Ernie's Secret Life - Concrete Temple TheatreConcrete Temple Theatre

Ernie’s Secret Life is an episodic odyssey, fusing ever-changing puppetry and stagecraft with humor, music, and a raw understanding of our profound collective reality. Sparked by the isolation and turmoil of our time, Ernie’s Secret Life is a story of discovery for all. A man fearing something has happened to his son, builds a canoe and secretly sets off to find him. What he finds instead – is himself. Powered by a wondrous landscape-in-motion, the play is about escaping and then finding your way… a celebration of how we become who we want to be.

January 2024
Premiere, Dixon Place, New York, NY
May 2023
PATCH Residency, The Jim Henson Foundation, Carriage House, NYC
November 2021
Director’s Choice, Spoke the Hub, Brooklyn, NY (In Process Excerpt)
September 2021
Hudson Eye Festival, Hudson, NY (In Process Excerpt)
July 2021
Residency Presentation, Amphibian Stage, Fort Worth, TX (In Process Excerpt)
June 2021
Local Produce, Spoke the Hub, Gowanus, NY (In Process Excerpt)
January 2021
Video Stream, Spoke the Hub, Brooklyn, NY (In Process Excerpt)
December 2020
La MaMa Puppetry Slam Live Stream, NYC (In Process Excerpt)
October 2020
On-the-Street (Bowery and Rivington)
Dixon Place and Peculiar Works, NYC (In Process Excerpt)

Sarah Holdren, New York Magazine, Vulture

“…paper and cardboard, paint and wire, tie line and plastic sheeting — in the hands of Concrete Temple, all those things have their own enchanting secret life!”

“Wonderful…evocative simplicity!”

“Fantastical…totally charming!”

“Adinolfi’s scrappy, ingeniously engineered puppets… are a great delight!”

Evan Seplow, Stage Buddy

“The huge, fun bonus is the production itself. Both Writer/Director Renee Philippi and Puppetry/Scenic master Carlo Adinolfi has brought a fantasy world to life in this blend of live-action, puppetry, and creative scenic design…the audience is consistently entertained with new visuals.”

“If you are open to theater that makes you think, and explore well after the show has ended, then “Ernie’s Secret Life” might be for you!”

Jon Sobel, Blog Critics.org

“Exploring the Polar Icecaps of the Heart”

“…the show keeps us in its pocket through puppet magic and the soft-spoken charm and plaintive determination of Adinolfi’s Ernie.”

“Ernie’s Secret Life tells of the heroic quest of an ordinary Ernie who, armed with nothing but a map, a homemade rowboat, and some pluck, achieves a kind of rescue of the self – something we all needed amid the pandemic.”

“Ernie’s Secret Life from Concrete Temple Theatre warms the heart and sparks the sense of wonder.”

Ilaria Cutolo, Front Row Center

“For 65 minutes you’ll be transported inside another person’s childlike and surreal, quirky and dreamy imagination. It is awash in vibrant color and sound creating a mesmerizing and charming experience all at once.”

“Ernie uses various stage techniques, adding to the overall magical element while infusing humor and delicate moments of introspection. It rides a fine line between raw emotion and sentimentality, achieving an authentic, shared experience with the audience.”

Ernie’s Secret Life

About

History

Press

Photos

Video