The four-time Tony Award winning musical comedy Pippin is winning over the Broadway box office. The production that was developed at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts is now grabbing the attention of New Yorkers. Its next stop will be San Francisco and it seems that it will be staged in a few more cities. So be ready to watch this mega creation of Stephen Schwartz and Diane Paulus.
Based on the book by Roger O. Hirson, Pippin the musical is directed by Diane Paulus and its music and lyrics are composed by Stephen Schwartz. The 2012-13 version of the American Repertory Theater is choreographed by Chet Walker with scenic design by Scott Pask and orchestration by Larry Hochman. The production premiered in December 2012 and was moved to Broadway in March 2013.
Cast & Creative
The artistic director of the Harvard University's American Repertory Theater, Diane Marie Paulus has invested all of her efforts in transforming the old piece of seventies into a refreshingly unique musical. The current production features a talented cast including Matthew James Thomas, Patina Mille, Terrence Mann and Charlotte d'Amboise, among others. The principle player leads a group of performers who unveil the story of a young prince, Pippin. The music of Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is the highlight of the play. Before this, Schwartz has penned several stage productions including Godspell, Wicked and Butterflies Are Free, among many others. The brilliant lyricist and composer have also written the lyrics of a number of films including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt. The director of Pippin, Diane Marie Paulus has won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2013. Other than that, she has also got to her credit the Columbia University IAL Diamond Award as well as the Harvard College Women's Leadership Award.
Awards and Honors
In 1973, the original Broadway production of Pippin the musical has won five Tony Awards including the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design. Other than that, it received six Tony nominations in the category of Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score among others. In the same year, Bob Fosse also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Choreographer of the musical. Moreover, the production also grabbed the Drama Desk Award in the category of Outstanding Set Design and Outstanding Costume Design in 1973.
Pippin's stunning revival in 2013 has won four Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical. It has also earned the same number of Drama Desk Awards including awards for Outstanding Revival of a Musical and Outstanding Choreography. On top of this, it has also received seven Outer Critics Circle Awards including awards for Best Actress as well as Best Featured Actor and Actress.
The Pippin Experience
The new outstanding version of the production is everything you could expect from a musical. Ben Brantley of The New York Times claims the musical to be “Astonishing. A Pippin for the 21st century is dazzling & awe-inspiring.” This is true because the directors and choreographers have left no stone unturned in creating this masterpiece. Diane Paulus has raised the bars by taking her artistry and imagination to a whole new level and has come up with one of the most spectacular shows that you would ever see.
The visually appealing extravaganza is sure to leave a joyful impact on the new generation of theatergoers. The Broadway version is pretty much different from the ones performed in schools and the content may not be well-suited for kids.
Some of the amazing songs of the musical include the Morning Glow, Magic to Do, Corner of the Sky and Glory. The music, lighting and acting is just spot on to make up for an entertaining evening. With all this and more, it is no surprise that Pippin tickets are selling like hot cakes.