Imagine if you were a prince, and your life was like a circus with an entourage of actors and acrobats constantly following you around. Well, starting Wednesday, UP’s theater department is bringing this kind of circus to life by putting on the award-winning musical “Pippin” by Stephen Schwartz. The show will run Wednesday, April 10 through Sunday, April 14 in Mago Hunt.
“Pippin,” directed by performing and fine arts professor Andrew Golla, is the only musical of the school year. Junior theater and philosophy major Sam Baldwin, who is playing Pippin, has been in over seven of UP’s theater productions and said he’s ready for opening night.
“I’m excited,” Baldwin said. “It’s coming together; lots of little things are finally falling into place. We’re all really happy to be doing it.”
“Pippin” premiered on Broadway in 1972 and has received several Tony nominations and awards. The story follows Pippin, a young prince who yearns for adventure in his life. To prove his loyalty to his absent-minded father King Charles, Pippin goes off to war. The Leading Player, the leader of a mysterious acting troupe, convinces the prince to fight tyranny, which leads Pippin to kill Charles and take over the throne. The play follows Pippin as he struggles with his choices, falls in love, and ultimately has to make the decision whether to live a normal life or continue living a life of magic with the troupe of performers.
The musical is free for students on Wednesday and Thursday night, and tickets can be reserved at the box office throughout the week, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Shows will run on Wednesday April 10 to Sunday April at 7:30 pm as well as a matinee performance on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Mago Hunt Center.
Senior theater major Riley Olson, who plays the Leading Player, describes the show and its costumes as “darling.” She’s excited for everyone to see the show and said she has friends and family coming to cheer her on.
“I’m really happy,” Olson said. “It’s been such a fun process for me.”
Colette Clark is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at clarkc22@up.edu.
