Pippin
Pippin
My first introduction to Pippin was the Def West Production which I saw four times. I fell in love with the story and the way they told it. When it came time for me to stage the show, I felt like there were pieces missing from the story that I never noticed before. In an attempt to resolve the play within a play ending, I added another play into the mix. I split the leading layer into 3 characters, the main players of a traveling acting troupe. At the opening of the show they pull in on their semi truck and un pack the show. There is a power struggle between the three character so at the end, when Catherine leaves with Pippin, it is actually the actress leaving the company with a man from the audience who was brave enough to say no. My favorite moment is the orgy and how I staged it in the dark with light up raver gloves. I have never seen anything like it before and I am very proud of it. My other concept was to really play up the magic of the show. One of my alumni is also a magician, so we had him design four amazing tricks, and teach all the cast members magic which they did in the audience before the show, creating an amazing interacted element, that is needed to sell then end of the show.
Design Concept: Everything had to come fromm the truck- The stage starts empty with head lights, and engine starts and a truck pulls in. The sets, the boxes, the props the signs, the lights, the tents, it all comes in on the truck and is literally unpacked during the opening number. Most exciting was the use of pyrotechnics through the entire show.
