Actress Antonisia “Nisi” Collins takes on the title role in a remounted production of Pinocchio at the Children’s Theatre Company, stepping into the character’s shoes as a newly welcomed core company member, according to BroadwayWorld and The Zeal Review.
Bringing Pinocchio to Life on Stage
The Children’s Theatre Company production stages a spontaneous retelling of the classic wooden puppet’s journey using everyday painter’s tools like paintbrushes, scaffolding, and wallpaper rolls, according to BroadwayWorld. Five theatre painters inventively use basic objects—including a mop and wallpaper—to turn the space into a magical environment. Collins describes her approach to the character as channeling the energy of a child, focusing on someone malleable who absorbs lessons, makes mistakes, and learns from them with an open mind for play and wonder, as reported by The Zeal Review.
Joining the Core Company
For Collins, receiving the news of joining the Children’s Theatre Company as a core member felt surreal, bringing an outpouring of congratulatory support from colleagues and community members alike. In interviews with BroadwayWorld and The Zeal Review, Collins expressed excitement over chatting with fellow core company members and embarking on this new journey. The production aims to guide audiences through classic questions surrounding the story—including Gepetto and Pinocchio’s time inside a whale, the mechanics of the good fairy’s flight, and the truth behind Pinocchio’s lengthening nose—while emphasizing themes of empathy, accountability, growth, and change.
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