Take a lonely woodcarver who longs for a son, add a Blue Fairy who has empathy for the old man and what you get is the story of Pinocchio, a puppet brought to life. But it isn’t that simple. Along the way, Pinocchio learns valuable lessons about responsibility and how the choices one makes can affect others.
 
The story, first published by Italian Carlo Collodi in 1883, will come alive on the main stage in musical form when Children’s Theatre of Elgin presents “Hey Ho, Pinocchio” from Friday through Sunday, April 24 to 26, in The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. The production, an adaptation of the book by Eleanor and Ray Harder, will feature tunes well known in musical theater.
 
“Brought to life without the context of being in relationship with others, Pinocchio at first makes a number of choices that are not so good,” said Janine Kirkland, producer. “However, with the love and guidance of Gepetto, Cricky and the Blue Fairy, Pinocchio learns what it means to truly live.”
 
The cast is composed of 81 second- through ninth-graders from a dozen Fox Valley communities; many of the students are veterans of CTE productions. Serving as director, stage manager and lighting designer is Jen Prise.
 
Children’s Theatre of Elgin, a nonprofit organization, provides theater experiences for children ages 7 to 15. CTE utilizes the volunteer labor of at least one parent per performer to help with the production. Volunteers sew all of costumes, construct the set, assist with chaperoning the cast, and work backstage during the performances.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 26. Cost is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors. School group shows begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, April 23 and 24, and cost $5 per ticket. There also will be a show for groups of 10 or more (Girl and Boy Scouts, sports teams, church choirs and groups) at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, with all tickets at $5.

For tickets, call The Hemmens Box Office at (847) 931-5900. For school show or group sales, call the CTE group sales coordinator at (847) 214-7550.

Funding for Children’s Theatre of Elgin is provided in part through the city of Elgin and the Grand Victoria Foundation. The program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Children’s Theatre of Elgin and its sister nonprofit, Fox Valley Theatre Company, are in-residence at the Elgin Community College Arts Center. For more information, visit www.cteelgin.com.