First Stage Celebrates The Holidays with Disney's MY SON PINOCCHIO 11/26-12/26

First Stage Children's Theater presents a musical tale for the holidays with the story of hope, love and family in MY SON PINOCCHIO, featuring music and lyrics by WICKED creator Stephen Schwartz. MY SON PINOCCHIO runs November 26 through December 26, 2010 at the Todd Wehr Theater in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water Street in downtown Milwaukee. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Marcus Center Box Office, by phone at (414) 273-7206 or online at www.FirstStage.org.

Based upon the classic tale, MY SON PINOCCHIO depicts the famous marionette's adventures from the perspective of his father and creator, Geppetto, who makes a wish on the Christmas Star for Pinocchio to become a real boy so he may have a son of his own. However, Geppetto quickly discovers that being a father isn't quite what he expected. Overhearing Geppetto's regrets, Pinocchio runs away to become a star in Stromboli's "Holiday Extravaganza." Geppetto embarks upon a comical and heartwarming journey to find his son. Featuring "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "I've Got No Strings" from the original Walt Disney Motion Picture "Pinocchio" as well as original songs from composer Stephen Schwartz, families will discover how wishes do come true during the magical holiday season.

"We are excited to be working with Stephen Schwartz on crafting MY SON PINOCCHIO for the holiday season," said Jeff Frank, First Stage artistic director and director of this production. "At First Stage, our best productions are enjoyed equally by young people and their parents, especially our holiday productions. Stephen's (Schwartz) take on 'Pinocchio' celebrates the puppet's journey to become a real boy, but it also shares Geppetto's journey to become a real parent - a perfect fit for us," continued Frank.

Frank has collaborated with Schwartz to modify MY SON PINOCCHIO for the holidays. In addition to the celebration of wishes and family that is abundant during the holiday season, other seasonal nuances are apparent into this new musical tale for the holidays, including Geppetto introducing a collection of holiday toys to the children of the village, Geppetto wishing on the Christmas Star, transforming Stromboli's puppet show into a Holiday Extravaganza, and creating the set, costumes, and lighting design with the feeling of winter in a small mountain village in Italy.

About the new holiday setting of MY SON PINOCCHIO, Frank commented "This premise, coupled with the fact that the show's first big musical number takes place in Geppetto's Toy Shop led me to consider setting this show during the holiday season. The show has tremendous heart and humor and it celebrates family, which translates beautifully into a holiday story for the stage. Thankfully, Stephen agreed."

The character of "Pinocchio" dates back to 1883 as a children's novel by Italian author Carlo Collodi, about the mischievous adventures of the animated marionette and his poor father, a woodcarver named Geppetto. Considered a classic of children's literature, it has spawned many derivative works of art, such as Disney's 1940 animated movie of the same name.

In recent years, the story of "Pinocchio" was transformed into an original television musical "Geppetto," which premiered on "The Wonderful World of Disney" in 2000, retelling the classic tale of "Pinocchio" from the perspective of his maker and father, Geppetto. Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for this television special. He later collaborated with MTI (Musical Theatre International) and book writer David Stern to develop the television musical to stage, originally titled GEPPETTO & SON. The production retains many of the same characters from the 1940 Disney film, including the Blue Fairy and the callous puppeteer Stromboli. The show premiered under its former name, Disney's GEPPETTO & SON, at The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. in 2006.

Director Jeff Frank has been First Stage's artistic director since February 2003. Previously he had served as education director/associate artistic director. Jeff is a native Wisconsinite who earned a BFA in theater from UW-Whitewater and went on to the University of Utah, earning an MFA in child drama. Over the past 13 seasons Jeff has directed many First Stage productions, including THE THIEF LORD, THE NEVERENDING STORY, SLEEPING BEAUTY, Tom Sawyer, THE HOBBIT, A MIDNIGHT CRY, PERSEUS BAYOU, A CHRISTMAS STORY and THE GIVER. Jeff currently serves on the Board of Directors for Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA)/USA, the national service organization promoting the power of professional theatre for young audiences.

Composer Stephen Schwartz has contributed music and/or lyrics to GODSPELL, PIPPIN, THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER'S WIFE, WORKING (which he also adapted and directed), RAGS, CHILDREN OF EDEN and the current Broadway hit, WICKED. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein's MASS and wrote the title song for the play and movie BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE. For children, he has written songs for two musicals, CAPTAIN LOUIE and MY SON PINOCCHIO. For films, he collaborated with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's "Enchanted" as well as the animated features "Pocahontas" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and wrote the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature "The Prince of Egypt." He has released two CDs of new songs entitled "Reluctant Pilgrim" and "Unchartered Territory." His first opera, "Séance on a Wet Afternoon," premiered with Opera Santa Barbara in the fall of 2009. A book about his career, "Defying Gravity," has recently been released by Applause Books. Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs Musical Theatre Workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and is currently the President of the Dramatists' Guild. Mr. Schwartz has recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Other awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, four Drama Desk Awards and a tiny handful of tennis trophies.

