Pinocchio Presented by Ballet Excel Ohio

Colorful characters like the Fox, Cat, Cricket and Blue Fairy add a “fantastical magic” to the story of the toy wooden puppet Pinnochio. In this particular production, Ballet Excel Ohio will incorporate music from artists such as George Gershwin and Benny Goodman as well as that of traditional composers such as Tchaikovsky, Glazunov and Grieg. Special guest artists include the the locally based Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop (YEPAW). The performance takes place today at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre, which celebrates the 40th anniversary season with Ballet Excel Ohio. The performance repeats at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets start at $10. (Niesel)