• CALENDAR
  • SIGN UP FOR EMAILS
  • DONATE
  • MEMBERSHIP
  • MY ACCOUNT

Academy Center of the Arts

Lynchburg's Local Arts Center

  • TICKETS
    • BOX OFFICE
      • Discounts
      • Ticketing Policies
    • Black History Month Celebration
    • Broadway at the Academy
    • Gift Certificates
    • Group Sales
    • RESIDENT COMPANIES
      • The Charlottesville Ballet 22/23 Season
      • Endstation Theatre Company 22/23 Season
      • Jefferson Choral Society 22/23 Season
      • Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra 22/23 Season
      • Opera on the James 22/23 Season
      • Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest 21/22 Season
    • SEATING CHARTS
  • COMMUNITY ACCESS
    • Academy in Motion
    • Education Access Program
    • Facilities Access Program
    • Ticket Access Program
    • Artist in Residency Program
  • EDUCATION
    • ALL CLASSES
    • ADULT CLASSES
    • YOUTH CLASSES
    • POTTERY CLASSES
    • SUMMER CAMPS
    • YOUTH THEATRE
    • Field Trips At the Academy
    • Education Access Program
    • Instructor Interest Form
  • GALLERIES
    • The Academy Artist Expansion Initiative
    • 2023 National Juried Art Exhibition
  • RENTALS
    • PRIVATE EVENTS
      • Birthday Parties
      • Corporate Rentals
      • Professional Workshops
      • Social and Private Rentals
      • Weddings
    • Ticketed RENTALS
    • Performance Partner Program
    • Facilities Access Program
  • SUPPORT
    • Fall Campaign 2022
    • Volunteer
    • BECOME A MEMBER
    • Make a Donation
    • OUR DONORS
      • CORPORATE SPONSORS
    • LEGACY GIVING
      • Endowment
      • Legacy Giving
  • ABOUT
    • Annual Report
    • CONTACT US
      • CONTACT US
      • Board of Trustees
      • Staff Directory
    • Employment
    • GET INVOLVED
      • Internships
    • GETTING HERE
      • DINE
      • STAY
      • Parking and Directions
    • HISTORY
    • VENUES
      • Accessibility
      • PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
      • Tours
  • TICKETS
    • BOX OFFICE
      • Discounts
      • Ticketing Policies
    • Black History Month Celebration
    • Broadway at the Academy
    • Gift Certificates
    • Group Sales
    • RESIDENT COMPANIES
      • The Charlottesville Ballet 22/23 Season
      • Endstation Theatre Company 22/23 Season
      • Jefferson Choral Society 22/23 Season
      • Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra 22/23 Season
      • Opera on the James 22/23 Season
      • Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest 21/22 Season
    • SEATING CHARTS
  • COMMUNITY ACCESS
    • Academy in Motion
    • Education Access Program
    • Facilities Access Program
    • Ticket Access Program
    • Artist in Residency Program
  • EDUCATION
    • ALL CLASSES
    • ADULT CLASSES
    • YOUTH CLASSES
    • POTTERY CLASSES
    • SUMMER CAMPS
    • YOUTH THEATRE
    • Field Trips At the Academy
    • Education Access Program
    • Instructor Interest Form
  • GALLERIES
    • The Academy Artist Expansion Initiative
    • 2023 National Juried Art Exhibition
  • RENTALS
    • PRIVATE EVENTS
      • Birthday Parties
      • Corporate Rentals
      • Professional Workshops
      • Social and Private Rentals
      • Weddings
    • Ticketed RENTALS
    • Performance Partner Program
    • Facilities Access Program
  • SUPPORT
    • Fall Campaign 2022
    • Volunteer
    • BECOME A MEMBER
    • Make a Donation
    • OUR DONORS
      • CORPORATE SPONSORS
    • LEGACY GIVING
      • Endowment
      • Legacy Giving
  • ABOUT
    • Annual Report
    • CONTACT US
      • CONTACT US
      • Board of Trustees
      • Staff Directory
    • Employment
    • GET INVOLVED
      • Internships
    • GETTING HERE
      • DINE
      • STAY
      • Parking and Directions
    • HISTORY
    • VENUES
      • Accessibility
      • PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
      • Tours

Behind the Scenes of Academy Youth Theatre’s Production of My Son Pinocchio, JR.

April 18, 2022

 

Academy Youth Theatre is BACK with their April production of My Son Pinnochio, JR!. The classic tale of Geppetto the toymaker and his little wooden puppet was given new life on the Historic Academy Theatre stage. The show opened Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 2 PM and closed on the same day at 7 PM. 

