Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale

Last updated

Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale
Disneys-my-son-pinocchio.png
Original logo
Music Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics Stephen Schwartz
Book David Stern
Basis2000 made-for-television movie Geppetto

Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale is a musical based on Disney's 2000 made-for-television movie Geppetto , which was in turn based on a book by David Stern, and features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. [1] [2] As in the TV film, when Pinocchio runs away to become a star in Stromboli's puppet show, Geppetto must negotiate through a maze of adventures and comic encounters to find him.

Contents

The musical premiered under its former name, Disney's Geppetto & Son, at The Coterie Theatre, Kansas City, Missouri in 2006. [3]

Background

David Stern and Stephen Schwartz completed the made-for-TV film Disney's Geppetto in 2000. [4] Several years later, the idea for a child-appropriate stage musical adaptation came up. Schwartz said in production notes for Disney's Geppetto & Son that he believes that the show "is entertaining while at the same time dealing with such important themes as individuality, self-esteem and the relation of parents and children. I am pleased that the Coterie Theatre feels this is an important work. I have written several other shows and films that I believe have had a positive impact on young audiences, such as Disney's Pocahontas , Godspell , Children of Eden , and the current Broadway show Wicked . I believe Disney's Geppetto & Son is a strong addition to this group." [1] MTI currently licenses the show to groups, in addition to creating a Junior version of the show to be performed by children. [5]

Synopsis

Act 1

The Blue Fairy greets the audience and explains that they will celebrate the story of one of her perfectly granted wishes — bringing Pinocchio to life at the request of his creator, Geppetto ("When You Wish Upon a Star"). However, Geppetto arrives and asks the Fairy to take Pinocchio back, explaining that he is defective. The Fairy, outraged at this request, takes Geppetto back in time to learn the truth. They arrive at Geppetto's toy shop the morning before the wish was made where Geppetto encounters a stream of children eager to buy his new toys ("Toys"). He is saddened because he is not a father since all the other parents have children. Once the children have gone home for the night, he puts the finishing touches on Pinocchio and wishes for his heart to be filled ("Empty Heart"). After he goes to sleep, the Blue Fairy appears and brings Pinocchio to life, telling him to prove himself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday, he will become a real boy.

Geppetto insists that Pinocchio was not a success at all, and the Fairy jumps ahead in time to learn more of the story ("Rise and Shine"). Geppetto teaches Pinocchio a song ("Geppetto and Son"), and a series of flashbacks are shown. After the flashbacks, they meet an unsuccessful puppeteer named Stromboli who immediately becomes interested in Pinocchio, thinking he would be worth a fortune to him in his puppet show, but the Blue Fairy frightens Stromboli away. Pinocchio is extremely upset when he overhears Geppetto telling the Fairy that he does not want him and runs away. The Fairy informs Geppetto that the problem is not Pinocchio; it is Geppetto himself. He angrily dismisses her, but she assures that these things have a way of working themselves out ("When You Wish Upon a Star (Reprise)").

Geppetto returns home later that night to apologize to Pinocchio, only to find a note from him, stating he is going to sing and dance in Stromboli's puppet show. Geppetto convinces himself that Pinocchio will be happier living with Stromboli. Pinocchio performs with Stromboli's marionettes ("I've Got No Strings"). The performance is a success, but Stromboli is abusive toward Pinocchio. Geppetto arrives after the show, hoping to say goodbye, but Stromboli says Pinocchio left. Pinocchio escapes and Stromboli rages among his marionettes and vows to recapture Pinocchio ("Bravo Stromboli"). Meanwhile, as Geppetto searches for Pinocchio, he meets up again with the Blue Fairy, who observes that Geppetto does seem to care for Pinocchio after all. Geppetto denies this, and the Fairy finally agrees to take Pinocchio back if Geppetto can find him. Geppetto demands that the Fairy use her magic to find Pinocchio, but she demurs, explaining that magic is not the answer to everything ("Just Because It's Magic").

