Adapting the Novel

Dwight School’s production of The Adventures of Pinocchio was a gigantic feat – with every cast member contributing equally, starting with the script itself. Instead of following the Disney version, Co-Director and MYP/DP Theater Teacher Kim Guzowski, Co-Director and Timothy House Drama Teacher Dawn Lee Kangas, Co-Director and Broadway veteran Colleen Durham, and 36 middle school ensemble members (the largest ever assembled!) rewrote and adapted Italian author Carlo Collodi’s original novel. 

Ms. Guzowski explained that, in their rewrite, they emphasized the decisions made between good and evil. She said, “This is a story not just of a puppet becoming human, but a story of what all people must do to become fully human rather than live as shadows of our better selves.”

In the original novel, Collodi personifies goodness in the Blue Fairy and the Cricket. Ms. Guzowski and the cast members noticed that Collodi did not write a fully unified representation of temptation and evil, so they decided to create Diavoletto and his chorus of minions as a true counter to the Blue Fairy. 

This change not only solidified the original theme, but also gave the opportunity for a larger number of students to participate — and in multiple roles. There were even seven Pinocchios! Annika Mehta ’30, one of the students who played Pinocchio, said that initially she was drawn to this production because she loved the scene where all seven appear simultaneously. She said, “It was my favorite scene before I even knew I was in it… I thought it was really cool because we're all going through different interactions with different characters in a really fast paced [way].”

Telling the Story Through Movement

Notably, all the students wore black (with makeup by Annabelle Lynn '29, Tania Bhavnani '29, Kira Mahoney '30, and Maria Basilio ’27 and masks by Pluto Kristol ’29) so they could not rely on costumes to convey who they were in the show. Because of this, students gained independence and learned to be more expressive. It truly came down to the ways in which each student was emulating their individual character. Ms. Durham explained that the students had to “tell the story and be the story.” 

Part of telling the story was in the movement, as the costumes were intentionally minimalist, and this was one of the only ways the students could portray characteristics. The Movement Captains, Lauren Bailey ’31 and Kira Mahoney ’30, took initiative to create and maintain the ways in which each character developed their personas through dance and led some rehearsals entirely on their own. For instance, the captains helped all seven Pinocchios find ways to act really stiff as marionettes. Conversely, the schoolboy ensemble who led Pinocchio astray had a tremendous amount of energy and physicality. Stage combat was incorporated in order to help tell that part of the story. 

Kira said, “[As Movement Captain], you need to be able to do many things at one time. I love to see everyone's ideas put into play… The movements should relate to the words. It's really all about compromising with other people.” 

Music Sets the Tone

Similarly, the music was mostly student-written. Many of the ensemble members had the additional responsibilities of being composers (Gail Donovan ’30, Nana Kumih ’30, Chris Bailey ’31, Cameron Keitt ’31, Frank Kerenyi ’31, and Marlow Ray ’31) with the help of sound designer Maria Basilio ’27 and guided by conservatory teacher Diego Retana, curating sound in order to liven up the story. The composers expanded their musical minds and thought about which type of music fit for each scene and character. 

For Cameron Keitt ’31, who has acted on Broadway in the production Skin of Our Teeth, this was his first time composing for a show. From this experience, he said, “I learned that composing music is both an art and a skill, and when it’s done right, it sounds really beautiful. I also found out that you have to stick with it and keep working until it turns out the way you want it.”

Three Directors Bridging Divisions Together

For Ms. Kangas, many of the student-actors were students she taught in Lower School, which made the process especially meaningful. “Watching them grow, both onstage and off, has been a gift. It is incredible to reconnect with them a few years later and discover who they have become — their confidence, their humor, and their individuality.” Ms. Durham similarly noted that it was wonderful to have the experience with the members of this cast, as she had worked with many of the eighth graders in last year's Upper School production of The Addams' Family, and will work with many of them again this year in the Upper School Mainstage Production.

With the inclusion of Lower School and Upper School directors, and the help of some of the Upper School students, this production served as a perfect example of the theater continuum at Dwight. 

But this was ultimately a Middle School moment, and the ease at which the Middle School students solved problems and fostered collaboration during The Adventures of Pinocchio inspired our community. By taking charge of various parts of the show and helping in any way they could, the Middle School cast transformed a classic tale into something entirely their own.