Redmond High School (RHS) Theatre Arts students have “magic to do” as they begin their 2009-10 season with the musical comedy “Pippin” on Thursday, Nov. 5.
“Pippin” runs Nov. 5-7 and Nov. 12-14 with performances at 7 p.m. in the RHS Performing Arts Center, 17272 NE 104th St. Tickets, at the door, are $10 for general admission and $7 for students and seniors.
About 70 RHS students, including actors, singers, dancers, musicians and technical crew members, have poured their time and talent into bringing this 1972 Broadway hit to Education Hill.
The show centers on Pippin, the son of King Charlemagne, who is played on the RHS stage by Patrick Mulligan.
The character of Pippin “is disenchanted with his life. He feels that there is something extraordinary, something completely fulfilling out there for him to do, so he launches his quest for his ‘corner of the sky,'” explained Julianna Castro of the RHS Drama Boosters.
Playing King Charlemagne, Dalton Broback noted, “Pippin tries to bask in the glory of war with his father, he tries to experience the physical pleasures of life, and he tries the excitement of performance with the Players. To find out what he actually picks, though, everyone will have to come to the show.”
RHS Theater Arts teacher and director Misty Doty said the story of Pippin “is a universal story. He is us, we are him. Many of us fight against what we need and have because of something that we think we want. This isn’t a story of compromise or giving in. It is a story of discovering what fulfillment is.”
Doty said one reason she chose “Pippin” was to teach her students greater appreciation for movement and how it relates to storytelling and character development. Some of the actors have few lines but are challenged to communicate a great deal through their expressions and movements. Students use magic and stage combat skills in the show, and parts of the story are told with dance choreographed by Kelly Willis, who is also the vocal director.
Willis, who stepped up her directorial duties after Doty became a new mom — a few weeks earlier than expected — said, “The kids are having a great time working with the material. It has quite a bit of history, having been created in the ’70s.”
There was also a movie of “Pippin,” released in 1981.
“It’s more appropriate for high school than junior high kids, a little edgy,” Willis continued. “Because it’s such an ensemble piece, so many kids play an active part.”
The show is “dance heavy,” noted RHS Drama Boosters’ Vicky Broback. Last summer, many of the players studied the style of legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, taking jazz dance classes with Willis and at Redmond’s Gotta Dance studio.
Willis said some had previous dance training and for others, it was brand-new.
“The challenge has been to get kids to understand enough of the Fosse movement to be successful with or without a ton of experience,” Willis stated.
Amelia Samson, who plays Catherine, Pippin’s newfound love, concurred, “This production has had a lot of work put into it, and every single kid involved is talented. We’re all super dedicated to our craft, and we have amazing and dedicated directors.”
In addition to Doty and Willis, those include technical director Ruth Barton, music director Andy Robertson and vocal coach Chris Stagg.
For more information about “Pippin,” visit www.RedmondDrama.org.
