Showing posts with label pinocchio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pinocchio. Show all posts

August 23, 2026

When a Wooden Puppet Dreams: Pinocchio comes to life at Ayala Malls Feliz

A familiar “Buongiorno!” will soon fill the Activity Center of Ayala Malls Feliz as Ephesus Teatron Group Inc. brings Carlo Collodi’s beloved Pinocchio to life on October 9 to 11, 2026.
 
This musical adaptation follows the journey of Pinocchio, a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy. Through music, movement, colorful costumes, and a lot of adventure, the story explores honesty, courage, responsibility, and the choices that help shape who we become.

Directed by seasoned musical theater artist Sweet Samaniego Buchanan, with musical arrangements by Pipo Cifra, the production features Brie Mosquito as Pinocchio, Red Nuestro as Geppetto, Buchanan as the Blue Fairy, Sheila Gamo as Angelina, Bhen Espina as Antonio, Nazer Salcedo as the Coachman, and Dusty Suarez in multiple roles.
 
The production also highlights a young ensemble of emerging performers, reflecting Ephesus Teatron’s commitment to giving new artists opportunities to train, perform, and connect with live audiences.

Bringing Theater Closer to East Metro Manila
One of the most interesting things about this production is its choice of venue. Instead of a traditional theater, Pinocchio will be staged at the Activity Center of Ayala Malls Feliz in Pasig.

While an unconventional theater venue, the mall offers a unique opportunity to bring live performance closer to communities east of Metro Manila, including audiences from Marikina, Rizal, and nearby areas. Some of the actors and members of the production team are also from the vicinity of Rizal and Marikina, making the production a source of pride as they represent their communities on the Philippine theater scene.

More importantly, staging the musical in a familiar community space can help make theater feel more accessible, especially to young audiences and families who may not regularly visit traditional theater venues.

A Story for the Social Media Generation
Although Pinocchio is a classic story, its lessons remain surprisingly relevant today. In the age of social media, Pinocchio’s struggles with lying, peer pressure, poor decisions, and the desire to fit in can easily connect with young audiences.

The story also offers a timely reminder about authenticity and responsible choices in a world of misinformation, online pressure, and carefully curated versions of ourselves. At its heart, Pinocchio asks a simple question: What does it really mean to become a good and responsible person?

For Ephesus Teatron, the production is not only about entertainment. It is also about education, community, and encouraging the next generation to discover the value of live theater.
Pinocchio will be staged on October 9, 10, and 11, 2026, at the Activity Center, 2nd Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz, Marcos Hiway corner J.P. Rizal, Barangay Dela Paz, Pasig City.

For ticket reservations and inquiries, contact Ephesus Teatron Group Inc. at 0945-991-1840.

This October, follow Pinocchio’s journey from a wooden puppet to a real boy—and discover how a classic story can still speak to audiences today, especially to the young people who are finding their own place in the world.
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September 10, 2022

PINOCCHIO (2022) movie review

Disney's live adaptation of the 1940 classic Pinocchio still wins hearts and teaches a great lesson of love, bravery, honesty, selflessness. This new take on the living puppet justifies some of the important elements that we may have missed or forgotten in the animated version.
Starting off with Jiminy Cricket (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) coming into Geppetto's home as a homeless insect and witnessed how the puppeteer created and named the wooden art before it was given life by a heartfelt wish. We can sense that Geppetto (Tom Hanks) lost his only son and his coping mechanism is creating Pinocchio. There are also lots of clocks in his home and he says that his wife loves all his creations. There might have been unfortunate things that happened to his wife and he kept his senses straight by keeping busy.

The 2022 version has many noticeable differences from the older animation. When Pinocchio joined the Stromboli puppet show, meeting a fellow marionette, getting into Pleasure Island, and when he saved his father from a giant sea monster, Robert Zemeckis' version deliberately put more magic for everyone who will watch it.

Pinocchio is now streaming on Disney+.
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August 26, 2022

Pinocchio's second trailer is now online

Disney+ exclusive live action movie Pinocchio gets global release on September 8 and there are CGI-accurate things that are very familiar from its animated predecessor. Watch the trailer below:


 
First, Pinocchio looks more movie-accurate in his plushie merch than in this movie. Jiminy Cricket, the goldfish and more. Here are sample captures from the newest trailer.





Too bad the Philippines can't watch it on the day of its release. We hope that Disney+ will soon be available in the country.
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June 1, 2022

PINOCCHIO trailer features Tom Hanks as Geppetto

"Star light, star bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight"

It's truly magical to hear again these words from Geppetto in Disney's timeless classic Pinocchio, which gets its live adaptation based on Disney's animated film. Geppetto is played by no other than Tom Hanks, a crafty man dreaming of becoming a father for his puppet he named Pinocchio.
Tom Hanks as Geppetto

We also get to hear When You Wish Upon A Star, Disney's OBB in every film that it makes, making the entrance for our Blue Fairy, played by Cynthia Erivo and a glimpse of Jiminy Cricket. The short trailer  afterwards shows different moments in Pinocchio's adventure. See the trailer below.


Cynthia Erivo as The Blue Fairy

Luke Evans as Coachman

Jiminy Cricket (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

Pinocchio is directed by Robert Zemeckis, also featuring Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan Michael-Key, and Luke Evans. Coming only to Disney+, which everyone in the Philippines wishes to arrive, on September 8.
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