Arden to Star in Center Theatre Group and Deaf West's PIPPIN, 1/15-3/15

The Center Theatre Group and Deaf West's PIPPIN will star Michael Arden and play the Mark Taper Forum, January 15-March 15.

Deaf and hearing actors will share the stage and sign and sing in the show.

The cast will feature Michael Arden, Jonah Blechman, Dan Callaway, Bryan Terrell Clark, Nicolas Conway, Rodrick Covington, James Royce Edwards, TL Forsberg, Sara Gettelfinger, Tyrone Giordano, Harriet Harris, Rebecca Ann Johnson, Troy Kotsur, José F. Lopez Jr., John McGinty, Anthony Natale, Aleks Pevec, Victoria Platt, Ty Taylor, Nikki Tomlinson, Melissa Van Der Schyff, and Alexandria Wailes.

"Pippin" A magical musical comedy and the artful expression of sign language are brought together in CTG and Deaf West Theatre's production of "Pippin" for the opening production of the Taper's 2009 season, January 15 through March 15, 2009. Opening is January 25.

With book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, "Pippin" will be directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, who was at the helm of two previous, highly successful CTG and Deaf West co-productions, "Big River" and "Sleeping Beauty Wakes." "Pippin" is the captivating coming of age story about a young man's search for meaning in his life, as told by a lively band of troubadors in the Roman empire.

The episodic quest of Pippin, the son of the powerful Charlemagne, takes him through battlefields, orgies, revolution, and finally, love and domesticity, as he tries to find a place for his "spirit to run free," for his "corner of the sky." When "Pippin" was first presented on Broadway in 1972, the musical won five Tony Awards and was nominated for 11.

For more information about the Mark Taper Forum to purchase tickets please visit centertheatregroup.org

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.