Pinocchio at Children’s Theatre Company

Don’t miss Pinocchio at Children’s Theatre Company running now through October 18th, 2026!

It’s been a long time since I’ve visited the story of Pinocchio. Even though I have 3 kids, I’ve never shown them the Disney movie version that I grew up with. It’s such a great story and I’m so glad my son and I got to attend Pinocchio at Children’s Theatre Company!

This version of Pinocchio wasn’t what I was expecting but that’s not a bad thing. Imagine a stage filled with scaffolding, ladders and paint cans. The actors come onto the stage as painters and end up bringing the various characters in Pinocchio to life as they retell the story. There’s also live music on stage, which truly adds to the dramatic retelling of the story.

Pinocchio is the 3rd most translated book in the world, behind The Bible and The Little Prince, so it’s no stranger to interesting adaptations. The Children’s Theatre Company version, although creative, doesn’t stray from the moral lessons that are the backbone of the story. What does it mean to be a good, truthful person? What does it mean to unconditionally love your family? What does it mean to be hardworking and never give up?

It’s always amazing when art gives us the opportunities to talk about these life lessons with our children. It doesn’t feel like a “teaching moment” but it definitely is. My 10 year old son and I left the theatre with so much to talk about. He was completely enthralled watching the show. There were so many moments when I turned to look at his reaction– from laughing uncontrollably, interacting with the characters, deep in thought and more. My son’s words to describe Pinocchio are: silly, funny and creative. This was one of his favorite CTC shows we’ve seen to date!

Pinocchio runs 1 hour 35 minutes with one 15-minute intermission. It’s best enjoyed by ages 5-10 with a few scary moments– loud noises, black out, etc. If your kiddo has any sensory-needs, there is a Sensory-Friendly Performance on Sunday, October 11th at 2pm. You can learn more about sensory shows at CTC here.

Pinocchio tickets start at $25 and the show runs through October 18th, 2026. I’d highly recommend this show for your elementary age kiddos. We found it to be super funny, creative and insightful. As a mom, I loved the conversations it sparked for us!

• About the Author
• Latest Posts

Hannah

Hannah is a married mom of 3 kiddos in the Twin Cities. Born and raised here in MN, she loves finding deals and special events to share with others.

Hannah enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading books, going on road trips up north, singing along with the radio and finding new thrift stores to shop! Hannah is also a fierce advocate for people with disabilities and is always on the lookout for more sensory friendly opportunities in the Twin Cities.

• Pinocchio at Children's Theatre Company
• Michaels In-Store FREE Craft Experiences
• MinnesoThai Street Food Festival in St. Louis Park