Fall Info

Sep 24-28
Tuesday- 3-4pm Pippin and Catherine

Wednesday- 3-4pm All Pippin leads except for Pippin and Catherine

Thursday- 3-4pm All Pippin Leads

October 1-5:

Tuesday- 3:45-4:45pm Ensemble and Leads

Wednesday- 3-4:30pm Ensemble and Leads

Thursday- 3-4:30pm Ensemble and Leads

Friday- 3-4pm Ensemble and Leads

October 9 Wednesday-3-4:30pm Full Pippin Ensemble

Oct 8-12     Mon-Fri     Principal Cast - Read Thru/Blocking
                    Mon        4-5:30pm
                    Tue           4-5:30pm
                    Wed          3-4:30pm      4:30-6pm (principals)
                    Thu            3-5:30pm
                    Fri             3-5:30pm

Oct 15         Mon         4-5:30pm     Principal Cast
Oct 16         Tue          4-5:30pm     Principal Cast
Oct 17        Wed          3-4pm         Music- Principals (Choral Rm) No other Reh
Oct 18/19   Thu/Fri    3-5pm        All Cast

Oct 22         Mon         4-5:30pm
Oct 23         Tue          4-5:30pm    NO REHEARSAL
Oct 24        Wed          3-5pm
Oct 25/26 Thu/Fri    3-5pm        All Cast

REVISED
Oct 29         Mon         3-5:30pm     All Cast
Oct 30         Tue          3-5:30pm    Principal Cast / dance
Oct 31        Wed          3-5:30pm   All Cast
Nov 1         Thu          3-5pm         All Cast

FALL BREAK

ELECTION DAY
Nov 6 Tue 11-2pm All Available Cast

Nov 7-9 Wed-Fri 3-6pm All Cast

Nov 12/13   Mon/Tue 3-7pm        All Cast
Nov 14        Wed         3pm            Preview (4pm go time)
Nov 15,16,17 M-W     5:30pm      Show -7pm
Nov 18        Sun           12:30pm    Show-2pm

Nov 19 Mon 3pm Strike

This should avoid any ensemble (SING/SONG) conflicts on Mon & Tue, and we will default to ensemble rehearsal over Pippin.

Catherine, a widow ................................................. Morgan Papesh

Join Us (1-3 & 4)
Calvin-УAnd MerrimentФ Rachel-УMurderФ Kendall -УLustФ-

Love Dancers (Уromance, Sex presentedФ): Anne Burke Laurel Demkovich Hannah Witting

Revolutionaries/Monks: Casey Terry, Daniel Straka, Jenna Hoffmann, Micahel Han Thomas Speraza

Calvin-УIsnТt that TrueФ Casey -УBecome Engulfed-FlameФ
Rachel -УBecome Flame itselfФ

(79) Rohan-Уthink of the radianceФ Kendall-УRemember the BeautyФ Jenna-УThunderous ApplauseФ

Student Director/Student Choreographer - Colleen Kifer
Asst Student Director -
Production Assistants -

We would like to thank everyone who auditioned.
It was difficult choice to choose from so many talent people.
Thanks for auditioning and we encourage you to work on PIPPIN.
We are looking for Production Assistants and other positions.

                Oct 30-Nov 19 Production Week (Fall Break Nov 2 & 5 possible rehearsals)
                November 14-16 Tech Week/Final Dress Rehearsals
                November 14- Preview, parents may take flash pictures, video 4pm go-time
                November 15-17 - show call 5:30pm showtime 7pm
                November 18 - Sunday Matinee call 12:30pm showtime 2pm

A troupe of players appears on stage (Magic to Do) the guided by the Leading Player, a sort of narrator/company manager rolled into one.
They endeavor to retell the medieval legend of Holy Roman Emperor CharlemagneТs son Pippin.
Pippin having returned from his studies as university begins his search for the meaning and truth for his УextraordinaryФ life.

The Leading Player and troupe guide Pippin though various life experiences (war, physical love, politics, revolution)
with him finding none of these completely satisfying.

He final lands dejected with the widow Catherine, a plain, ordinary woman with a small boy and a large estate, who out of pity,
and an attraction to the arch of his foot, takes him in.
She makes УactingФ mistakes while playing her role, which prompts the Leading Player to break into the scene and correct her.
Pippin reluctantly at first becomes a part of the daily routine. Then Theo comes to him with his sick duck.
Catherine and Pippin are finally drawn together in a classic musical theater love song.
Pippin, feeling trapped and realizing that this is all his life will be, runs away.

Now facing the entire troupe of actors, he is shown a Grande Finale where one of the players sets themselves on fire.
It is only trick, but the troupe is tempting him to do the extraordinary finale for real satisfying PippinТs desire for complete fulfillment.
As the music builds, Pippin prepares to enter the box with the torch when he finally relents.
Catherine appears with Theo to further УruinФ the troupeТs Grande Finale.
The leading Player takes away all the sets, costumes lights and music leaving Pippin, Catharine and Theo on a bare stage.

