Overview
Synopsis
As told by a traveling troupe of actors led by the cunning and charming Leading Player, Pippin is the story of a young prince, heir to the throne, who is searching for his own “corner of the sky.” Pippin returns from university certain that he will find a fulfilling purpose in life. As encouraged by the Leading Player, Pippin dabbles in bloody battle, licentious and lusty sexual entanglements, and saavy political maneuvers, only to discover that true happiness is more complicated than he thought. With infectious tunes by Stephen Schwartz and classic choreography from Bob Fosse, Pippin is both a humorous allegory about growing up and a dark tale of the danger of false appearances and empty promises.
Show Information
- Book
- Roger O. Hirson
- Music
- Stephen Schwartz
- Lyrics
- Stephen Schwartz
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1972
- Genres
- Dark Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- england, middle ages (although deliberately historically inaccurate)
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
The idea for the musical Pippin was sparked when Stephen Schwartz was in college at Carnegie Mellon. He learned the story of “Pippin the Hunchback,” a prince who launched a campaign against his father, Charlemagne, during the middle ages. Upon graduation, he pitched the show to Harold Prince, who recommended that Schwartz add a section that takes place after Charlemagne’s murder. Pippin evolved into a story about a young man trying to find himself and his purpose -- written just as Schwartz
to read the context for Pippin and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The curtain opens, revealing the face of the Leading Player, who welcomes the audience. One by one, players from a traveling theatre troupe join the Leading Player, breaking the fourth wall by singing directly to the crowd, and performing magic tricks, acrobatics, dance, and other spectacles. They inform the audience, “We have magic to do, just for you” (“Magic to Do”).
The Leading Player begins the story by introducing our hero, Pippin, the son of King Charles. He has just
to read the plot for Pippin and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- *Magic to Do – Leading Player and Ensemble
- Corner of the Sky – Pippin
- Welcome Home – Charlemagne, Pippin
- *War Is a Science – Charlemagne, Pippin, and Soldiers
- *Glory – Leading Player and Ensemble
- *Simple Joys" – Leading Player
- No Time at All – Berthe and Ensemble
- With You – Pippin
- *Spread a Little Sunshine – Fastrada and Ensemble
- *Morning Glow – Pippin and Ensemble
Act Two
- *On the Right Track – Leading Player and Pippin
- And There He Was – Catherine
- *Kind of Woman – Catherine and Ensemble
- Extraordinary – Pippin
- Prayer for a Duck – Pippin, Theo, and Catherine
- Love Song – Pippin and Catherine
- I Guess I’ll Miss the Man – Catherine
- Finale -- Leading Player, Fastrada, Pippin, and Ensemble
- Magic Shows and Miracles – Pippin
- Corner of the Sky (Reprise) – Theo
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
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Videos
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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