The adult actor cast of MY SON PINOCCHIO includes McKinley Carter (member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers, as Blue Fairy), John Maclay (member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers, as Geppetto), Michael Weber (member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers, as Stromboli/Ensemble), Robert J. Spencer (member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers, as Buonragrazzo/Ensemble), Jeff Schaetzke (as Bernardo/Ensemble), Julia Black (as Mrs. Giovani/Maria/Ensemble), Paul Helm (as Father/Ensemble/Understudy) and Holland White (as Ensemble).

Young performer roles are double-cast. The young performers in the "Donkey" cast of MY SON PINOCCHIO are Christian Adams (as Roustabout 1/Horse) from Milwaukee; Natalie Alteri (as Idyllia 2) from Brookfield; Zeke Baker (as Boy 2) from Franklin; Joe Esten (as Roustabout 3) from Cedarburg; Thomas Fleischmann (as Boy 1) from West Bend; Caroline Fossum (as Viola) from Grafton; Morgan Gamblin (as Talia) from Shorewood); Kate Heston (as Idyllia 3) from Cedarburg; Cole Hines (as Pinocchio) from Milwaukee; Sarah Kinn (as Roustabout 4) from Germantown; Sarah McClure (as Fox Mother/Mother 2) from Delafield; Gaby Musickant (as Sue) from Mequon; Reese Parish (as Idyllia 6) from Glendale; Jacob Patrick (as Boy 3) from Whitefish Bay; Rachel Schmeling (as Rosa) from Brookfield; Taylor Anne Stefanski (as Idyllia 5) from Racine; Abby Thompson (as Idyllia 4) from Milwaukee; Josie Trettin (as Fox) from Whitefish Bay; Brady Tutton (as Jr./Ringleader) from Shorewood; Casey Tutton (as Arancia) from Shorewood; Payton Wade (as Idyllia 7) from Milwaukee; Matthew Welden (as Delinquent 2) from Muskego; Austin Winter (as Idyllia 1) from Milwaukee and Austin Zdiarski (as Delinquent 1/Pig) from Oak Creek.

The young performers in the "Whale" cast of MY SON PINOCCHIO are Kelsie Alling (as Idyllia 4) from Fox Point; Emma Borkowski (as Idyllia 2) from Brookfield; Danielle Bujanovich (as Talia) from Hales Corners; Marko Devcic (as Boy 2) from Greendale; William Esty (as Delinquent 1/Pig) from Franklin; Kiaran Hartnett (as Fox Mother/Mother 2) from Whitefish Bay; Brynn Hartnett (as Sue) from Whitefish Bay; Richa Karmarkar (as Idyllia 5) from Mequon; Seth Kieser (as Roustabout 1/Horse) from West Bend); Mieko Kuramoto (as Idyllia 7) from Whitefish Bay; A.J. Magoon (as Delinquent 2) from Menomonee Falls; Jarred Manista (as Boy 1) from Fox Point; Andrew McKee (as Roustabout 3) from Milwaukee; Mary Nink (as Rosa) from Wauwatosa; Jovanka Potkonjak (as Arancia) from Greendale; Keely Savitt (as Idyllia 6) from River Hills; Amelia Schaetzke (as Idyllia 3) from Grafton; Benjamin Schulz (as Boy 3) from Germantown; Lydia Stevenson (as Fox) from Saukville; Harrison Tremarello (as Idyllia 1) from Milwaukee; Taylor Vraney (as Roustabout 4) from Menomonee Falls; Mallorey Wallace (as Jr./Ringleader) from Nashotah; Liz Warren (as Viola) from Milwaukee and Cole Winston (as Pinocchio) from Hartland.

The Artistic Staff for MY SON PINOCCHIO includes: Jeff Schaetzke (Music Director), Paul Helm (Assistant Music Director), Keith Pitts (Scenic Designer), Kärin Kopischke, USAA (Costume Designer), Jason Fassl, USAA (Lighting Designer), Jason Knox (Sound Designer), Melissa Wanke (Stage Manager, member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers) and Charlotte King (Assistant Stage Manager).

Tickets for MY SON PINOCCHIO start at $13.50. Tickets may be purchased online at www.FirstStage.org or through the Marcus Center box office, in person at 929 N. Water Street in downtown Milwaukee or by phone (414) 273-7206 or toll free at (888) 612-3500. The number for TDD (for deaf and hard of hearing patrons) is (414) 273-3080.

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