Education at Hartford Stage Announces Cast and Production Team for Teen Musical Ensemble Production of PIPPIN

Education at Hartford Stage (Jennifer Roberts, Director of Education) announced today the cast and production team for the Teen Musical Ensemble production of the hit musical Pippin. Tickets are on sale for two public performances at Hartford Stage on Friday, August 11, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 12, at 2 p.m.

With a score from four-time Grammy winner and three-time Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Disney's Pocahontas), and book by Roger O. Hirson, Pippin is the tale of a young prince in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment in life. Guided by the mysterious Leading Player and a band of players, Pippin seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the intrigues of political power, and other worldly temptations. In the end, he is forced to decide whether what he really seeks is an extraordinary life or whether his true happiness lies in simpler joys.

Kendall Kennedy, 15, who attends Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy (CIBA) in East Hartford, and Raymond Soeun, 19, a sophomore at Hofstra University in New York, share the pivotal role of Leading Player. Alex Bilodeau, 15, an East Windsor High School student, plays Pippin.

The cast of Pippin also includes Elena Bachmann, 16, Manchester High School, as Berthe/Player; Jenelle Baldwin, 13, Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, as Newscaster/Noble/Player; Shea Bresnahan, 16, Bacon Academy in Colchester, as Petitioner/Monk/Player; Sam Casertano, 17, Franklin Academy in East Haddam, as Charles/Player; Gabriella Collin, 16, Watkinson School in Hartford, as Girl/Player; Alli Gambrel, 15, Suffield High School, as Courtier/Monk/Player; Cassie George, 15, Glastonbury High School, as Girl/Player; Emily Geremia, 16, Rocky Hill High School, as Fastrada/Player; Ananya Krishnan, 14, University High School of Science and Engineering in Hartford, as Soldier/Player; Dylan Martin, 14, Rocky Hill High School, as Head/Player; Emily Nassiff, 16, EO Smith High School in Mansfield, as Soldier/Peasant/Player; Zoey Roland, 16, South Windsor High School, as Catherine/Player; Collin Slone, 15, Bristol Eastern High School, as Lewis/Player; Violet Trouern-Trend, 14, Simsbury High School, as Theo/Player; Maya Vanderberg, 16, Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana, as Baron/Player; Sophie Vredenburg, 16, Glastonbury High School, as Manson Trio/Newscaster/Player; and Gloria Zhang, 14, Longmeadow High School in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, as Newscaster/Monk/Player.

Pippin will be directed by Lisa Byrne, who helmed the Hartford Stage Teen Musical Ensemble production of Footloose last year. Byrne, who lives in Los Angeles, is celebrating her twelfth summer as part of Hartford Stage's Summer Studio Program.

"Audiences will be amazed by the original choreography in this production," Byrne said. "This ensemble show features feats of magic and beautiful harmonies as the players work together to create battles, love scenes, and an unforgettable finale!"

Pippin features choreography from Alyssa Serrambana and musical direction from Jacob Boergesson. Serrambana, who choreographed Footloose last year, is returning for her fourth year with Hartford Stage Summer Studio. Boergesson, who served as music director for the Hartford Stage Youth Ensemble's production of Bye Bye Birdie last year, is the Vocal Director at R. J. Kinsella Magnet School of Performing Arts in Hartford.

Performances for Pippin will be at Hartford Stage on Friday, August 11, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 12, at 2 p.m. General admission tickets for both performances are $10 and can be purchased at the door, through the Hartford Stage Box Office at 860-527-5151, or online at https://www.hartfordstage.org/education/performances/.

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