Act 2

After intermission, the Blue Fairy expresses aloud her regret at having granted a wish to a moron. Geppetto overhears this and the two argue until they are interrupted by a pair of well-behaved children, whom Geppetto is immediately impressed with. The children introduce Geppetto and the Fairy to a couple who are waiting to see Professor Buonragazzo and his son, who make perfect children that will always be obedient to their parents. The professor makes the couple a daughter, and offers a number of other children as replacements for Pinocchio ("Satisfaction Guaranteed"), but a horrified Geppetto rejects them and runs away to find Pinocchio.

Geppetto and the Blue Fairy meet a series of talking animals who are something they are not, due to the misguided expectations of their parents. Geppetto reflects that parents should allow their children to grow up to be themselves. The Fairy interjects to secretly inform us that she is responsible for the talking animals. After Geppetto leaves, Stromboli arrives, wishing he had Pinocchio back. The Fairy notes that at least Stromboli wants Pinocchio, unlike Geppetto. She tells Stromboli to leave and she will bring Pinocchio to him. ("Bravo Stromboli - Reprise").

A ringmaster and his roustabouts welcomes Pinocchio and other runaway boys to Pleasure Island ("Pleasure Island") and they all have fun, creating chaos everywhere they go. Geppetto arrives to take Pinocchio home, but Pinocchio accuses Geppetto of not wanting him. He states that Pleasure Island is his new home. At that moment, Pinocchio and the other delinquents turn into donkeys. The Ringmaster orders them hauled away and Geppetto pursues a ship containing the transformed Pinocchio and the other donkeys leaving Pleasure Island ("Pleasure Island (Reprise)").

A huge whale swallows Geppetto and his rowboat whole. Inside the whale, Pinocchio explains that when he jumped in the water to save Geppetto after he got swallowed by the whale, the donkey curse washed away and he became a puppet again. Geppetto promises Pinocchio that their relationship will be different from now on ("Geppetto and Son (Whale Reprise)"). They get out of the whale when Pinocchio has Geppetto make him tell as many lies as he can, causing his nose to grow so it can tickle the whale's uvula to get it to throw them up. They return to the toy shop, only to find Stromboli and the Blue Fairy waiting for them. Geppetto offers Stromboli his whole workshop in exchange for letting him keep Pinocchio ("Since I Gave My Heart Away"). Stromboli refuses to cooperate, but the Fairy intercedes, transforming Pinocchio into a real boy, and therefore rendering him worthless to Stromboli. The Blue Fairy, satisfied that Geppetto and Pinocchio are now a real father and a real son, notes that her perfect wish record is still intact. [1]

Musical Numbers

The majority of the songs in this musical are from the movie soundtrack, [6] but the musical does add a few new songs.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Adventures of Pinocchio</i> 1883 childrens novel by Carlo Collodi

The Adventures of Pinocchio, commonly shortened to Pinocchio, is a children's fantasy novel by Italian author Carlo Collodi. It is about the mischievous adventures of an animated marionette named Pinocchio and his creator and father figure, a poor woodcarver named Geppetto.

<i>Pinocchio</i> (1940 film) American animated musical fantasy film

Pinocchio is a 1940 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Based on Carlo Collodi's 1883 Italian children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio, it is the second Disney animated feature film, and the third animated film overall produced by an American film studio, after Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Fleischer Studios' Gulliver's Travels. With the voices of Cliff Edwards, Dickie Jones, Christian Rub, Walter Catlett, Charles Judels, Evelyn Venable, and Frankie Darro, the film follows a wooden puppet Pinocchio, who is created by an old woodcarver Geppetto and brought to life by a blue fairy. Wishing to become a real boy, Pinocchio must prove himself to be "brave, truthful, and unselfish." Along his journey, Pinocchio encounters several characters representing the temptations and consequences of wrongdoing, as Jiminy Cricket, who takes the role of Pinocchio's conscience, attempts to guide him in matters of right and wrong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jiminy Cricket</span> Fictional character from Disneys Pinocchio

