Miller, Mann, d'Amboise, Daunno to Join ART's PIPPIN

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:21pm

"The Tony-nominated actors Patina Miller ('Sister Act'), Terrence Mann ('Les Misérables'), and Charlotte d’Amboise ('A Chorus Line') are expected to take part in the American Repertory Theater’s developmental workshop of the 1972 musical 'Pippin' this summer in advance of a production in December that is being closely followed by Broadway producers.

Another theater actor and singer, Damon Daunno, who had a small role in the 2010 Broadway production of 'Brief Encounter,' is also set to join the workshop as the forlorn prince Pippin, according to two theater executives with knowledge of the casting. The executives spoke on condition of anonymity to share confidential casting information; a spokeswoman for the theater, which is based in Cambridge, Mass., said on Tuesday that she was not aware if any actors had signed contracts yet.

The two executives said that Ms. Miller would perform in the workshop as the Leading Player (the head of a theater troupe who narrates the musical). Ben Vereen played the part in the original Broadway production, winning a Tony as best actor for the role. Mr. Mann and Ms. d’Amboise — who are married – will play King Charles (Pippin’s father) and his wife Fastrada (Pippin’s conniving stepmother), according to the two executives.

No casting has been announced for the closed-door workshop, which runs July 30-Aug. 19, or for the Cambridge production, which is scheduled for Dec. 5 through Jan. 20..."

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/patina-miller-may-fill-ben-vereens-shoes-in-workshop-of-pippin-revival/?smid=tw-nytimesarts&seid=auto

Updated On: 7/11/12 at 05:21 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:47pm

Wow!! I hope this comes to fruition. Patina is a fantastic choice!

[PattiLover]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:49pm

Meh. Not a fan of a female leading player.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:51pm

I think Patina's a pretty great choice. I imagine they want to avoid comparisons to Ben Vereen, so I can understand wanting to have a different concept for the Leading Player. Not to mention, Patina has a lot of star power and charisma, which is pretty important for this role.

[PattiLover]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:55pm

Right, but...I dunno, I always thought Pippin and the Leading Player had a kind of "bromance" thing going on. Like they kind of have a male-bond between them. I understand they want to avoid comparisons to Ben Vereen, but there are other ways. I love Pippin with all my heart and have been dying for a revival. I desperately hope I'm wrong. This is the one show I would go see with a cast of unknowns and it could still work...'cept for Berthe. Who do you think will play her?

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:57pm

Love the idea of Patina as the leading player!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:57pm

Diane doesn't avoid the past, she ignores it!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 5:59pm

Hoping the rumors that Loretta Swit will play Pippin's Grandmother are true.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 6:00pm

That joke never gets not old!

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 6:28pm

I'm gonna say Elaine Stritch for Berthe. How hard can it be to memorize one scene and one song? The scene and song is practically right up her alley anyway -- a cantankerous old biddy with some bawdy laugh lines, and a song well within her range, abilities, and style, including the spoken interruptions. Frankly, I'm surprised no regional theater has thought of this. For all I know, they have, and she just didn't want to leave the city.

(Berthe is technically scripted for more, but let's be honest -- going back to the Fosse production through to now, has she ever taken all of the material actually scripted for her? Even were she to do so, it's a light enough load.)

As for a female Leading Player, I like the idea. It adds a sexual element to Pippin's seduction, and also gives the show a much more contemporary feel, to have a woman in the position of authority. I just don't think Tracie Thoms (in the initial reading) was the best choice; Patina Miller is better, but I'm not thrilled about her either.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 6:41pm

THE LEADING PLAYER should be a Man.
PIPPIN has enough women in his life, adding another woman to the mix upsets the balance.
Berthe: Mother figure
Frastrada: Whore figure
Catherine: Madonna/Saint

It's very simple.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 7:03pm

I STRONGLY dislike female Leading Players (and Emcees in Cabaret). I also do not see a single ounce of charisma other people see in Patina (and I saw her in Hair 3 times and Sister Act twice).

I can't put into words why it urks me for the Leading Player to be female, but I think it makes Pippin's choice at the end more of a "I choose this girl over you" instead of "I choose this LIFE over you." I understand wanting to avoid the Ben Vareen trap but there are plenty of men (of all races) who would make excellent leading players.

