Much like the movie, My Son Pinocchio is a re-telling of the children’s book The Adventures of Pinocchio, but the story is told from Geppetto’s perspective. As in the TV film, when Pinocchio runs away to become a star in Stromboli’s puppet show, Geppetto must negotiate through a maze of adventures and comic encounters to find him.
David Stern and Stephen Schwartz completed the made-for-TV film Disney’s Geppetto in 2000. Several years later, the idea for a child-appropriate stage musical adaptation came up. Schwartz said in production notes for Disney’s Geppetto & Son that he believes that the show “is entertaining while at the same time dealing with such important themes as individuality, self-esteem and the relation of parents and children. I am pleased that the Coterie Theatre feels this is an important work. I have written several other shows and films that I believe have had a positive impact on young audiences, such as Disney’s Pocahontas, Godspell, Children of Eden, and the current Broadway show Wicked. I believe Disney’s Geppetto & Son is a strong addition to this group.” MTI currently licenses the show to groups, in addition to creating a Junior version of the show to be performed by children.