Geppetto: Extraordinary Extremities

Geppetto: Extraordinary Extremities

Together, Renee Philippi and Carlo Adinolfi, are the Artistic Directors of Concrete Temple Theatre  (Renee grew up in Flint, Michigan, while Carlo was born in Italy but grew up in London.)

For Geppetto: Extraordinary Extremities, Renee is the Writer and Director and Carlo is the solo-performer, designer and maker of the set and puppets. Carlo is not, however, alone on stage; he is accompanied by a cellist playing live during all the performances. Lewis Flinn is the composer. For the Festival, we will be playing with local cellist, Pilar McKay.

Geppetto: Extraordinary Extremities is a tale of resilience and adaptation that tells the story of puppet-maker Geppetto, who is attempting to perform — all by himself for the first time ever — the grand mythical love story of Perseus, who slays a sea monster to save his beloved Andromeda. During the show things begin to go haywire, and Geppetto finds himself desperately improvising to overcome the challenges of performing solo while at the same time scrambling to devise new story lines, new characters, and even new limbs.  Geppetto: Extraordinary Extremities was inspired by a NPR story on Hugh Herr, whose legs were amputated after a climbing accident and who now designs technologically advanced artificial limbs.

Extraordinary Extremities began as Peculiar Extremities in June 2012 when a twenty minute-excerpt was presented, as part of St. Ann’s Warehouse’s Puppet Lab’s Labapalooza!  In March 2013, an in-process version of Geppetto was performed at Hudson Opera House, Hudson, NY, and in June 2013, Geppetto premiered as part of HERE’s Sublet Series, generously supported by The Jim Henson Foundation.  November 2013, Geppetto had a 7-City Tour in Northern Italy and was performed in Italian.  January 2014, Geppetto was performed at Teatro Jaco in Jaco, Costa Rica in Spanish where the title changed to Extraordinary Extremities.  Geppetto: Extraordinary Extremities was presented Off-Broadway at SoHo Playhouse, April-May 2014 and has been touring nationally and internationally since that time. The piece is the culmination of many cultures and many peoples.

The production is enjoyed by all ages and cuts across cultural divides. This is a quote from one parent who brought her son to see the show January 2015: “Thank you for a lovely afternoon. My friend recommended Geppetto to me after my son expressed interest in seeing a play.  Like the best of art, we both enjoyed it on different levels. Afterward my son described the performance as “awesome” and now he wants to spend every Sunday attending different performances. Thanks again for a wonderful, thought provoking piece and an ideal introduction to the theatre for my son.  All without the assistance of an iPad, I might add.”

In our recent seasons, we have made it a point to reach underserved communities as well as unique and outsider communities. We have made performances available, for deeply discounted or free admission, to groups like: YAI (Autism Family Support), Circle of Friends Liverpool (UK theatre group comprised of the developmentally impaired), New York State Department of Labor Disable Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP), The Child’s Place for Children With Special Needs at The Brooklyn Library, plai (NYC based theatre group comprised of autistic teenagers and adults), Sirovich Senior Center, The Creative Center (arts for seniors and the critically ill), Diana Jones Senior Center, Wheels of Progress (support group for wheelchair bound adults).

After the show, we present a short talkback, “Meet the Puppets,” in which audience members can try their hand at operating the puppets in the show.  (The running time for the show is 57 minutes.).

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Carlo Adinolfi (Designer/Performer), Co-Artistic Director CTT, is a recipient of Independent Artists Challenge Program Award, Jim Henson Foundation Grants, and EST/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Commission. He received the Bel Geddes Design Enhancement Award. The Scotsman (UK) said Carlo Adinolfi exudes “strength, grace, and agility” on the stage, The Independent (UK) praised him as a “beguiling and versatile entertainer,” and Daily Mail (UK) cheered his “astonishing artistry,” calling him a “skillful actor/choreographer.” As designer NY Theatre Review said: “Adinolfi’s design is thrilling;” One Magazine wrote: “The most inventive, wondrous sets in NYC are being created by Concrete Temple Theatre…their work is extraordinary.” Carlo has danced with Laura Pawel, Sara Pearson/Patrik Widrig, Corner Store, and Spoke the Hub. He has been resident artist at Wildroot Arts, Nantucket Historical Association, The Yard, Workspace for Choreographers, Flea Theatre, Flint Institute of Arts and Hudson Opera House.

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Renee Philippi (Writer/Director), Co-Artistic Director CTT: for over 20 years, Renee has been writing/directing in NYC and nationally at venues like: The Yard, Bard Summerscape, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Detroit Institute of Arts, Pontine Theatre, Dairy Center for the Arts, Amphibian Stage and internationally.  Renee has created 13 original works in the past 10 years. Her newest work “Remembering Evangeline” premiered at HERE, June 2017. Renee is a member of Spiderwoman Theatre, Women’s Project Directors Forum, Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab, New Georges, LPTW and has been Artist-in-Residence with Mabou Mines, Playwrights Center Minneapolis, Directors Company, Nantucket Historical Association, The Flea, The Yard, Dixon Place, and Directing Fellow, Williamstown Theatre Festival. Her work has been described as: “Thought-provoking and emotional” (TheatreScene.net), and “A world that is vast and sprawling, spanning continents and cultures” (Off Off Online).

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About Concrete Temple Theatre

Concrete Temple Theatre is a multi-disciplinary company, committed to the creation of compelling new theatrical works, incorporating drama, dance, puppetry, music and the visual arts. Since 2004, our company has created devised visual theatre that challenges the traditional relationship between design and text. Through touring original works and presenting workshops in NYC, nationally and internationally, we strive to bring myth and ritual back to the center of dialogue, by presenting works and workshops that address real issues within communities (grief, family relationships, environmentalstewardship).

See more at www.ConcreteTempleTheatre.com