The San Luis Obispo Little Theatre has received a generous $3,000 grant from the Central Coast Funds for Children (CCFC) in support of their Academy of Creative Theatre (ACT) production of Pinocchio, which runs at the theatre January 10-26. Specifically, the grant underwrites free and discounted tickets to performances of Pinocchio for underserved children and families in collaboration with the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO.) The tickets are being distributed through CAPSLO to families involved in Head Start and other programs for families and children. In addition, this generous grant has underwritten many of the costs associated with the production and the training of the students involved, including a unique marionette class taught by clown, puppeteer and theatre arts instructor, Gale McNeely.
ACT’s production of Pinocchio is directed by Shelagh Garren and features 23 student actors from the Little Theatre’s ACT educational program. The students have been rehearsing for this production since early October. The cast includes: Conner Allen, Eiligh Brevetz, Penny DellaPelle, Campbell Ellery, Isabella Grznar, Ella Harris, Laila Haughey, Lunabella Levin, Audrey Mason, Stella McSween, Zoe Peach-Riley, Serafina Regusci, Mia Ritter, Sienna Ritter, Ernesto Roide, Claire Romero, Alexis Rosinsky, Lauren Rudd, Cali Singleton, Elizabeth Tharp, Drew Vander Weele, Anouk von Ott and Trevyn Wong and Assistant Director Taylor Peters. (Photo attached of entire cast. Please credit Jamie Foster.)
“Participating in theatre encourages creativity and builds self-confidence” said ACT Coordinator Kerry DiMaggio. “ACT provides a creative, artistic, educational and fun outlet for children who might not otherwise be engaged with their peers or other important adult role models. This generous grant from the Central Coast Funds for Children enables us to share this production of Pinocchio, not only with the students performing in the production, but with children and families throughout the county who might not otherwise be able to attend.”
DATES & TICKETS
Pinocchio runs January 10-26. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults, $13 for students. Tickets are available online at www.slolittletheatre.org or by calling the box office at (805) 786-2440. All performances take place at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre, 888 Morro St. (on the corner of Palm and Morro streets) in San Luis Obispo.