Jiminy Cricket is the Disney version of the "Talking Cricket", a fictional character created by Italian writer Carlo Collodi for his 1883 children's book The Adventures of Pinocchio, which Walt Disney adapted into the animated film Pinocchio in 1940. Originally an unnamed, minor character in Collodi's novel who is killed by Pinocchio before returning as a ghost, he was transformed for the Disney adaptation into a comical and wisecracking partner who accompanies Pinocchio on his adventures, having been appointed by the Blue Fairy to serve as Pinocchio's official conscience. In the film, he sings "When You Wish Upon a Star", the Walt Disney Company's signature song, and "Give a Little Whistle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairy with Turquoise Hair</span> Fictional character

The Fairy with Turquoise Hair is a fictional character in the 1883 Italian book The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, repeatedly appearing at critical moments in Pinocchio's wanderings to admonish the little wooden puppet to avoid bad or risky behavior.

<i>The Adventures of Pinocchio</i> (1996 film) 1996 film

The Adventures of Pinocchio is a 1996 fantasy family film, directed by Steve Barron and based on the original 1883 novel of the same name by Carlo Collodi. Barron collaborated with Sherry Mills, Tom Benedek and Barry Berman on the screenplay. It was an American, British, French, Czech, and German venture produced by New Line Cinema, The Kushner-Locke Company, Savoy Pictures, Pangaea Holdings and Twin Continental Films. It stars Martin Landau and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. It was a critical and commercial failure which led the sequel, The New Adventures of Pinocchio, straight to video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinocchio's Daring Journey</span> Dark ride at Disney theme parks

Pinocchio's Daring Journey is a dark ride at Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Park in Paris. Located in the Fantasyland section of each park, this ride is based on Disney's 1940 animated film version of the classic story, which was the studio's second animated feature film. The attraction tells an abbreviated version of the film, with Pinocchio escaping from Stromboli's puppet show and visiting Pleasure Island, ignoring Jiminy Cricket's advice. Monstro the whale makes an appearance, and Pinocchio is finally reunited with Geppetto and turned into a real boy.

<i>Piccolino no Bōken</i> 1976 Japanese anime series

Piccolino no Bōken is a 52-episode anime series by Nippon Animation first aired in 1976 which was created in coproduction with the ZDF and ORF. The story is based on the novel The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) by Italian author Carlo Collodi.

<i>Pinocchio 3000</i> 2004 Canadian film

Pinocchio 3000 is a 2004 computer-animated science fantasy film directed by Daniel Robichaud and distributed by Christal Films. The film is a futuristic science fiction interpretation of the classic 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, with Pinocchio being a robot brought to life by tapping into a city's power surge, rather than a puppet animated by magic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangiafuoco</span> Fictional character

Mangiafuoco is a fictional character who appears in Carlo Collodi's 1883 Italian book The Adventures of Pinocchio, serving as a secondary antagonist turning good.

<i>Pinocchio: The Series</i> 1972 Japanese anime TV series

Pinocchio: The Series, also known as Saban's The Adventures of Pinocchio and known as Mock of the Oak Tree in Japan, is a 52-episode anime series by Tatsunoko Productions first aired on Fuji Television in 1972, which was edited by Saban in 1990. The story is based on the 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Italian author Carlo Collodi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Coachman</span> Fictional character

The Coachman, also known as The Little Man (L'Omino), is a fictional character and a major antagonist from Carlo Collodi's 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio, in which he appears in chapters XXXI and XXXIII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Terrible Dogfish</span> Fictional character

The Terrible Dogfish is a dogfish-like sea monster, which appears in Carlo Collodi's 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio as the final antagonist. It is described as being larger than a five-story building, a kilometer long and sporting three rows of teeth in a mouth that can easily accommodate a train. So fearsome is its reputation, that in Chapter XXXIV, it is revealed that the Dogfish is nicknamed "The Attila of fish and fishermen".