 

This new musical retells the classic Disney story from Geppetto’s perspective, featuring the beloved classic songs, “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “I’ve Got No Strings,” alongside a host of new songs by Oscar winner and Grammy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz.

 

About the Show: The Blue Fairy, Stromboli, and a lively cast of characters join Geppetto on his journey beyond the toyshop to discover the meaning of family. When the Blue Fairy grants Geppetto’s wish to bring his beloved puppet to life, the new father quickly learns that being a parent is full of challenges. He struggles to make his son “the perfect boy,” only to lose him to a gang of Roustabouts. 

 

It is only when faced with the thought of never seeing Pinocchio again that Geppetto truly learns the joys of being a father and loving his child unconditionally. Disney’s My Son Pinocchio JR. is filled with a magical mix of unique roles for all types of performers — from blue Fairies to Roustabouts and, of course, Geppetto and Pinnochio.

 

You might be wondering, so what? What’s so special about this particular production of My Son Pinnochio, JR, what sets it apart? 

 

 

To start, the 32 children participating, aged eight to fourteen years old, come from various schools in the surrounding Lynchburg area. These include Lynchburg City Schools, Forest, Amherst, and even homeschooled students. 

 

 

 

Auditions were held on Monday, April 4, 2022, but it wasn’t until a week later on Monday, April 11th, that the cast and crew of the show actually began rehearsing. Yes, you’re doing that math correctly! This means that those thirty-two kids and a number of crew members had not one month, not one week, but FIVE weekdays to pull together an hour-long show with acting, singing, and dancing. 

 

These thirty-two kids truly put so much passion into their craft, spending the entirety of their spring breaks off of school at the Academy every day from 9:30 AM until 4:00 PM. The staff and crew got a glimpse into these children’s lives and further understood them as who they are, even in such a short amount of time. 

 

They came together melodically to successfully tell the story of Pinocchio and Geppetto, one that goes further than the curtain, even beyond the stage and out of the theatre doors. 

 

“It really is a story about Geppetto coming to terms with who his son is and learning to love him wholly,” says Education Manager, Kelli Johnson. “It’s about family relationships, accepting your children for their faults and their strengths.”

 

Director, Josh Carter, was the puppet master pulling the strings behind the whole operation. With his talent, a team of ten crew members, and the motivation of the kids – the show came together perfectly. 

 

“These kids are so well-behaved,” says Josh, “I love working with them. There’s just a certain type of energy that a kid can bring to a role!”

 

He continues, “Youth theater provides opportunities for problem-solving, positive self-awareness, and community building. The humanities exist to inspect, reflect, and improve society.”

 

After the show, Josh will continue in his journey of being a full-time actor at Colonial Williamsburg. “This experience will be the first of many steps into a full-time creative career,” he states.

 

Missed the show? No worries – Academy Youth Theatre is not going away anytime soon. Get ready for a summer season full of joy, song, and dance – get involved below!

 

 

This camp is for theatre lovers! High School students will learn and perform The Hunchback of Notre Dame during this 4 week long summer camp. Everyone who registers will have a role but there will be auditions for specific parts. This camp will be rehearsing and performing in our Historic Theatre.

 

Register Now

 

 

 

 

A sweeping score and powerful story make The Hunchback of Notre Dame an instant classic. Audiences will be swept away by the magic of this truly unforgettable musical.

 

Get Tickets

 

 

 

 

 

Middle School students will learn and perform The Little Mermaid, JR during this spring break camp. Everyone who registers will have a role but there will be auditions for specific parts. This camp will be rehearsing and performing in our Historic Theatre.

 

Register Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Events, Theatre, Youth

Categories

  • Art
  • Community Outreach
  • Donors
  • Events
  • Film
  • Gallery
  • Holidays
  • iPad
  • Local Art
  • Music
  • Press Release
  • Theatre
  • Uncategorized
  • Youth

Archives

  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015

Recent Posts

  • Spotlight on Academy in Motion
  • Celebrate Juneteenth at the Academy
  • Beyond the Bell Tower with Academy Youth Theatre Professionals
  • Recognizing All of Our Academy Volunteers
  • Behind the Scenes of Academy Youth Theatre’s Production of My Son Pinocchio, JR.

CONTACT US:

(434) 846-8499
600 Main Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504
  • Tickets
  • EDUCATION
  • Galleries
  • RENTALS
  • Support
  • About
  • Blog
  • Board of Trustees
  • Employment
  • Internships
  • Press & Media
  • Contact Us
SUPPORT THE ACADEMY DONATE
STAY UP TO DATE EMAIL UPDATES

Academy Center of The Arts Copyright © 2023