Teatro Del Carretto Makes US Debut with 'Pinocchio' at LaMaMa

Teatro Del Carretto - the renowned company founded in 1983 in Lucca, Italy by director Maria Grazia Cipriani and designer Graziano Gregori, and widely recognized as one of Italy's most innovative theatre companies - makes its long-awaited US debut at LaMaMa ETC with its acclaimed adult adaptation of Pinocchio, with previews to begin January 10, prior to an official press opening January 13, at La MaMa ETC (74A East 4th Street) in Manhattan. The beloved Italian company's US debut is a Watson Arts Project presented by La MaMa ETC.

"Building on the traditional text of Italian author Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio unfolds with contemporary resonance through an imaginative fusion of spoken word, movement, masks, light and shadows, sound effects and music. Presented in the company's signature style, Pinocchio is a dark, surreal adult tale of a wooden boy who becomes a real man and embarks on an adventure of self-discovery in a world full of very real dangers," explain press notes.

Pinocchio stars Giandomencio Cupaiuolo in the title role and Elsa Bossi as Fata, Pinocchio's fairy companion. The ensemble also includes Elena Nene Barini, Nicolo Belliti, Carlo Gambaro, Giacomo Pecchia, Giacomo Vezzani, and Jonathan Bertolai. In addition to the sets and costume design by Mr. Gregori, the production has sound design by HuBert Westkemper and lighting design by Angelo Linzalata. PINOCCHIO will be performed in Italian.

In addition to the US premiere of Pinocchio, Teatro Del Carretto will present matinee performances of its acclaimed family-friendly adaptation of Biancaneve (Snow White) on Saturdays, January 12, 19 and 26; and Sundays, 13, 20, and 27 at 2:30pm. For audiences of all ages, Biancaneve offers the enchanting story of a woman whose life is forever altered by mysterious dwarves, a wicked step-mother, and the kiss of a handsome prince, based on the story by the Grimm Brothers. 

Adapted and directed by Maria Grazia Cipriani and designed by Graziano Gregori, Pinocchio and Biancaneve represent the finest work that Teatro Del Carretto has produced since its inception 24 years ago. While Pinocchio is the troupe's most recent work, Biancaneve was the first show presented by Teatro Del Carretto in 1983, enjoying success within Italy and throughout Europe, and quickly becoming a staple of the company's repertoire which includes adaptations of literary classics ranging from the aforementioned fairy tales to the works of Shakespeare, Kafka, Homer and others.

Teatro Del Carretto has performed within Italy and throughout Europe, demonstrating its capacity to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers at interNational Theatre festivals in Paris, Lisbon, Berlin, Madrid, London, Prague, Budapest, Tel Aviv, Mexico City, Tokyo and Cairo, amongst others. They represented Italy at Italia-Russia 2005 in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and at Italia-China 2006 in Beijing. The productions of Pinocchio and Biancaneve mark the company's US debut.

Performances of Pinocchio run January 10-27 at La Mama E.T.C. (74A East 4th Street). Thursdays-Sundays at 7:30pm. Biancaneve will run Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are $20 ($15 students/seniors) and can be reserved by calling 212-475-7710. For additional information, visit www.lamama.org.  For more information on Teatro Del Carretto, visit www.teatrodelcarretto.it

Giandomencio Cupaiuolo (center) in Pinocchio (photo courtesy of Teatro Del Carretto)

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