Creative Cauldron Presents PINOCCHIO

Creative Cauldron's Learning Theater ensemble will premiere an original adaptation of Pinocchio, the classic tale of the puppet who dreams of one day becoming a real boy. The inventive adaptation based on The Adventures of Pinocchio, written by Italian writer, Carlo Collodi in 1881 was developed by Producing Director, Laura Connors Hull, Ellen Selby and Matt Conner, who also wrote the original music for the production. Creative Cauldron veteran performer Gus Knapp will play the gentle woodcarver Gepetto, joining a cast of 24 budding young performers ages 8 through 13. Pinocchio runs from October 30th through November 22nd at Artspace Falls Church, 410 South Maple Avenue. Press are invited to the November 1st matinee at 2:00 pm.

Carlo Collodi was the pen name for Carlo Lorenzini (1826 - 1890). Collodi began his writing career as a newspaperman and even started his own satirical paper. Soon he began publishing works of both fiction and non-fiction and translating French fairy tales. He was so successful at the latter that he decided to devote himself entirely to writing for children. In 1881, he sent a short story about an episode in the life of a wooden puppet to an editor friend in Rome. The editor liked it so much that he published it in the children's section of his paper, and after its positive reception, The Adventures of Pinocchio, was serialized from 1881-1882. In 1940, Walt Disney immortalized the character of Pinocchio in his iconic cartoon, but the original Collodi story and much of its rich character and details were largely abandoned.

In Creative Cauldron's adaptation the tale begins with Pinocchio as a real boy in the throws of a nightmare where he is being chased by a giant shark. His cries awaken the other puppets that are sleeping on the shelf in Gepetto's workshop. He is afraid that he is still a puppet, but the puppets assure him that he is indeed a real boy and help him remember all of the adventures that he went through to become one. The puppet, Pinocchio, is then revealed in scenes where he meets the Talking Cricket, The Blue Haired Fairy, the puppet master, the Fox and the Cat, The Coachman, and many of the familiar characters found in other adaptations. He also encounters a series of other vivid characters including a sarcastic snail, an officious Owl and Crow who are doctors, a pack of wily marmots, and a green fisherman who looks like a monster. The story comes full circle with Pinocchio's nightmarish escape from the belly of the giant shark and the soothing voice of Gepetto as he wakes the boy Pinocchio to say it's time to go to school.

Tickets for Pinocchio can be purchased on www.creativecauldron.org or by calling 703-436-9948.

Creative Cauldron is a non-profit arts organization whose innovative programs in the performing and visual arts embody collaboration, experimentation and community engagement. Creative Cauldron was founded by Producing Director Laura Connors Hull in 2002. In June of 2009, Creative Cauldron acquired a permanent home in ArtSpace Falls Church, a 3,000 square foot flexible arts space that provides a venue for year-round classes, live performances of theater, music and dance and visual art exhibits. Programs are presented in part through grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council of Fairfax County, the City of Falls Church and the Little City CATCH Foundation.

7:30 pm performance on October 31 has been replaced by an additional performance on Sunday, November 22 at 4:00 pm

Performances are located at: Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church 410 South Maple Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046.

Tickets: General Admission $16 - Students/Seniors/Military $14

Season Passes and Discounts for Groups of 10 or more

www.creativecauldron.org or 703-436-9948

Free Parking is available in the 410 and 400 South Maple Building Garages