John Rubinstein News

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld San Francisco Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Combining acrobatics with choreography (by Chet Walker) that recalls Bob Fosse's original work on the show, the current touring company of PIPPIN(book by Roger O. Hirson with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz) at the Peabody Opera House provides quite an enjoyable spectacle. There's a circus-like quality (courtesy of Gypsy Singer) to this presentation that's unexpected, and even a bit magical, making it more suitable for the younger set than some versions, even though most of its sexier elements are still firmly intact. It's certainly well worthy of your time and attention.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld San Francisco Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld San Francisco Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

The Tony Award-winning hit Broadway musical Pippin presents the U.S. national tour, which runs today, Nov. 25, through Nov. 30 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

The producers of the Tony-winning revival of PIPPIN have announced that Kyle Dean Massey will assume the role of Pippin beginning November 4 at the Hollywood Pantages in Los Angeles. PIPPIN makes its Washington, D.C., premiere at the National Theatre December 16 through January 4, with Massey in the role.

On Thursday Evening, October 30th, there was certainly "Magic to Do" backstage at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Ben Vereen, the original "Leading Player" in the 1972 Broadway production of PIPPIN, visited with the cast backstage after watching the performance. Ben was reunited with his original "Pippin", actor John Rubinstein ("Charles"), with whom Ben appeared in the original Broadway production helmed by Bob Fosse. Actors pictured with Ben are Tony-Winner Andrea Martin ("Berthe") Matthew James Thomas ("Pippin"), Sasha Allen ("Leading Player") and more! Check out the photos below!

The Nederlander Organization and the producers of the Tony Winning revival of PIPPIN have announced that Kyle Dean Massey will assume the role of Pippin beginning Tuesday, Nov 4th at the Hollywood Pantages in Los Angeles. He will be replacing Matthew James Thomas who takes his final bow on Sunday, November 2nd.

Arguably, director Diane Paulus' greatest triumph to date is the spectacular new production of PIPPIN, the 2013 Tony-winning revival of Stephen Schwartz's trippy but winsome musical about the angst-riddled but hyper-aspirational young son of King Charlemagne, and his erratic, sometimes frustrating journey of self-discovery. In her marvelously inventive, re-imagined update---now playing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through November 9---Paulus brilliantly orients the topsy-turvy machinations of the entire story within the canvas-lined confines of a big-top circus. Here, the over-the-top performance troupe that 'guides' our hero's search for self-fulfillment aren't merely just actors (or 'players') but are also all agile, athletic circus performers that tumble, leap, and balance themselves for our (and Pippin's) entertainment pleasure. As expected, both Pippin and the audience are equally lulled into submission.

The 2013 Tony Award winning Best Revival of a Musical Pippin made its premiere earlier this week at L.A. Premiere at the Hollywood Pantages, where it will play through November 9th. Tickets are now on sale to the general public online at www.HollywoodPantages.com orwww.Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-982-2787 or at the Hollywood Pantages Box Office located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard (Opens daily at 10am.) Check out a look back at the opening night's red carpet below!

In 1972 Pippin opened on Broadway and became one of the longest running musicals in Broadway history, closing in 1977. Stephen Schwartz's bubbling optimistic tunes made the surreal and sensual mood of the piece an ultra-pleasant experience for theatre goers. One actually left the theatre humming the score. Throughout the dreamlike texture of Pippin's quest for his 'Corner of the Sky', however, there blooms a simplistic, timeless message that reverberates to this day. So, even though this brand new revival set in a circus big top is visually more opulent with high swinging artists and feats of magic, the pieces of the puzzle do fit into place - original director Bob Fosse would approve - and the play's substance is untarnished. Director Diane Paulus may take a bow for her simply stunning ambition of embellishment. I prefer the simplicity of the original, which allows your imagination to take flight, but must own up to enjoying most of the new version. How can you not, as the Fosse-esque style with acrobatics added on make for a visually splendid evening of dance and action.

Today in 1972, Pippin opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1944 performances. Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The original cast included: Eric Berry, Jill Clayburgh, Leland Palmer, Irene Ryan, Ben Vereen, and John Rubinstein.

The entire national touring production of PIPPIN, which launched in Denver last month, has been dedicated to Denver Center for the Performing Arts President Randy Weeks, who died suddenly on Oct. 9 in London.

Deaf West Theatre hosts a memorial to celebrate the life and career of Tony Award-winning actress and deaf activist Phyllis Frelich tonight, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Mark Taper Forum. Ms. Frelich, who was deaf, passed away from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in April. She was 70.

Deaf West Theatre will host a memorial to celebrate the life and career of Tony Award-winning actress and deaf activist Phyllis Frelich on Monday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Mark Taper Forum. Ms. Frelich, who was deaf, passed away from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in April. She was 70.

SHN previously announced that Andrea Martin, who won the 2013 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for creating the role of 'Berthe' in the Broadway production, would reprise the role in the final two weeks (beginning today, October 7 and running through October 19) of the San Francisco engagement at the SHN Golden Gate Theatre.

Long-time friends, associates and family gathered last night (October 6) to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of the theatre community's most treasured members - award-winning sound designer Abe Jacob.

Stars Sasha Allen (Broadway's Hair) and Matthew James Thomas (Broadway's Pippin, Spider-Man) stopped by KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area News yesterday to discuss the musical.

Broadway, film and television casting director Barry Moss passed away in Manhattan on June 17, 2014. He was 74. A video tribute, created by Denise Pence and 'Broadway: The Golden Age' film trilogy filmmaker Rick McKay, honored the legendary casting director at a Memorial Tribute held in Moss's honor in New York City today, September 29th. The 12-minute video tribute includes an interview with 50-year friend John Rubinstein, who is on the road in the new PIPPIN and could not attend, and some rare footage of Lucie Arnaz performing 'They're Playing Our Song,' both shot by McKay. Watch below!

When the curtain first dropped so did my jaw and I was simply amazed at the sheer magnitude of this spectacle of a show!