Pinocchio's Marionette Theater's Page

Gender

Punch

Location

Altamonte Springs, Florida, USA

Relationship to Puppetry

The mission of Pinocchio's Marionette Theater has always been to help preserve the art and craft of marionette puppetry and introduce children to both theater and theater etiquette. To pursue these goals, the theater combines high performance standards with uplifting cultural values for our family audiences.

We began as a touring company in May of 1999, performing puppet shows in Florida elementary schools, civic auditoriums, libraries, the Mennello Museum of American Folk Art, and as a Guest Artist at the National Puppeteers of America Festival in Tampa.

In 2002, Pinocchio's became a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation and opened a permanent theater in Central Florida's Orange County, at the edge of Winter Park. Last autumn, the theater made a move to a beautiful, purpose-built space at the mall in nearby Altamonte Springs.

But in January of 2008, health issues for David Eaton, Pinocchio's founder, led to a sudden closing of the theater just after its holiday season. Fortunately, plans are currently underway for a Grand Re-opening of Pinocchio's with a new management team but in the same charming space constructed for it at the Altamonte Mall. Puppethub member Sean Keohane is the Pinocchio's new Executive Director. Please check at this site or contact Sean for updates as Pinocchio's draw closer to a proposed return!

What First Got Me Interested in Puppetry

Pinocchio was a little wooden boy who needed strings to move; he came by his interest in puppetry naturally.

My Puppetry (or Puppet) Hero

Gepetto, of course!

If I Were a Puppet, I'd Be...

Pinocchio, and that's no lie!

More About Me:

The repertoire of Pinocchio's Marionette Theater includes:
Pinocchio!
Hansel and Gretel
Aladdin and The Wonderful Lamp
The Holly Jolly Follies
The Wizard of Oz
Cinderella
Peter Pan and Wendy
Jack and the Beanstalk
Rumpelstiltskin

My Company/Troupe/Group

Pinocchio's marionettists include Amy Strickland, Jack Fields, and our own Master Puppeteer Pady Blackwood. Puppets have been made for the theater by Central Florida artisans Helaine Schneider, Tom Blasco, and John Corbitt, and dressed by costumier Elaine Corbitt. Dale Almund and Michael Kent are responsible for our sets, and Kent Smith composed the scores for our miniature musical extravaganzas. Former reservationist Jamie Donmoyer produced our special 2008 winter event on behalf of our new Board of Directors, of which she is a member, Am-Jam Productions, and IBEX Puppetry, Inc.

Affiliations/Professional Organizations

The Puppeteers of America!

By the way, there's a great piece about Pinocchio's bid to re-open in the Orlando Sentinel! Read theater reviewer Elizabeth Maupin's Deecember, 2008, article below:

Website

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orl-pinocchios1908dec1...

2nd Website

http://www.pinocchios.net