Gavin Creel to Play PIPPIN?

^In 9th century Europe, a 37 year old guy was probably considered very long in the tooth.

Bearing in mind that Gavin just finished playing Claude two years ago, I think he's just fine age-wise - plus, he can sing the crap out of anything.

Personally, I'd love to see Jonathan Groff play it- I think he's a good fit for the material. Not that Michael Arden or Gavin Creel would be terrible either.

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He definitely doesn't read 40 on stage. I'm willing to suspend my disbelief. (Not saying it will actually STAY suspended, but I think he could pull it off -- and yes, I'd love to hear him sing that score.)

Have to admit: I like both the other suggestions, too (Groff and Arden).

To be fair -- I'm just dying to see this on stage. (And I'm IN Boston, so I'll get to even if it doesnt make it to the Great White Way!)

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I'd never seen Pippin until I saw the Menier Chocolate Factory Production last month - really did not know what to make of it at all.

Would be interesting to see what concept is used for Broadway - the Menier had gone for a video game theme.

"The fan girls (and boys) would go crazy when he takes his shirt off."

Just... ugh.

Does anyone remember that one reason Pippin worked so well the first time was because Fosse was smart enough to cast an actor who could sing in the lead? Creel and Arden certainly have nice voices, but master actors they definitely ain't. They would turn it into Six Flags Over Pippin in nothing flat.

This would be the kind of role that Darren Criss's agent should be suggesting for him, not triple-threat jazz-belter roles.

Pippin is a starring role, sure, but it's a relatively undemanding sing, with potential for dance and physical comedy (evidently Criss's strong suits) and the primary acting requirements for the role are a goofy, self-effacing charm and, at least usually, good looks.

Something like this would suit him WAY more than Finch did, as well as bringing the all-important non-theatre-junkie crowd to a show that doesn't have a "name sell" to anyone but people who are already Fosse or musical theatre aficionados.

I don't know if Pippin, singing-wise, would be any sort of ideal role for Darren Criss. No, it isn't the hardest thing in the world, musically, but the character sings a great deal of the score and barely ever leaves the stage. In a sense, its quite similar to Finch actually, but I think Pippin's music is much harder.

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