Notable casts
| Character | Original Broadway 1972 | Original West End 1973 | First US Tour [5] 1974 | Second US Tour [6] 1977 |
| Pippin | John Rubinstein | Paul Jones | Barry Williams | Michael Rupert |
| Leading Player | Ben Vereen | Northern Calloway | Irving Lee | Larry Riley |
| Berthe | Irene Ryan [a] | Elisabeth Welch | Dortha Duckworth | Thelma Carpenter |
| Catherine | Jill Clayburgh | Patricia Hodge | Carol Fox Prescott | Alexandra Borrie |
Full Answer
What is the role of the leading player in Pippin?
Characters: Pippin. Leading Player: The leader of a group of actors who serve as a sort of musical prologue to the play, the Leading Player is a roguish magician who appears throughout the play, introducing the characters, filling in much of the background and offering commentary on the goings-on.
Who are the actors in Pippin?
The first national tour opened on September 20, 1974 at the Scranton Cultural Center. The production starred Irving Lee as the Leading Player, Barry Williams as Pippin, I. M. Hobson as Charlemagne, Louisa Flanigan as Fastrada, Adam Grammis as Lewis, Dortha Duckworth as Berthe, Carol Fox Prescott as Catherine, and Eric Brown as Theo.
Who is the leading player?
The Leading Player is the narrator of the show, featured singing and dancing in nearly every scene. The Leading player has a nearly malevolent intensity and sparkling charisma.
Who is Pippin in love with in the song Extraordinary?
The Leading Player resuscitates Charles when Pippin asks, and Pippin continues searching ("On The Right Track"). Finally, he meets a woman named Catherine who has a young son, Theo ("Kind of Woman"). Pippin uneasily settles into family life with Catherine ("Extraordinary"), although he is in love with her ("Love Song").
What does the Leading Player represent in Pippin?
The Leading Player is his Horatio (albeit one with more than a touch of Puck!) The underlying theme of Pippin is not the choice between good and evil/life and death. It is between reality and non-‐reality, the true and the magical ("We've got Magic to do").
Is the Leading Player in Pippin always black?
' And he said back, 'The Leading Player can be anyone. Male. Female African-American, white, whatever demographic or ethnicity you want. ' The only thing he said is that the Leading Player has to feel different from Pippin. The Leading Player has to represent everything Pippin has not experienced in life.
Who is the antagonist in Pippin?
The story is presented to the audience by a touring performance troupe, led by Leading Player, who is the ringmaster, and antagonist. Pippin, the brainy son of the medieval King Charlemagne, has returned from college with a fire in his belly. He's looking for a bigger life, something more, special and meaningful.
Who is Lewis in Pippin?
LEWIS: (MALE; plays 18-25 yrs.) Character Actor, Sings with Ensemble. Pippin's younger brother. A “star” soldier, a proud, strong egotist, not too bright.
Who played the original Pippin on Broadway?
John RubinsteinNotable castsCharacterOriginal Broadway 1972First US Tour 1974PippinJohn RubinsteinBarry WilliamsLeading PlayerBen VereenIrving LeeBertheIrene RyanDortha DuckworthCatherineJill ClayburghCarol Fox Prescott4 more rows
Can Pippin be played by a girl?
Obsessed with putting on a great show for the audience. Gender: Male or Female // Eligible Age: 16+ // Vocal Range: Db3 - Ab4 Dance: Required. Role requires strong sense of physicality and movement. Experience not necessarily required, but dance audition required for this role.
Was Pippin a success?
The show has since become a staple of regional and community theatre. Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, it took home five—including two for Fosse and one for leading man Ben Vereen. The show was revived by director Diane Paulus in 2013, winning four more Tony Awards.
How does Pippin end?
In the original production, the show ends with Pippin, Catherine and Theo together in the middle of a barren stage. In more recent productions, Pippin and Catherine both leave the stage while Theo ends the show by singing a reprise of “Corner of the Sky”, as characters and players join him back on stage.
Is Pippin a tenor?
Pippin (Tenor): The eldest son of Emperor Charlemagne and the story's protagonist. Despite the privilege he enjoys as heir to the throne, Pippin is unfulfilled by what life at court has to offer.
How old is Fastrada in Pippin?
35-50FASTRADA/ PLAYER Age 35-50, Vocal Range A3-F5. Stepmother of Pippin, mother of Lewis, wife of Charlemagne. Comedic seductress who is no stranger to deceit and betrayal.
Who is Pippin's mother?
Pippin was born to Paladin II Took and Eglantine Banks on the spring of TA 2990 (SR 1390). He was the youngest of four children and had three older sisters, Pearl, Pimpernel, and Pervinca.
Is Pippin a good musical?
There are some moments of relief among the songs, but as a musical event Pippin is much less forgivable now than it was in 1972. As a visual experience, a night of fun and just the return of musical theatre, however, it could not be recommended more highly.
Who is the father of Pippin?
Charles: The emperor Charlemagne, Charles is a less-than-attentive father who basically loves Pippin. His education was gained on the field of battle, rather than from books, and his basic preoccupation is with war, carnage, conquest and ruling his empire, as is probably befitting the most powerful man in the world.
Who is the leading player in the play?
Leading Player: The leader of a group of actors who serve as a sort of musical prologue to the play, the Leading Player is a roguish magician who appears throughout the play, introducing the characters, filling in much of the background and offering commentary on the goings-on. It is he who orchestrates the much-anticipated play's “climax.”
Who convinced Pippin that those who work the land should own it?
