ONLINE PROGRAM
Pippin
music and lyrics by STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
book by ROGER O. HIRSON
originally produced on broadway by STUART OSTROW and directed by BOB FOSSE
2013 broadway revival directed by DIANE PAULUS
1998 Theo Ending originally conceived by MITCH SEBASTIAN
Pippin is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Presented by StoryBook's Student
Intensive Program
Learn more about our program >
The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production or distributing recordings on any medium, including the Internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author’s rights and actionable under copyright law.
Show photos: Original Broadway Cast
SBT Production photos by Tim Ngyuen
August 18th to September 3rd, 2023
Fridays & Saturdays at 7pm
Sundays at 2pm
running time:
Two act play
150 minute running time with one
15 minute intermission
ABOUT THE SHOW
Pippin is the story of a young man, the son of King Charlemagne. His story is told by an acting troupe, lead by the leading player. The ensemble cast tells the story of Pippin, a young prince who longs to find passion and adventure in his life. To prove his loyalty to his distracted father, King Charles, Pippin goes to war. But when the Leading Player convinces the prince to fight tyranny, Pippin kills Charles and takes over the throne.
Realizing his mistake, Pippin begs the Leading Player to bring his father back to life, and she obliges. The prince falls in love with Catherine, a widow with a young son, and (much to the Leading Player’s chagrin), Pippin struggles to decide whether he should settle down and pursue a peaceful life or continue to make magic with the dazzling troupe of performers.
Summary courtesy of broadway.com
“The brilliant new production of "Pippin," a 1972 coming-of-age tale, boasts everything you could dream of in a musical - including Stephen Schwartz's terrifically tuneful songs - and a few things you couldn't even imagine.”
– NY Daily News
RATING: PG | 12+
Read more about show ratings and recommendations >
Production Inclusion Statics
70% FEMALE/NON-BINARY
REPRESENTATION
84.21% ON STAGE
57.14% OFFSTAGE
32.50% MARGINALIZED REPRESENTATION
26.32% ON STAGE
38.10% OFFSTAGE
15.00% BIPOC
REPRESENTATION
15.79% ON STAGE
14.29% OFFSTAGE
25.00% LGBTQIA2S+
REPRESENTATION
15.79% ON STAGE
33.33% OFFSTAGE
ABOUT THE CREATORS
Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the current Broadway hit WICKED, and has also contributed music and/or lyrics to GODSPELL, PIPPIN, THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER’S WIFE, WORKING (which he also adapted and directed), RAGS, and CHILDREN OF EDEN. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein’s MASS and wrote the title song for the play and movie BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE. For children, he has written songs for two musicals, CAPTAIN LOUIE and MY SON PINOCCHIO. He has also worked in film, collaborating with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney’s ENCHANTED as well as the animated features POCAHONTAS and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and writing the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. His first opera, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, was produced at Opera Santa Barbara and New York City Opera. A book about his career, “Defying Gravity,” has been released by Applause Books. Mr. Schwartz has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a tiny handful of tennis trophies.
Courtesy of Stephen Schwartz's Website
Roger O. Hirson
Roger O. Hirson was an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. He was born on May 5, 1926. Throughout the 1950s, Hirson created a career writing for television anthology series such as The Armstrong Circle Theatre, Goodyear Television Playhouse, Studio One, and The DuPont Show of the Week. He later wrote plays, including World War 2½ and Journey to the Day, which saw off-Broadway runs. Hirson is most notable for his contributions to the musical theatre for having written the books for Walking Happy and the Stephen Schwartz-composed Pippin, which both received Tony Award nominations for Best Musical. Additionally, Hirson won an Emmy Award for his six-hour 1991 television miniseries about first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, A Woman Named Jackie. Prior to a divorce, Hirson was married to actress Alice Hirson (of Dallas and Ellen fame), with whom he had a son, David, who penned the award-winning Broadway comedies La Bête and Wrong Mountain. Hirson died in May 2019 at the age of 93.
Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse, byname of Robert Louis Fosse, (born June 23, 1927, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died September 23, 1987, Washington, D.C.), American dancer, choreographer, and director who revolutionized musicals with his distinct style of dance—including his frequent use of props, signature moves, and provocative steps—and was well known for eschewing light comedic story lines for darker and more-introspective plots. He began on the stage, where he worked on such notable productions as Sweet Charity(1966–67; 1986–87) and Chicago (1975–77), and later had a successful, though brief, film career, which was highlighted by Cabaret (1972).
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to our enchanting journey through the magical musical “Pippin” created by our incredible students of our Student Summer Intensive Program, where the magic of storytelling collides with the captivating melodies of Stephen Schwartz. As the director of this incredible production, I am honoured to share a few thoughts about the remarkable cast and the enchanting music that will unfold before your eyes and ears.
Our cast is a constellation of young talents who have dedicated themselves to mastering their craft. These budding stars have poured their hearts and souls into bringing the characters of "Pippin" to life. With each interaction, each gesture, and each note, they infuse their energy and passion, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of emotions that will undoubtedly resonate with each of you. Their dedication to their roles and their collective commitment to collaboration are the driving forces behind the magic you're about to witness.
The music of "Pippin," composed by the incomparable Stephen Schwartz, is a symphony of emotion and melody. Its notes carry us through a journey of self-discovery, love, and longing, mirroring the challenges and triumphs that define the human experience. From soul-stirring ballads to exuberant anthems, the music serves as a vessel through which our characters express their innermost desires and fears. As you listen, allow yourself to be swept away by the melodies, and let the emotions conveyed by the music resonate within your heart.
As you take your seats and the lights dim, remember that you are an extraordinary part of this journey. The energy and enthusiasm you bring as an audience fuel the performers' spirits, encouraging them to soar to new heights. Be prepared to laugh, to reflect, and to be moved by the stories unfolding before you. Our goal is not only to entertain you but to create a shared experience where we all become immersed in the magic of the moment.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for gracing us with your presence. Your support for these young artists is a testament to the power of the arts to inspire and uplift. Together, we embark on a voyage of creativity, growth, and connection—one that transcends the boundaries of the stage and the seats.
So, as the curtains rise and the first notes fill the air, let us embark on this wondrous journey together. May the performances you witness touch your soul, awaken your imagination, and remind you of the extraordinary magic that lives within us all.
With anticipation and gratitude,
JP Thibodeau
Director
SONG LIST
ACT I
Magic to Do - Teacher, Players
Magic to Do Underscore - Teacher, Players, Pippin
Corner of the Sky - Pippin
Magic Scene Change - Teacher, Players
War Is a Science - Charles, Pippin, Players
Glory - Teacher, Players
Glory Tag - Teacher, Players
Victory Underscore - Players
Corner of the Sky (Reprise) - Pippin
Simple Joys - Players
No Time At All - Berthe, Players
With You - Pippin, Players
Spread a Little Sunshine - Fastrada, Players
Morning Glow - Pippin, Players
ACT II -
Opening Act II - Players
Right Track - Players
There He Was - Catherine
Kind of Woman - Catherine
Extraordinary - Pippin
Love Song - Pippin, Catherine, Players
Corner of the Sky (Last Reprise) - Teacher, Pippin
I Guess I'll Miss the Man - Catherine
Finale - Players
THE COMPANY
THE CAST
Player 1/Pippin Leah Chan
Player 2 Jayden Durksen
Player 3 Alex Frederiksen
Player 4/Theo Ceilidh MacDonald
Player 5 Sawyer Crawford-Clarke
Player 6/Lewis Conor Thomson
Player 7 Madeleine D'Agnillo
Player 8 Kate Probert
Player 9 Annika Keatley
Player 10 Eve Kirby
Player 11 Shian Choong
Player 12 Norah Abercrombie
Player 13 Tristyn Shehata
Player 14 Jaide Demers
Player 15/Catherine Hayoung Chun
Fastrada Maggie Myles
Charles/Headmaster Thomas Zima
Teacher Sarah Haggeman
Berthe Cathy Martin
THE CREW
Director JP Thibodeau
Acting Coach Cassie Doane
Musical Director Joel Schaefer
Choreographer Stephanie Jurkova-Abaco
Stage Manager Serena Lemire
Assistant Stage Manager Justyn Nishimura
Assistant Stage Manager Kennedy Chan
Intimacy Director Anastasia St. Amand
Property Master Niamh McCallion
Set Designer JP Thibodeau
Production Manager Skylar Desjardins
Lighting Designer JP Thibodeau
Lighting Assistant Pearl Nkomo
Wardrobe Designer Madeline Blondal
Hair Designer Cat Bentley
Sound Designer/Programming Skylar Desjardins
Sound Operator Brady Hillman
Sound Operator Aretha Smith
Artistic Director JP Thibodeau
Marketing Director & Graphic Design Jennifer Merio
Show Photography Tim Nguyen
SUPPORTERS, DONORS & CONTRIBUTORS
GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS
PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORTERS
MEDIA SUPPORTERS
DONORS, SUPPORTERS & CONTRIBUTORS
Occasional Notes Productions
Calgary Arts Development
Paul Davies
Teresa O'Regan
Gregory Smith
Clarice Siebens
Lane Olafson
Hesson Persaud
Corinne Spence
Anonymous Trust
Janine Labossiere
Frank Fowler
The Wawanesa Mutual Life Insurance Co.
M.E.G. Energy/Kenneth Wilson
Maria Shaw
THANK YOU TO...
Niamh McCallion
Kenzie Bye
Tula Sarsons
Alexandria Lee
Lianne Smith