The musical "Pippin," with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, has enjoyed a long and varied life on stages around the world since its original Broadway premiere. Directed by the influential Bob Fosse, who also contributed additional material to the libretto, the show tells the story of a young prince searching for meaning and significance, often breaking the fourth wall in its narrative. Its journey began in New York
City in 1972 and has since encompassed numerous national tours, international productions, and a critically acclaimed Broadway revival, each adding to its rich theatrical history.
The Groundbreaking Original Broadway Production
"Pippin" first captivated audiences on October 23, 1972, at the Imperial Theatre in New York City. This initial run was a significant success, continuing uninterrupted until 1977. The production was recognized with five Tony Awards, solidifying its place in Broadway history. A notable aspect of its promotion was its innovative advertising campaign, which included the first-ever TV commercial to feature actual scenes from a Broadway show. This 60-second commercial showcased Ben Vereen, who played the Leading Player, alongside chorus dancers Candy Brown and Pamela Sousa, performing an instrumental dance sequence from the song "Glory." The commercial concluded with a memorable tagline: "You can see the other 119 minutes of Pippin live at the Imperial Theatre, without commercial interruption."
Musical theatre scholar Scott Miller, in his 1996 book *From Assassins to West Side Story*, highlighted the original production's depth, noting that if performed as Bob Fosse envisioned, the show is "surreal and disturbing." Fosse incorporated "quasi-Brechtian elements" to engage audiences, utilizing Brecht's 'distancing effect' to encourage analysis of the play's meaning rather than passive consumption. This approach aimed to empower spectators to confront the frustrations of ordinary life and the fruitlessness of Pippin's revolutionary attempts, ultimately allowing them to decide for themselves the play's implications.
Early Tours and International Expansions
Following its Broadway success, "Pippin" embarked on its first U.S. tour, which opened on September 20, 1974, at the Scranton Cultural Center. This tour featured Barry Williams as Pippin and Irving Lee as the Leading Player, running until April 5, 1975. The musical also quickly crossed international borders. The original Australian production, a replica of the Broadway show, premiered in February 1974 at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne, starring John Farnham as Pippin. It later transferred to Sydney in August of the same year, and a cast album was released, reaching 60th on the Australian charts.
In 1974, "Pippin" made its Spanish-language debut in Mexico City at Teatro de los Insurgentes, produced by Mexican pop singer Julissa, who also played Catherine. The musical then had its African debut on June 10, 1975, at His Majesty's Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, produced by Des and Dawn Lindberg. These early international stagings demonstrated the musical's broad appeal and adaptability across different cultures and languages.
The Resurgence: Broadway Revival and Subsequent Tours
A significant milestone in "Pippin's" history was its Broadway revival, which began in 2013. This production garnered considerable acclaim, winning four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Actress in a Musical for Patina Miller. The success of the revival led to a fourth U.S. tour, which launched in September 2014 at the Buell Theatre in Denver, Colorado. This tour featured Sasha Allen as Leading Player and Kyle Selig as Pippin, with John Rubinstein reprising his role as Charles from the original Broadway production. Andrea Martin also reprised her Tony-winning role as Berthe for parts of this tour.
Beyond the major Broadway revival and its subsequent tour, "Pippin" continued to see diverse productions. In 2006, a third U.S. tour opened, featuring Andre Ward as the Leading Player and Micky Dolenz as Charlemagne. Various regional and specialized productions also emerged, such as the East West Players' diverse and inclusive version, which featured an all-artists-of-color cast and incorporated aesthetics inspired by Japanese anime and hip-hop. Another notable production in 2009 at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles radically changed the setting to a modern tone and included deaf actors using American Sign Language, with Tyrone Giordano playing Pippin and Michael Arden providing his voice. These varied interpretations highlight the enduring relevance and flexibility of "Pippin" as a theatrical work, allowing it to be reimagined for new audiences and contexts while retaining its core themes.
