In 1883, Carlo Collodi penned the children’s novel The Adventures of Pinocchio, a tale of a wooden puppet longing to become a real boy. In 1940, Walt Disney brought the story to the big screen in an animated feature film.
A new twist on the classic adventure hits the stage this weekend in the Solon Center for the Arts, at the high school, as Solon Drama presents My Son Pinocchio JR. This time, the story is told from Geppetto the toy maker’s (Ian Landuyt) perspective featuring the time-honored songs “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “I’ve Got No Strings.” When the Blue Fairy (Ely Holubar) grants Geppetto’s wish to bring Pinocchio (Mia Stahle) to life, the new father quickly learns being a parent is full of challenges. As he struggles to make his son “the perfect boy,” only to lose him to a gang of Roustabouts, Geppetto learns the joys of being a father and loving his child unconditionally.
The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 6. Tickets are available online at https://sc4a.ludus.com.
Cast List: Blue Fairy– Elly Holubar; Fairies in Training– Rosa: Jaden Tabor, Viola: Maggie Hickman, Arancia: Lauran Schwake, Sue: Liona Rocca, Fira: Annika Kruse, Rosetta: Kerrigan Lyons, Periwinkle: Savannah Stookey; Geppetto– Ian Landuyt; Pinocchio– Mia Stahle; Signora Giovanni– Lauren Roskopf; Stromboli and Marianette– Gabe Hinman; Bernardo– Brady Evers; Maria– Meg Dusterl Buonragazzo– Joe Leick; Junior– Jackson Messenger; Talia– Kira Burkum; Children #1-9– Child #1: Isabella Miller, Child #2: Lucy Miller, Child #3: Grace Ivey, Child #4: Kayla Young, Child #5: Grace Fiala, Child #6: Emmy Scott, Child #7: Kassie Rummel, Child #8: Elinor Werner, Child #9: Nora Dibble; Mother #1-5– Mother #1: Lillian Keller, Mother #2: Delaney Pattison, Mother #3: Sabrina Allen, Mother #4: Delaney Kriz, Mother #5: Camryn Keith; Fathers/Town Fathers 1-3- #1: Brandon Merrick, #2: Jakob Bovenmeyer, #3: Roan Marcy; Boys #1-2– Boy #1: Ben Duckett, Boy #2: Joshua Milliman; Girls #1-3– Girls #1: Meg Duster, Girls #2: Maria Milliman, Girls #3: Reagan Seaton; Twins– Grace Ivey, Grace Fiala; Animals– Pig: Brady Evers, Lamb: Kayla Young. Fox: Jackson Messenger, Mother Fox: Lauren Roskopf, Horse: Brandon Merrick; Ringleader– Hunter Nielsen; Vendor– Camryn Keith; Delinquents #1-2– Roan Marcy, Delaney Pattison; Chorus– Sabrina Allen, Taryn Anderson, Andi Billerbeck, Jakob Bovenmeyer, Kira Burkum, Nora Dibble, Ben Duckett, Meg Duster, Kate Ellison, Brady Evers, Grace Fiala, Kaia Holtkamp, Tatum Holtkamp, Grace Ivey, Camryn Keith, Lillian Keller, Madison Kerkove, Delaney Kriz, Sophia Lohmeyer, Avery Mann, Roan Marcy, Brandon Merrick, Jayden Merrick, Jackson Messenger, Isabella Miller, Lucy Miller, Joshua Milliman, Maria Milliman, Hunter Nielsen, Delaney Pattison, Kate Richards, Lauren Roskopf, Kassie Rummel, Emmy Scott, Reagan Seaton, Ella Vernon, Elinor Werner, Kayla Young.
My Son Pinocchio JR takes the stage this weekend
March 3, 2022
About the Contributor
Chris Umscheid, Editor
Chris Umscheid is the editor of the Solon Economist.