees God. Mollie is a theatre graduate of Montclair State University. She has performed with Pig Iron Theatre and Gas Lamp Players, and will be attending graduate school this fall for elementary education. These are Running Rabbit debuts for both Greg and Mollie.

Candito the puppeteer/ Petrisi the coachman is portrayed by Paul Edwards. Paul has been seen as a Rabbit, a Fox, a Goose, a Salesman and a Woodsman, among others, in theatre for young audiences. He is a founding member of Lunatic Fringe, a long-established NJ improvisational group and soon will be seen in the comedy extravaganza Two Big Guys from Jersey. Laura Rondinella, The Blue Fairy, has a theatre degree from Seton Hall University and performs statewide in many repertoires. Making her Running Rabbit debut, Laura recently spent a season with Northern Lights Playhouse.

Musical Direction provided by James Campodonico and Marsha Schreir. James is an accredited and acclaimed musician and composer, who has worked on numerous productions with NJ theatres such as Montclair's The Whole Theatre and Luna Stage and Millburn's Paper Mill Playhouse. James has been teaching music for forty-three years privately and in public school settings. The Star-Ledger honored James's composition for Between the Lines, and Murder on Broadway was recently presented at York Theatre in New York City. Marsha is currently the Cantor at Congregation Beth Ahm and has been the musical director for many years at the High School and HBW Middle Schools in Verona. She has contributed musical direction in numerous community theatre productions in Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and the 2008 Teen NYC Showcase for ATC Studios in Clifton. Marsha performs regularly at Pianos in Bloomfield.

Pinocchio is recommended for children ages 2 and up. Cast members meet and greet the children after each performance. RRFT continues the tradition of Grandparent's Day, where a child may invite a grandparent (their own or someone else's) to attend a designated performance of one show for free. Tickets are $14 general admission with group rates available. Camps, school groups, day-care centers, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops as well as other organizations are encouraged to book early for best availability. For ticket reservations and further information call the Box Office at 724-816-9772 or visit us on the Web at www.RRFamilyTheatre.org
Running Rabbit Family Theatre is a professional, not-for-profit arts organization, and as an associate member of the NJ Theatre Alliance, the State's coalition of professional theatres, is funded in part by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts / a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and are supported by the Montclair Art Museum, Sound Associates, Custom Information Images, On Cue Costumes and numerous businesses and individuals. RRFT performs in fully accessible facilities. RRFT will provide assistive services such as sign-interpretation, assistive listening devices, advanced copies of scripts, pre- or post-show theatre tours and large print programs upon request.

Pinocchio
Performance Schedule 2010
On-School-Time Bookings Available
Westminster Arts Center at Bloomfield College, 467 Franklin St., Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Box Office: 724-816-9772
April 13 at 10:30 am
May 15 at 10:00 am and at 1:00 pm
May 22 at 10:00 am (Grandparent's Day) and at 1:00 pm

Premiere Stages at Kean University, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, NJ 07083
Box Office: 908-737-SHOW (7469)
July 14 at 11:00 am and at 1:00 pm

Pollak Theatre, Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch, NJ 07764

Box Office: 732-263-6889
July 22 at10:30 am

RUNNING RABBIT FAMILY THEATRE www.RRFamilyTheatre.org

PHOTO BY: Carrie Yacono