Maryland Ensemble Theatre's family theater presents The Commedia Pinocchio

Maryland Ensemble Theatre's (MET) family theater, The Fun Company, is proud to present an inspired new take on a familiar story with The Commedia Pinocchio. The Commedia Pinocchio presents the classic tale of the little wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy using the 16th century art form commedia dell'arte, which uses music, dance, and acrobatics as storytelling devices. The Commedia Pinocchio runs from November 26th through December 17th. All tickets are $12 and may be purchased online at marylandensemble.org, by phone at (301) 694-4744, or in person at the MET box office.

The Adventures of Pinocchio was written by Italian novelist Carlo Collodi in 1881. It was first published as a serial in The Children's Magazine, the first children's newspaper in Italy and then as a novel in 1883. The story gained an immense amount of popularity with the English translation in 1892 and in 1937, a copy of the novel found its way to the desk of Walt Disney. After being thoroughly enchanted by the story, Walt and his animators created Pinocchio, Disney's second full-length animated feature film (after Snow White). The movie, released in 1940, cemented the fairy tale in the popular culture. Everyone may now be familiar with the wooden puppet carved by Geppetto whose nose grows every time he tells a lie but the Fun Company's production tells the tale in a way you've never seen before and it promises to delight audiences of all ages.

The new Fun Company production is set in Renaissance Italy where a commedia dell'arte troupe is performing the Pinocchio tale. Commedia dell'arte is a style of theatre that flourished in Italy in the 16th century and was characterized by improvisation, stock characters, masks, music and an exaggerated physicality. The classic story telling form is a perfect marriage of style and substance explains the show's director and the Fun Company Artistic Director, Julie Herber, "The classic tale is well suited to the exaggerated physical comedy and characterizations of commedia dell'arte. In the tradition of the traveling troupe of 'professionals', the Fun Company cast brings a playful and improvisational quality to the presentation, which is jam-packed with music, tumbles, chases and general tomfoolery!"

The cast of The Commedia Pinocchio features Geffrey Huntoon as Punchin and a veteran cast of MET ensemble members including Caitlyn Joy (Columbine), Vanessa Strickland (Arlequin), Reiner Prochaska (Pantalone), and Allison Lepelletier (Rosetta). The production design team includes Julie Herber (Costumes), Doug Grove (lighting) and Joann Lee (set design). For more information on the show or for tickets call 301-694-4744 or visit
marylandensemble.org.