A wooden puppet who dreams of being a real boy is about to take over Park Road. Playhouse on Park in West Hartford opens “Pinocchio” on Saturday, Oct. 31, kicking off the theater's first Theatre for Young Audiences production of its 18th season. The show is built around five actors, live instruments and shadow puppetry, and it runs through Nov. 21.
The cast announcement came this week, as West Hartford News reported. Jason Pietroluongo plays Pinocchio, and he is joined by Caelie Scott Flanagan, Josh Karam, Alex McLaughlin and Anna Rock. According to Berkshire On Stage, Kevin Cronin directs, with music direction by Robert Tomasulo, and the production is appropriate for ages 4 and up.
A Classic Tale, Told With Shadows and Song
The script is by Greg Banks, with music by Victor Zupanc, and it is adapted from Carlo Collodi's story, per Finding Connecticut. As TheaterMania describes it, the story begins the moment Geppetto carves the boy from a piece of wood, and Pinocchio dreams of becoming a real boy.
Public performances are scheduled for Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and both Nov. 14 and Nov. 21 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The theater sits at 244 Park Road in West Hartford.
A Sensory-Friendly Matinee and School Field Trips
A sensory-friendly performance is set for Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m., sponsored by The Miracle League of Connecticut, according to the Finding Connecticut report. At that show, “the house lights stay partially on, the volume is turned down, and jarring sound and lighting elements are eliminated.”
Schools can also book field trips through Literature Alive, a program of the Playhouse Theatre Academy, for performances Nov. 2 through Nov. 19. Trips include an interactive study guide, one free adult chaperone ticket for every 10 students and a talkback with the cast after the show.
Tickets and Who to Call
Tickets are $28.50, with $2.50 discounts for children, students, seniors and military members. Questions can go to the Playhouse on Park box office at 860-523-5900 ext. 10.