Also, Charlotte d'Amboise is talented and a killer dancer, but sexy? I don't see it.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 9:07pm

Slightly off-topic, but Mary Testa is going to be playing Berthe in the production this fall at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. While she's not as old as a lot of previous Berthes have been, I would love to go see the production if I can just for her.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 10:45pm

If this is based in any way on the workshop with the French clown troupe, I kind of have to question the d'Amboise casting as well. I mean, I know it's just a closed workshop, but you'd cast her for the Fosse, not necessarily for the sexy, and I thought this production was supposed to be a Fosse-less angle.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 10:51pm

Who cares about the leading player. I'm so bummed that Gavin isn't in this anymore! I can imagine that he was probably offered more money for the Book of Mormon tour, but if this production of Pippin turns out to be a success and transfers, I was so looking forward to a new Broadway cast recording with Gavin singing these songs.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 10:59pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jayne Houdyshell play Berthe in the last reading? I'd love to see her take a go at it, I think she'd be wonderful.

[random person 112]

Posted: 7/10/12 at 11:03pm

Your right Wizard she was Berthe in the reading. CATS, it was understood from the beginning that Creel would not be playing pippin in the full production and did the reading as a favor to Diane Paulus.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 12:11am

Damon Daunno is an excellent choice. His acting is a little wooden, but he's got some stellar pipes.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 12:16am

A female Leading Player? Ah, the small community theatre not-enough-males-auditioned option. I like it.

And I'm kidding.

Not about the liking it part, though.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 12:27am

ART! Revolutionary! Diane Paulus! Visionary! ART!! Revolutionary!

[timesboylive]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 1:13am

Yeah. Not a big fan.. The best production of PIPPIN I have ever seen was with the leading player, who was more a rock and roll figure (picture adam lambert-ish) and it was brillant and a perfect match. It just worked amazing.. Also, not a fan of Terrance Mann as Charles

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 1:44am

A "Fosse-less" PIPPIN.
WTF is that?
The man took a slight book, a nice contemporary score and turned it into a Broadway Hit!
If you don't find some way to incorperate his vision in the show, you ain't got much.
The way CHICAGO (revival) uses FOSSE influence without being a carbon copy is a big part of it's success. PIPPIN might actually work as CHICAGO does, little but suggestive set, minimal but sexy and medival/modern costumes and just enough FOSSE movement. Trying to take it in a whole different direction would take a genius, I'm not sure Paulus is that.
The concert version McGonicle produced of PIPPIN with Arden, Benanti, Mann, O'Donnell, Tartaglia, Busch, Vereen, etc. etc. etc., worked because it captured the make-shift aspects and the performers were passionate about the material.
With 2 revival TONYS, Paulus has a pretty free range to tackle what she wants, good luck to her.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 1:44am

Didn't Katie Finneran play Fastrada in one of the readings? She's definitely a different type than D'Amboise, but neither of them really seem to fit the "sexy" mold, so who knows what they're going for with that role.

And I don't think Gavin was ever supposed to play that role in this production. I remember reading on here or hearing elsewhere that that he just did the workshop as a favor to Paulus and that they were looking for someone else for the actual production.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 2:18am

I tend to agree with you, Curtain, about a Fosse-less Pippin. It hasn't worked for Sweet Charity revivals (IMHO), and would work even less for Pippin. I know the Menier production in London this past year got some great reviews (and some bad ones)--I was curious to see clips since they took the weird, modern video game framing device but also used a lot of Fosse's choreography.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 4:18am

I'm on the fence about a female Leading Player. Take it or leave it, but willing to wait and see. As for Fastrada, I don't think she needs to be stereotypically sexy. Sexy is a mindset. My favorite Fastrada ever (and I love Pippin and see it whenever I have the chance) was played by a short, plump character actress. SHE was the most sexually charged Fastrada I'd ever seen -- and it brought a lot to the idea of sex and power. I'm willing to see any "type" take on this role.

I, too, am disappointed that there is no Gavin. Although a bit old for the part, I thought he would have been fabulous. I do not know Duanno's work at all.

I would imagine that, with Diane Paulus recent successes (agree or not, she has won 2 Tonys with her 2 revivals) that NY producers are lined up to get a piece of this.