Scroll down for opening night photos from Concrete Temple Theatre's World Premiere of Geppetto! Guests included Douglas Carter Beane. Geppetto is written and directed by Renee Philippi, performed and designed by Carlo Adinolfi, with original music composed by Lewis Flinn (Lysistrata Jones & The Little Dog Laughed on Broadway), performed live by cellist Jeanette Stenson. The show opened on June 16 at HERE (145 6th Ave.) in NYC and runs through June 30, 2013.
Acclaimed performer Carlo Adinolfi plays Geppetto, aka G, in this heart-wrenching and hilarious tale of a poor Italian immigrant puppeteer whose life unravels when his closest companions, two well-worn puppets he created for his shows, begin to fall apart. After the passing of his beloved wife and fellow-puppeteer Donna, G and his puppets struggle to create a new play. But as his puppets begin to disintegrate and his own heart breaks, G must try fix them and heal himself so that the show, and his life, can go on. Drawing inspiration from Pinocchio, The Old Man and the Sea and the inspiring true story of double-amputee Hugh Herr's incredible return to rock climbing, Geppetto is an exploration of resilience and ingenuity in the face of loss and change.
Renee Philippi (Creator & Director) is Artistic Director of Concrete Temple Theatre with
Carlo Adinolfi. Over the past 25 years, she's been writing and directing in NYC and has toured work nationally and internationally. With Concrete Temple she's worked as a co-creator, director and writer/adapter on New York, national, international and touring productions of Bird Machine, The Whale (Off-Broadway at
Barrow Street Theatre and Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms), Hudson to China, Alberto's Great Escape and The Bystander Project. Philippi is an alumna of Women's Project Directors Forum and a member of Lincoln Center's Directors Lab and New Georges. She's been an Artist-in-Residence with
Mabou Mines, St. Ann's Warehouse Puppet Lab, The Flea and
Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Carlo Adinolfi (Creator, Performer & Designer) was born in Italy. He's Artistic Director of Concrete Temple Theatre with Renee Philippi. With Concrete Temple he's worked as a co-creator, performer, set designer and puppet designer on New York, national, international and touring productions of Bird Machine, The Whale (Off-Broadway at
Barrow Street Theatre and Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms), Hudson to China, Alberto's Great Escape and The Bystander Project. Adinolfi is a member of EST and has danced with Laura Pawel
Dance Company, Sara Pearson/Patrik Widrig and Dancers, and Elise Long.
Lewis Flinn (Composer) has written scores and songs for national commercials, network TV shows, Broadway plays, musicals and independent films. His theater musicals include the acclaimed Broadway production of Lysistrata Jones with a book by
Douglas Carter Beane, Other Girls with
Steven Sater, Like Love with
Barry Jay Kaplan (NYMF 2007) and The Winner with
Joe Sutton (
Lyric Stage). He composed and produced the music and main themes for the CBS primetime shows: "The Power of 10" and "Million Dollar Password." In addition to writing musicals, Flinn has composed scores and songs for over 50 productions around the country including the Tony-nominated The Little Dog Laughed on Broadway and collaborations with
Charles Busch (The Divine Sister and Die Mommie Die).
Jeanette Stenson (Cellist) has performed at
Carnegie Hall's
Isaac Stern Auditorium, Zankel Hall and the Kennedy Center, and has worked with
Lorin Maazel and
Kurt Masur.
Casey McLain is the Light Designer and Stage Manager.
Concrete Temple Theatre is a multi-disciplinary company that emphasizes the creation of compelling new theatre works, incorporating drama, dance, puppetry, music, and the visual arts, which focus on the individual's struggle for identity and society's struggle for cohesion. Through touring their shows and presenting workshops in New York City, nationally, and internationally, Concrete Temple strives to bring myth and ritual back to the center of dialogue, while making connections and opportunities for diverse audiences to question and examine their place in the world.
Performances are Thursdays - Mondays at 7pm with additional shows on Saturdays at 2pm. Tickets are $20 and $15 for students and seniors and can be purchased online at
http://www.here.org or by calling 212-352-3101. The running time is 1 hour. The show is appropriate for adults and adventurous children 8 and up. For more information visit
http://ConcreteTempleTheatre.com.
Photo Credit: Stefan Hagen
