I'm thinking about writing a full-fledged transcript for the show later on...but for now, I'll just share my basic ideas for an overall plot structure...
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The show begins with a voice singing in the darkness ("When You Wish Upon a Star"). Near the song's end, a spotlight picks up the singer--Jiminy Cricket, our show's narrator. He will tell the story of what caused him to believe in wishing on stars. The curtain opens on the workshop of a humble woodcarver named Geppetto, who we see putting on the finishing touches of a marionette named Pinocchio. After taking him out for a test run ("Little Wooden Head"--maybe?), he prepares to sleep, but not before making a wish on the evening star--wishing that the marionette could be a real boy. During the night, the Blue Fairy visits the workshop and brings Pinocchio to life, although he still remains a puppet. She informs him that if he proves himself brave, truthful, and unselfish, he will become a real boy, and assigns Jiminy to be his conscience.
Geppetto discovers that his wish has come true, and is filled with joy. However, on his way to school, Pinocchio is led astray by a fox, aptly named Foulfellow (though he prefers to be called Honest John), and his sidekick, a mute cat named Gideon. who convince him to join Stromboli's puppet show, despite Jiminy's objections ("Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee"). Pinocchio becomes Stromboli's star attraction as a marionette who can sing and dance without strings ("I've Got No Strings"). However, when Pinocchio wants to go home for the night, Stromboli locks him in a birdcage. Jiminy arrives to see Pinocchio, and is unable to free him. The Blue Fairy appears, and asks Pinocchio why he was not at school. Jiminy urges Pinocchio to tell the truth, but instead he starts telling lies, which causes his nose to grow longer and longer. Pinocchio vows to be good from now on, and the Blue Fairy returns his nose to its original form and sets him free, while warning him that this will be the last time she can help him.
Meanwhile, across town, Honest John and Gideon meet a Coachman who promises to pay them money if they can find foolish little boys for him to take to Pleasure Island. Encountering Pinocchio on his way home, they convince him that he needs to take a vacation there. On the way to Pleasure Island, he befriends Lampwick, a delinquent boy. Without rules or authority to enforce their activity, Pinocchio and the other boys soon engage in various criminal activity, much to Jiminy's dismay (Pleasure Island song). Hurt and angered by Pinocchio's rejection of him, Jiminy resigns as his conscience. But, as he's trying to find a way off the island, Jiminy discovers that the island hides a horrible curse: the boys brought to Pleasure Island are transformed into donkeys and sold into slave labor. Jiminy runs back to warn Pinocchio, only to discover that Lampwick has transformed into a donkey; Pinocchio manages to escape, only partially transformed.
Upon returning home, Pinocchio and Jiminy find the workshop vacant. They soon get a letter from the blue fairy, stating that Geppetto had ventured out in search of Pinocchio, but was swallowed by a giant whale named Monstro, and is now living in his belly. Determined to rescue his father, Pinocchio jumps into the sea accompanied by Jiminy. Pinocchio is soon swallowed by Monstro as well, where he is reunited with Geppetto. Pinocchio devises a scheme to make Monstro sneeze, giving them a chance to escape. The scheme works, but the enraged whale chases them, and smashes their raft. Pinocchio pulls Geppetto to safety in a cave before Monstro crashes into it. They are all washed up on a beach on the other side. Geppetto and Jiminy survive, but Pinocchio lies motionless face down in a tide pool nearby. Back home, the group mourns him. The Blue Fairy, however, decides that Pinocchio has proven himself brave, truthful, and unselfish, that he is reborn as a real human boy (his donkey ears and tail also gone), and everyone celebrates. Jiminy steps outside to thank the Fairy, and is rewarded with a solid gold badge that certifies him as an official conscience ("Finale: When You Wish Upon a Star (Reprise)").
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So, that's the basic synopsis. Is there anything you think we should cut?
