No Lie - Students learn life lessons from Oakland U. production of Pinocchio

For a group of more than 200 Will Rogers Elementary School students in the Pontiac school district, the lessons of the traditional Italian story of a wooden puppet yearning to be a real boy sprang to life with inventive acting on the stage of Varner Recital Hall at Oakland University.

That story, of course, is “The Adventures of Pinocchio.” In this adaptation, the family musical was peformed by OU students under the direction of Kerro Knox 3 with musical direction provided by Fred Love.

“My students were very taken by the experience,” said Pamela St. Onge-Cyr, a fifth grade teacher at Rogers Elementary, who was excited when she heard about the opportunity to bring her students to the musical. “Most have never attended a live stage show like this, and we will be able to go back to the classroom and discuss the lessons learned and give each student a chance to talk about, write about and reflect on the experience.”

In the classic show, Pinocchio tumbles from one disastrous situation to another in search of adventure – only to discover that, in the end, all he really needs is an unselfish heart and the love of his father. Based on Carlo Collodi's classic tale, this production illuminates the bond between parents and children, enchanting audiences of all ages.

“This was my first musical and some parts were funny and some were sad like when Pinocchio got lost from his dad,” said fifth grader Deleona Harrell. “The lesson I learned at the show is to always listen. And, I really liked meeting the actors after the show. They are like celebrities.”

Jeanetta Harrell, Deleona’s mom, said she volunteered to be a chaperone on the trip because she knew it would be an incredible opportunity for her daughter and the other children.

Harrell added, “My daughter is very much into dance right now and this show definitely captured her attention. Who knows, it might open her mind to participating in something like this in the future.”

That is certainly a goal of school performances according to show director Kerro Knox 3. As Theatre Program Director and Associate Professor of Theatre at Oakland University, he explained the need for more children’s theatre in our area and across the country and champions exposing children to the arts at an early age.

“Each year, we produce a children’s play for the summer term students and gear it towards performing for and at several schools,” according to Knox. “We’ve probably had a half dozen schools take in the show so far and it gives the children in attendance a much different experience than watching TV or going to a movie.”

“The Adventures of Pinocchio” participates in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, a national theatre program that has over 18,000 students from U.S. colleges and universities participating. The program is aimed at improving the quality of college-level theatre. It provides both theatre departments and individual students the opportunity to feature their work and receive professional feedback.

While the production at Oakland University has concluded, “The Adventures of Pinocchio” will tour Metro Detroit schools, libraries and other public venues through mid-June.

For the students at Rogers Elementary like Deleona Harrell and her teacher Pamela St. Onge-Cyr, it will leave a lasting memory.