For 40-some years now, Stephen Schwartz's Pippin, the musical about an inquisitive young man in search of meaning in his life - and, notwithstanding, the actual meaning of life - has enraptured audiences, inspired legions of theater devotees and provided any number of young men (and a not insignificant number of young women, either, we suppose) with their go-to audition song in 'Corner of the Sky.'
When you're spending all your time on the road, life can be…well, challenging…even if you are Sasha Allen, who stars as The Leading Player in the completely spectacular and altogether magical national touring company of Pippin, the Tony Award-winning Stephen Schwartz musical that's been mesmerizing audiences all over the country just as certainly as the recent Broadway revival became the talk of the Great White Way.
Tony Award-winning PIPPIN is an acrobatic, twisty, flying, leaping, twirling revival that wowed the Orpheum Theatre crowd in Minneapolis and provides thoughtful insight into the thing called life.
PIPPIN, the Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Roger O. Hirson (book) magical show is now on stage at The Palace Theatre. It tells a modern version of the mythical tale of Pippin, the oldest son of King Charlemagne, and his search for purpose and identity.
Broadway's high-flying, death-defying Tony Award winning hit musical Pippin takes down the Broadway big top today, Sunday, January 4, 2015 after 709 performances and 37 previews. The Pippin national tour is now playing in cities across the US and future productions are planned for London, Australia and Amsterdam. In honor of it's closing, BroadwayWorld brings you a look back at the revival's Broadway run below!
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.
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 - when it makes its Nashville debut at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall for a limited, one-week engagement March 10-15, 2015.
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.
Abigail Shapiro plays the title role in Liberty: A Monumental New Musical. Directed by Evan Pappas, the new musical will play a limited seven-week engagement at Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place) through Tuesday, November 25, 2014. In the video below, the cast of 'Liberty the Musical' welcomes Taylor Swift as New York's new global ambassador - and invites her to the show. Check it out below!
Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include the first preview of SIDE SHOW, Jeremy Jordan at 54 Below, the opening nights of THE REAL THING and THE LAST SHIP, and more!
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.
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.