MAIN CHARACTERS Ц S=Major Singing N=non-singing s=small singing (everyone will be expected to sing in chorus)

Leading Player (M or F) S Ц The leader/narrator of the acting troupe, very dynamic, leads Pippin though his life experiences.

Pippin- M -S Ц Young man in 20s who believes he is extraordinary and deserves and extraordinary life- son of Charles.

Charles- M - S Ц 50s Is a loud, bombastic and domineering Charlemagne, the father of Pippin and Lewis.

Lewis- M Ц N Ц PippinТs half brother who is addicted to the physical Уan ideal soldier strong and stupidФ Son of Fastrada.

Fastrada Ц F- S Ц 30s Second wife to Charles, is cunning who feigns innocence in an effort to gain the throne for her son, Lewis.

Berthe Ц F Ц S Ц 60s CharlesТ mother and PippinТs Grandmother, is a feisty yet wise woman who enjoys all that life has to offer.

Catherine Ц F Ц S - 30s Ц a widow with a large estate and a small son, an ordinary woman becomes PippinТs love interest.

Theo Ц M Ц n Ц 10 Ц The small son of Catherine who at first does not like Pippin but comes around later.

Supporting Roles and Background singers (NOTE: The chorus is gender neutral so women appear as soldiers, etc.)

THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION ran for nearly 2000 performances on Broadway and started the careers of Ben Vereen (the Leading Player), Jill Clayburgh (Catherine), John Rubinstein (Pippin), Leland Palmer and Ann Reinking. During the original run, Irene Ryan (Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies") collapsed and died after performing the big showstopper, "No Time At All." It cemented Stephen Schwartz as a major force in musical theatre. Pippin was the first Broadway show to use commerical TV ads - it aired tantalizing segments from the "Glory" soft-shoe section."

Beguiling, highly original and...just plain wonderful!" - Boston Globe

"Extraordinary music theatre!" - Daily News

"Splendiferous theatricality, the kick of a lighting bolt and a passionate knack for being entertaining." -Time Magazine

At the rise of the curtain, the stage is filled with smoke and in total darkness with the exception of stark white moving hands. From the center of these rotating hands comes the face of the Leading Player. He crosses down to the audience and sings. As the song continues, a bare stage populated by a group of Actors becomes clearly visible. Their costumes are of an undetermined period. It is clear that they are definitely Players in a theatrical caravan of some kind. One by one, they all come forward and join the Leading Player in welcoming the audience with a song. ("Magic To Do") The song develops into a dance which involves all kinds of magic tricks, etc.

The Leading Player informs the audience that they are about to see "the most mysterious tale with magic, merriment, lust, murder, holy war, and a climax never before seen on a public stage." With that said, a Player jumps up with a lighted torch in hand, but the Leading Player quickly dismisses him saying that the "climax" will be "later."

The audience then learns that today's tale concerns the first-born son of Charlemagne, and is entitled "Pippin: His Life and Times." As a child, Pippin had a tremendous thirst for knowledge, so his father, Charlemagne, sent him to the University of Padua where he was scholar of the house. When Pippin finishes school he returns home where the audience meets him. Pippin is a young man who doesn't want to waste his life in pursuit of common things. He knows there must be something completely fulfilling out there--something that can't be found in books. ("Corner of the Sky")

When Pippin returned from Padua, it took four days for his father to finally visit with him. Father and son attempt to carry on a meaningful conversation, but it is obvious that Charlemagne has other more important matters on his mind. The Leading Player then introduces Lewis. He is Pippin's half brother, and, after Pippin, heir to the throne. Lewis is obsessed with the physical and in love with himself. The Leading Player also introduces Fastrada, Pippin's step-mother, who is a devious, crafty, cunning, (but warm and wonderful) mother, dedicated to gaining the throne for her darling son, Lewis. She talks with her husband and informs him that she has overdrawn her allowance once again. The King wonders if she is worth all the trouble, but he has more important matters of state to attend to. Charlemagne leaves Pippin and while he is alone, Pippin notices everyone around him preparing for the Visigoth campaign, which is reaching its peak.

A frustrated Pippin goes to talk with his father, for he knows now that he wants to be a soldier and join his father in the campaign against the Visigoths. His father denies his request, but Pippin argues that he is next in line for the throne and might be fighting his own war someday. He also points out that Lewis is going. Charlemagne agrees, and Pippin gets a helmet and joins his father in battle.

The soldiers begin preparing to fight the Visigoths, but the eager Pippin keeps getting in the way of his father's very meticulous war campaign strategies. ("War Is A Science") Charlemagne becomes frustrated with Pippin's constant interruptions and finally tells him that he finds his attitude rather disturbing. He calms Pippin down and asks him and Lewis to join him in prayer. That's the way he likes to spend the night before battle. With that, Charlemagne and his men pray for victory.

In the Chapel at Arles, Charlemagne is praying with some monks. Pippin enters disguised as a monk and after confronting his father about the entire harm he has brought to his subjects, takes a knife and strikes him to the ground. The monks all rise and bow to their new king. ("Morning Glow") It appears to be a time of new hope for everyone.

