First Alice in Wonderland got a makeover with “Through the Looking Glass,” and now it’s everybody’s favorite puppet Pinocchio standing on his own two Converse high-tops with Pioneer Drama Service’s newest hip, hilarious musical “No Strings Attached.” The phenomenal success of Shrek and Shrek 2 has spawned a whole new generation of upbeat adaptations of children’s classics geared specifically for teens. These new musicals take the beloved stories, pump them full of energetic, contemporary music and use the original tales as a springboard for over-the-top comedy with a teenage twist. Bill Francoeur’s music has the characters literally hip hopping their way across a chessboard set as a teenage Alice learns how to “play the game” of adolesence and claim her own crown of womanhood in “Through the Looking Glass.” Now, with the October release of “No Strings Attached,” Francoeur combines several popular musical styles to guide Pinocchio through the trials and tribulations of becoming an independent almost-adult. “What we’re seeing,” playwright Patrick Dorn says, “is that these classic tales aren’t just for children. They appeal to teenagers and adults as well, on different levels. Our goal with ‘No Strings Attached’ was to be true to the original story, but also take a look at how a teenaged Pinocchio might get himself into and out of trouble. We even see what kind of adult he might become. The result is hilarious, and something any middle or high school student can identify with.” “No Strings Attached” is the second collaboration between Francoeur and Dorn. Francoeur arranged Tchaikovsky’s music for Dorn’s book and lyrics in “Nutcracker,” one of Pioneer Drama Service’s most popular holiday musicals. “We believe ‘No Strings Attached’ and ‘Through the Looking Glass’ are starting to bridge a gap between traditional children’s musicals and our other teen-oriented full-length musicals,” publisher Steven Fendrich said. “You can look for more of these high-energy, age-appropriate musical adaptations in the future.” | 