Peasant: A poor subject of Charlemagne's empire, the Peasant convinces Pippin that those who work the land should own it. Field Marshall: A military leader in Charlemagne's empire, the Field Marshall informs newly-crowned Pippin of impending disaster as the Huns have attacked and there is no army to ward them off.
Who is the widow in Pippin?
Catherine: A widow with a young son and a large estate, Catherine finds Pippin in a distraught state after his debacle at trying to rule his father's empire and takes him in. She is young, attractive, practical, understanding, down-to-earth and in love with Pippin.
Who is Pippin's half brother?
Lewis: Pippin's not-too-bright half-brother, and, after Pippin, heir to the throne, Lewis is doted upon by his mother, Fastrada, as she attempts to promote his chances of becoming principal heir. Not at all like Pippin, Lewis loves weight lifting, wrestling, showing off, and, most of all, Lewis.
What does Beggar tell Pippin?
Beggar: A poor subject of Charlemagne's empire, which Pippin has taken over, the Beggar convinces Pippin of the unfairness of Charlemagne's taxes.
Who is the leading player in Pippin's love interest?
The Leading player has a nearly malevolent intensity and sparkling charisma. Catherine (mezzo) Catherine is Pippin's love interest, a young widow with a small son.
What did the leading player and the players attempt to convince Pippin to do?
Finally, the Leading Player and the Players attempt to convince Pippin to go up in flame ("Finale") as a final statement about his life. Schwartz originally intended the show to end with Pippin happily marrying Catherine. However, the more cynical Fosse wanted Pippin to commit suicide.
What is the story of Pippin and the Magic to Do?
The Leading Player and Players set the stage for a unique dramatic event, introducing Pippin to the audience ("Magic To Do"). Pippin has just returned home from University, and wants to find meaning in his life ("Corner of the Sky," "Welcome Home"). Guided by the Leading Player, Pippin tries war, fighting alongside Charles and Lewis ("War is a Science," "Glory"). Pippin then asks Berthe, his grandmother, for advice, and she suggests sexual experimentation ("Simple Joys," "No Time At All," "With You"). Meanwhile, Fastrada, Pippin's conniving stepmother, concocts a plan to get her son Lewis closer to the throne than Pippin ("Spread A Little Sunshine"). Pippin falls into her trap, killing Charles and attempting to rule the empire ("Morning Glow"). The Leading Player resuscitates Charles when Pippin asks, and Pippin continues searching ("On The Right Track"). Finally, he meets a woman named Catherine who has a young son, Theo ("Kind of Woman"). Pippin uneasily settles into family life with Catherine ("Extraordinary"), although he is in love with her ("Love Song"). Pippin eventually leaves Catherine ("I Guess I'll Miss The Man") and returns to the Leading Player. Finally, the Leading Player and the Players attempt to convince Pippin to go up in flame ("Finale") as a final statement about his life.
What is the name of the movie where Pippin fights Charles and Lewis?
Guided by the Leading Player, Pippin tries war, fighting alongside Charles and Lewis ("War is a Science," "Glory"). Pippin then asks Berthe, his grandmother, for advice, and she suggests sexual experimentation ("Simple Joys," "No Time At All," "With You").
What year did the Tony Awards come out for Pippin?
Awards: 1973 Tony Awards. Best Actor in a Musical (Ben Vereen) Best Choreography (Bob Fosse) Best Direction (Bob Fosse) Pippin follows the son of Charlemagne (who is leader of the Holy Roman Empire) as he struggles to find meaning in his life. The original Broadway production combined suggestions of medieval times in sets and costumes with ...
Who does Pippin meet in Morning Glow?
The Leading Player resuscitates Charles when Pippin asks, and Pippin continues searching ("On The Right Track"). Finally, he meets a woman named Catherine who has a young son, Theo ("Kind of Woman"). Pippin uneasily settles into family life ...
Who is Pippin's grandmother?
Berthe is Pippin's grandmother (Charles' mother), and she is an older woman with a flirtatious taste for young men. Lewis (chorus) Lewis is Pippin's moderately dumb half-brother (Fastrada's son), who is self-obsessed and a good warrior. Lewis has no solo songs, but rather is a featured member of the chorus.
Who is the leading player in Pippin's life?
She has a nearly malevolent intensity and sparkling charisma. Catherine is Pippin's love interest, a young widow with a small son.
Who does Pippin meet in the leading player?
The Leading Player resuscitates Charles when Pippin asks, and Pippin continues searching. Finally, he meets a woman named Catherine who has a young son, Theo. Pippin uneasily settles into family life with Catherine, although he is in love with her. Pippin eventually leaves Catherine and returns to the Leading Player.
What does Pippin ask Berthe for?
Guided by the Leading Player, Pippin tries war, fighting alongside Charles and Lewis. Pippin then asks Berthe, his grandmother, for advice, and she suggests sexual experimentation.
Who wrote the music for Pippin?
Pippin (2013 Broadway Revival) Pippin (2013 Broadway Revival) is a Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto.
Who is Pippin's grandmother?
Berthe is Pippin's grandmother (Charles' mother), an older woman with a flirtatious taste for young men. Lewis is Pippin's moderately dumb half-brother (Fastrada's son), who is self-obsessed and a good warrior. He has no solo songs, but is a featured member of the chorus.
Who directed the original Broadway production of Pippin?
Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance.
Who was the best actress in the 2013 Broadway revival?
Best Revival of a Musical. Best Actress in a Musical. (Patina Miller) Best Featured Actress in a Musical. (Andrea Martin) Best Direction of a Musical. (Diane Paulus) Pippin (2013 Broadway Revival) is a Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson.