So Pippin becomes King of the Holy Roman Empire and he prepares himself to hear petitions from the many people in his kingdom. He gives money to the poor, gives land to the peasants, and abolishes taxes for everyone. Along with this he also abolishes the army. Unfortunately, when the Infidel Huns attack they have no money or army to fight back. Soon, Pippin is forced to revoke all the promises he made, and as a result, he becomes very unpopular. Not knowing what to do, Pippin goes to pray at the body of his dead father. Without thinking, he asks his father if he could have his knife back and then Charlemagne does just that. The King then takes the crown from Pippin and leaves Left alone, Pippin muses about his situation: HeТs getting old and feels that he hasn't done anything with his life. The Leading Player assures Pippin that things will change. He just needs to keep trying. ("On the Right Track") Pippin tries a variety of other professions, but nothing seems to satisfy him.

Enter Catherine. She is a widow with a small boy and a large estate. When she first sees Pippin, he is a lying on a road like a discarded rag. ("There He Was") It is obvious that he has lost the will to live. She cleans him up and tries to interest him in something. She starts off by telling Pippin all about herself. ("Kind of Woman") Basically, Catherine is a very ordinary woman with ordinary needs. Unfortunately, nothing she says to Pippin makes him change.

She finally sends her young son, Theo, to talk with Pippin since no man can resist the charm of a small boy. Theo tries to show Pippin his duck, but Pippin shows no interest in this or anything else. Catherine is just about at the end of her rope when she decides to give Pippin one more chance. She talks with him and finds out that he is completely in despair because he has an overwhelming need to be fulfilled and is not. After all of the time she spent waiting to find out what ailed Pippin, Catherine responds "That's all!" She then tells Pippin a bit about despair. She had a husband she loved very much, but he was struck by fever and taken from her. She felt that her life was over; however, there was an estate to run and a boy to raise. Life goes on! She then asks Pippin to help her run the estate, and he hops out of bed and starts becoming part of her everyday life doing everyday chores. This work really doesn't really interest him either. After all, he was at one time emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, not a common laborer. ("Extraordinary")

Pippin finally decides that he has had enough of menial chores around Catherine's estate and he tells her that he is leaving. Then, Theo's duck, Otto, gets sick and the young boy comes to Pippin for help. Pippin tries to tell the boy that he doesn't know anything about ducks, but looks at Otto. All he can do is pray for the duck to recover. ("Prayer For A Duck") Unfortunately, the duck dies and Theo is heartbroken. Theo plunges himself into monumental despair. While on the other hand, Pippin, the Prince of Despair, dedicates himself to raising the boy's spirits. He persists in trying to help the young boy, but to no avail.

In the course of all this, however, he finds himself becoming more and more attracted to Catherine. Eventually, the two of them fall in love. ("Love Song") Six months go by and Catherine and Theo throw a little party for Pippin. Theo even makes Pippin a little wooden flute. Pippin realizes that the three of them are becoming quite a little family and the thought completely terrifies him. Pippin tells Catherine that he must leave. He's convinced that there must be more out there. Pippin leaves and Catherine is left alone to reflect on how much he affected her life. ("I Guess I'll Miss the Man")

Pippin is once again very discouraged and sits by himself all alone. It appears that nothing is completely fulfilling. The Leading Player assures him that indeed there is something fulfilling: "The Finale!" The Leading Player then claps his hands and the Player with the torch who appeared briefly in the opening jumps in and a trick fire-box is rolled on. The Player with the torch goes upstage of the box. Another player steps inside the box. A cloth is held up in front of the box which reads "Pippin's Grand Finale." The Player with the torch sets fire to a dummy inside the box who is supposed to be a man. The cloth is lowered. We see the dummy burn. After it burns, the cloth is brought up again and the Player steps in front of it. It is a very realistic and frightening trick, and when it is over, the Troupe applauds.

Pippin is a bit under whelmed by this since it is obvious that it is just a trick. The Leading Player assures him that when Pippin does it, it will be for real. He basically is asking Pippin to set himself on fire. The Leading Player prepares for Pippin to do this, and announces it to the audience. Pippin wants to do something extraordinary. Well, what could be more extraordinary than this? ("Finale") The Leading Player and all the rest of the Players slowly "seduce" Pippin into walking into the box, but just before he is about to do it, he stops. Catherine and Theo appear and slowly Pippin turns to them and goes toward them. The Leading Player is infuriated by this, and wants Pippin to continue with the Finale.

Pippin takes Catherine and Theo by the hand, and the three of them stand together. The Leading Player threatens Pippin - showing him what life would be like without colored lights, costumes, and make-up. Pretty soon, all the theatrical effects are gone and Pippin, Catherine, and Theo are standing on stage in black tights.

The Leading Player apologizes to the audience for this and the Players all leave the stage. The lights all go out - except for a work light, which a stage manager brings out. Even the orchestra packs up and leaves. Pippin, Catherine, and Theo are virtually alone. Catherine asks Pippin if he feels he has compromised. He answers "no." She asks him if he feels like a coward. Again he responds Уno.Ф He can only tell her that he feels Уtrapped but happy .Ф End thus ends this musical comedy.

The following roles/chorus will be cast after the callback audition is complete including some who were called back but did not get called back.