<i>Geppetto</i> (film) 2000 American film

Geppetto is a 2000 made-for-television musical film based on the popular 1883 Italian children's book The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi starring Drew Carey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. While not a direct adaptation of the 1940 animated film, it features a few elements such as the character of Figaro, the "I've Got No Strings" song as well as Pleasure Island. It features original songs written by Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz had developed the songs as a reunion for stars Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, but Andrews was undergoing throat surgery so the idea was dropped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land of Toys</span> Fictional location

The Land of Toys is a fictional location in the Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) that is disguised as a haven of freedom and anarchy for children, but is eventually discovered to be far more sinister.

<i>Pinocchio</i> (soundtrack) 1940 soundtrack album by Various Artists

Pinocchio is the soundtrack to the 1940 Walt Disney film of the same name, first released on February 9, 1940. The album was described as being "recorded from the original soundtrack of the Walt Disney Production Pinocchio". According to Walt Disney Records, "this is the first time the phrase 'original soundtrack' was used to refer to a commercially available movie recording."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geppetto</span> Carpenter of Pinocchio

Geppetto, also known as Mister Geppetto, is an Italian fictional character in the 1883 novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Geppetto is an elderly, impoverished woodcarver and the creator of Pinocchio. He wears a yellow wig resembling cornmeal mush, and consequently his neighbors call him "Polendina" to annoy him. The name Geppetto is a Tuscan diminutive of the name Giuseppe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinocchio</span> Fictional character created by Carlo Collodi

Pinocchio is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan village. He is created as a wooden puppet, but he dreams of becoming a real boy. He is known for his long nose, which grows when he lies.

<i>The Adventures of Pinocchio</i> (1972 miniseries) Italian TV series or program

The Adventures of Pinocchio is a 1972 Italian five-part miniseries directed by Luigi Comencini, which originally aired weekly on Rai 1 between April 8 and May 6, 1972. Based on Carlo Collodi's 1883 novel with the same name, the miniseries received a large critical success, and had an average of twenty-one and a half million viewers during its first airing. All the episodes together make up 280 minutes of runtime.

<i>Pinocchio</i> (play)

Pinocchio is a play by Dennis Kelly, based on the classic children's story by Carlo Collodi and featuring the songs and score from the 1940 Walt Disney animated film by Leigh Harline, Ned Washington and Paul J. Smith, newly adapted by Martin Lowe.

<i>Pinocchio</i> (2022 live-action film) 2022 film directed by Robert Zemeckis

Pinocchio is a 2022 American musical fantasy film directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Zemeckis and Chris Weitz. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Depth of Field and ImageMovers, this film is a live-action remake of Walt Disney's 1940 animated feature film of the same name, which is itself based on the 1883 Italian book The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It stars Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, and Luke Evans with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key, and Lorraine Bracco in voice roles. The story follows a wooden puppet named Pinocchio, who is brought to life by a blue fairy (Erivo) after being crafted by an old Italian woodcarver named Geppetto (Hanks). While the role of Pinocchio's conscience Jiminy Cricket (Gordon-Levitt) attempts to guide Pinocchio in matters of right and wrong, Pinocchio encounters a host of unsavory characters in his efforts to become a real boy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "MTI Music Theatre International Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale". www.mtishows.com. September 16, 2015. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Geppetto and Son". www.musicalschwartz.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Home Coterie Theatre". Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (June 27, 2006). "Stephen Schwartz's Family-Friendly Geppetto & Son Tests Its Strings in Kansas City". Playbill . Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  5. ↑ "MTI Music Theatre International Disney's My Son Pinocchio JR". www.mtishows.com. September 16, 2015. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Amazon.com: Geppetto (2000 TV Soundtrack): Music". Amazon.com. 2000. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.