Pacific Dance Ensemble’s (PDE) production, “PiNOCCHiA”, directed by Nancy Mittleman, reinvents Collodi’s tale of the wooden puppet Pinocchio. Newport School of Artistic Movement will join PDE in for this year’s Family Classic, “PiNOCCHiA”, playing May 24, 25, 26 and May 31, June 1 and June 2 at the Newport Performing Arts Center. Friday and Saturday performances start at 7pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm.
This classic children’s story is wrapped in fun adventures with both lovingly gentle and wildly mischievous characters. Enjoy the roller coaster ride as Pinocchia strives to change her wild ways and become a real girl. The show is narrated by veteran actors Shawn and Khloella Brateng, with special effects and lighting by Ernest Brown. PDEs production delivers a heartfelt message for young and old alike, that if you are truthful and take care of your family and friends, you will find contentment and happiness.
The tale of Pinocchio was created by a carpenter from Florence, Italy, named Carlo Lorenzini (pen-name, Collodi). It is said to be the most widely-known children’s tale and believed to be the second-most translated book after the Bible. The story of Pinocchio originally appeared in 1881 in an Italian children’s magazine as “The Story of a Marionette” but two years later was turned into the book, “The Adventures of Pinocchio.”
This novel has inspired hundreds of new editions, stage plays, merchandising and movies, such as Walt Disney’s iconic animated version.Research reveals that the story, written 130 years ago, that Collodi may have drawn inspiration from a village near to his father’s house that was in fact named, “Pinocchio”, which has a building called the “Cricket House”, a “Stream of Foxes”and an area villagers referred to as the “Source of Fairies”.
DON’T MISS “PiNOCCHiA”, Pacific Dance Ensemble’s original adaptation of the C. Collodi’s classic tale “Pinocchio “ at the Newport Performing Arts Center, Memorial Day weekend, May 24, 25 and 26 and the first weekend in June, May 31, June 1 and 2. Friday and Saturday performances start at 7pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm