With a Tony nominated book and score by Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz, Pippin is returning to the Broadway stage for the first time in over three decades. It originally opened on October 18, 1972 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for nearly five years, closing on June 12, 1977. The production won a total of five Tony Awards, including the Best Leading Actor in a Musical award going to Ben Vereen for his performance as the Leading Player, and two awards going to Bob Fosse for both his direction and choreography.
Pippin tells a coming-of-age story about a young prince in a surrealist style as a group of death-defying stunt performers provide Pippin with their own form of encouragement as he tries to find a fulfilling life in his “Corner of the Sky.” The circus atmosphere will be provided by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 Doigts de la Main and choreographer Chet Walker, who appeared in the original Broadway production of Pippin, and whose work on the revival will mimic the legendary style of Bob Fosse.
The upcoming Broadway production will feature the same cast members who premiered Paulus’ production at A.R.T. including Tony Award nominee Patina Miller (Sister Act), taking on the role of Leading Player, Matthew James Thomas (Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark) as Pippin, Tony Award nominee Terrence Mann (Les Misérables) as Charles, Tony Award nominee Charlotte d’Amboise (A Chorus Line) as Fastrada, Rachel Bay Jones (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) as Catherine, and Tony Award winner Andrea Martin (Young Frankenstein) as Berthe.
The production also boasts a highly accomplished design team including scenic design by Tony Award-winner Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon), lighting design by Tony Award-winner Kenneth Posner (Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella), and sound design by Tony Award-winner Clive Goodwin (Once).
