[NEohioPAL] Media Release - Dancing Wheels presents Pinocchio! at Breen Center for the Arts April 15, 2018

Fri Mar 2 11:44:32 PST 2018

Media Release

*For Immediate Release*

Contact:         Mary Verdi-Fletcher

President/Founding Artistic Director

216-432-0306

vfletcher1 at aol.com

*Dancing Wheels Brings Back Disney Classic in Pinocchio!*

Cleveland - March 2018 - The Dancing Wheels Company, America’s first
physically integrated dance company uniting the talents of dancers with and
without disabilities, continues its 37th anniversary season with the return
of the classic children’s story, *Pinocchio!* The production will open at
the Breen Center for the Performing Arts at St. Ignatius High School (2008
W. 30th St., Cleveland, OH 44113) with student matinee performances on
Thursday and Friday, April 12th and 13th at 10:30 a.m. each day.  On
Sunday, April 15 at 2:00 p.m., the production is open to the public and
includes a Family Fun Party.  Ticket prices include a post-performance
carnival for children complete with games, prizes, and goodies galore!

*About the Production*
This beloved story, created by Carlo Collodi (Lorenzini), won the hearts of
children throughout Europe in 1883, and later through the genius of Disney,
was popularized throughout the United States in a 1940s animated feature
film.  For Dancing Wheels’ version of the classic tale, former Cleveland
Ballet dancer and now Broadway choreographer Ginger Thatcher portrays the
story of *Pinocchio!* based off of the original story -- but with a new
twist.   Choreographed to the spritely music of Penguin Cafe Orchestra,
Pinocchio’s mischievous escapades take him on new adventures with unique
characters such as tap-dancing donkeys and discombobulated, but determined,
doctors. Of course, some of the old favorites like Jiminy Cricket,
Geppetto, and the Azure Fairy still remain as central figures.  A 12-member
cast from the Dancing Wheels Company will play a host of witty characters
throughout the production, including the following lead roles: *Pinocchio
portrayed by Matthew Robinson*, *Caleb Waybright as Geppetto*, *Mary
Verdi-Fletcher as The Azure Fairy* and *Jake Washabaugh as Jiminy Cricket*.
Sunday’s performance only, students with and without disabilities from our
School and outreach programs will join the Company for a special kids’
section in the performance.

“This revival of Pinocchio! will surely be an event that will bring
generations together as this classic tale is told in an inventive, and new
way. And who better to tell this story of acceptance than the diverse
Dancing Wheels Company?” says President/Founding Artistic Director, Mary
Verdi-Fletcher.  Furthermore, Verdi-Fletcher says “The Company and School
is proudly carrying on its tradition of nearly 4 decades presenting
accessible arts to communities in Cleveland and across America, insuring
that full and equal access in the arts is available to all ages and
abilities.”

*About the Choreographer*
*Ginger Thatcher, Choreographer, *has choreographed over 30 works for
theater, television, film and concert dance. Most recently, she
choreographed the film *Far From Heaven*, and Maury Yeston's new musical *Hans
Christian Anderson* for Maine State Music Theater. Other NY credits
include: *Syncopation* at Stamford Theater Works, *Big* at Gateway
Playhouse, *Barrio Babies* at Amas Theater Group, and *As The World Turns*.
Regional credits include: *The Robber Bridegroom* at Cleveland Opera, *Eugene
Onegin* and *The Bartered Bride* at Glimmerglass Opera. She has created
works for Oregon Ballet Theater, Louisville Ballet, Sarasota Ballet (Triple
Circle Choreographer Award), American Repertory Ballet, and Fugate/Bahiri
Ballet NY at the Joyce Theater in NYC. She has self-produced her own
evening of work at Lincoln Center and was the founding director of the New
Steps Choreography Project in Cleveland, OH, for which she received an
Achievement in the Arts Nomination. Broadway credits as Associate
Choreographer, Assistant Choreographer and Resident Choreographer include: *The
Red Shoes*, *Carousel*, *Big*, *Oklahoma*, and *A Year with Frog and Toad*.
Other credits: PBS Dance in America-Othello, American Ballet Theater, San
Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, *A Brahams Symphony*, and
Disney's *Hunchback of Notre Dame*, *Berlin*, all with Lar Lubovitch.

*About the Company*
Under the artistic direction of Founder Mary Verdi-Fletcher, The Dancing
Wheels Company, hailed as the World Center for Integrated Dance & Art
Access, is recognized as the first and foremost professional Physically
Integrated Dance Company in America uniting the talents of dancers with and
without disabilities.  Now in its 37th season, company members include Matt
Bowman, Maggie Doherty, Tanya Ewell, Molly Haslag, Sara Lawrence-Sucato,
Deborah Reilly, Matthew Robinson, Mary Verdi-Fletcher, Jake Washabaugh,
Caleb Waybright, Meredith Wells and guest artist ‘Lil Craig.  Rehearsals
are under the direction of Catherine Meredith.

The highly skilled ensemble of stand-up and sit-down (wheelchair) dancers
has reached well over five million people world-wide with innovative
mainstage performances, school assembly programs, guest appearances and
numerous outreach activities.  Furthering the mission of inclusive arts
programming for all, the School of Dancing Wheels opened its doors in
1990.  Today, The School provides community programming and student
performances reaching over 6,500 children and adults with and without
disabilities annually right here in Cleveland!

*Tickets*
Tickets for *Pinocchio!* are $15/child and $25/adult and can be purchased
by calling (216) 432-0306 or by visiting our website at
www.dancingwheels.org (Special group rates available, inquire by phone).
Tickets are also available at the door on a first come, first served basis.

*Sponsors*
*The Dancing Wheels Company & School is sponsored through the generous
support of the Cleveland Foundation, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, National
Endowment for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, The Kulas Foundation, The George
Gund Foundation, The Kuhn Family Foundation and The Spaeth Family
Foundation.*

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