Gabrielle McClinton News

Experience the thrilling 2013 Tony Award-winning musical PIPPIN - described as 'An eye-popping, jaw-dropping, VISUALLY STUNNING extravaganza. THE THRILL OF THE SEASON!' by NY1. PIPPIN will have a limited engagement at Sacramento Community Center Theater from Dec. 29 - Jan. 3. The cast includes Gabrielle McClinton as Leading Player; Brian Flores as Pippin; John Rubinstein, who played the role of Pippin in the original Bob Fosse-directed Broadway production, as Charles; Sabrina Harper as Berthe; Bradley Benjamin as Catherine; and Kate Wesler as Fastrada.

There are the warhorse musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin; there are the lavish productions befitting Phantoms in opera houses and French revolutionaries and revisionist fairy tales (and you know the ones I mean); there are the Disney powerhouses; and . . . there are musicals of a quaint, mind-nudging nature that don't quite fit into any category. Certainly THE FANTASTICKS comes to mind, and -- at least in the previous productions I have seen -- Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN. Somewhere in my video collection is a filmed version of the musical with William Katt, and just a few years ago PIPPIN was the first musical staged at the shiny, new Playhouse on the Square (with Alvaro Francisco stepping in for a sidelined Jordan Nichols). I sometimes think that small-scale musicals are better suited to venues less grand than the Orpheum; I needn't have worried, however, as PIPPIN has acquired the kind of theatrical, Cirque du Soleil-style atmosphere that perfectly suits the show's opening number, 'Magic to Do.'

The circus is in town and I ain't talking about Barnum & Bailey! The national tour of the 2013 revival of PIPPIN made its way to the Bayou City and I'm hippopotamusly happy to see this tour! When creative geniuses such as Bob Fosse and Stephen Schwartz are at the helm of the original material, there's no denying that a musical theatre maven such as myself would be overzealous.

Pippin brings the audience into a traveling circus who are performing a tale of Pippen a prince of a land who is struggling with finding himself. Pippen believes he is extraordinary and wants an extraordinary life but find out that an ordinary life may actually be the thing he has been looking for. The same can be said for this production. Pippin the musical really wants to be extraordinary when in fact it is just ordinary. The plot is just so so and none of the musical numbers are catching. There was one very big bright spot however and that was the circus acts.

PIPPIN is playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre through Sunday, August 30th. For shoetimes and ticket information go to www.Broadwaysd.com

Stephen Schwartz's "Pippin" is one of those under appreciated musicals. It definitely has its problems but if done well it can deliver the goods. Well, the current tour of the recent Broadway run certainly delivers those goods. Not only does it retain the dark edginess of the story but it's also infused with thrilling circus routines that make it a crowd pleaser on many levels.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Tours of 'Persuasion,' 'Pippin' and '42nd Street,' dueling productions of 'American Idiot,' Michael Kingston and Jane Lynch solo out, 'Bette' adds a date, Theo Ubique announced 'Blood Brothers,' Porchlight sets the season, and 'The Wiz Live!' gets movin' down the road!

Let's first get this very necessary accolade out of the way: South Coast Repertory's brand new production of Rick Elice's PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is, hands down, one of the most enjoyable, most thrilling, and most engagingly imaginative plays I have seen all season---a fitting capper to the Tony Award-winning Orange County theater's 51st year. This delightfully revised production---which continues performances in Costa Mesa through June 7---re-calibrates the play's hyperactive mixture of mirth and mayhem by further emphasizing its seemingly 'bare-bones' storytelling devices, resulting in one entertaining night of theater that both kids and adults will find endearingly beguiling. Motivated by imagination, I seriously cannot recall the last time I laughed this boisterously and had this much unabashed joy from sitting through a play in quite some time.

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre has confirmed casting for all six shows in the 65th Music Circus season. The stellar cast for the season is loaded with Broadway veterans, some of whom are making their Music Circus debuts, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus productions.

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older. Tickets are now available at www.scr.org.

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs today, May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older.

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older. Tickets are now available at www.scr.org.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Moldy Fig Productions, LCC present THE SONGS OF CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN, a one night only concert event. With Book by Kevin Ray, Andrea Lepcio & Dominic Taylor; Music and Lyrics by Kevin Ray; and Additional Story by Suellen Vance, the concert will be directed by Lee Summers and is set for tonight, July 22nd at 8 p.m. at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Moldy Fig Productions, LCC present THE SONGS OF CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN, a one night only concert event. With Book by Kevin Ray, Andrea Lepcio & Dominic Taylor; Music and Lyrics by Kevin Ray; and Additional Story by Suellen Vance, the concert will be directed by Lee Summers and is set for Tuesday, July 22nd at 8 p.m. at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street.

Tony Award winner John Rubinstein, who made his Broadway debut and received a Theater World Award for creating the title role in the original 1972 production of Pippin, will join the all-new Tony Award winning production of Pippin in the role of 'Charles.' Mr. Rubinstein will play a limited engagement. He was originally scheduled to begin on Friday, but instead, he will start tonight, June 19, and run until Sunday, July 27, 2014 He is filling in for Terrance Mann's leave of absence. Pippin is now playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

Tony Award winner John Rubinstein, who made his Broadway debut and received a Theater World Award for creating the title role in the original 1972 production of Pippin, will join the all-new Tony Award winning production of Pippin in the role of 'Charles.' Mr. Rubinstein will play a limited engagement, Friday, June 20 - Sunday, July 27, 2014, filling in for Terrance Mann's leave of absence. Pippin is now playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

Musicals Tonight! continues its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys, Understudies and Alternates with its next edition of At This Performance... to be held on Monday, April 7th at The Lion Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street at 7 PM.

Just yesterday, Sardi's Restaurant unveiled caricatures for PIPPIN stars Matthew James Thomas, Tony Award winner Patina Miller, Tony Award nominee Charlotte d'Amboise and Rachel Bay Jones. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out complete photo coverage below!

Actor and acrobat Orion Griffiths from the Tony Award-winning PIPPIN was featured today on "CBS This Morning." Correspondent Jamie Wax spoke to the 26 year-old performer about his extraordinary life and making his Broadway debut. Check out his interview below!