Pippin

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 1:41am

I know Pippin was revived or whatever in LA with Michael Arden, do you think it will be recorded? I kind of doubted, but I kinda want to buy the Pippin Cast Album, but was hoping for a more current, contemporary sound. Thanks

[bjivie2]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 1:54am

I doubt the concert mounting with Michael Arden will be recorded, only because there are rumors about an upcoming revival of the show. Same reason the Chess concert wasn't preserved on CD.

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 2:05am

It wasn't a revival or a concert. It was a production and run of Pippin produced by REPRISE!. I am pretty sure it was not recorded.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 2:14am

Oh ok cool, Thanks. i'll just put off buying it then.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 2:18am

Reprise is totally musicals in concert. Granted, they don't have their scripts in hand and they have costumes on, but it's totally a concert setting. It's not a full production with sets and full-on costumes and everything. I'd consider it a concert before a full production.

Updated On: 3/19/05 at 02:18 AM

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 2:48am

You must have only gone to one of their actual concert productions. They put on full-scale shows more often though. Pippin was a full-scale show.

[LightMyCandle125]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 3:18am

yeah, pippin was amazing...definitely very much a full-scale show.

and i dont think there is a recording, although i guess that has been established already.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 3:39am

Reprise productions are real productions, as much so as recent revivals of Chicago and Wonderful Town (which also had the orchestra onstage). Pippin was a polished production which lacked only elaborate sets (unnecessary for Pippin in any case). It received unanimous rave reviews (at least all those I read). Performances, singing, dancing, costumes, all were sensational. It was not at all a concert, and as it was done with scarcely two weeks of rehearsal, I'd call it pretty much a miracle. As to it not being recorded, it's a real shame, because the OBC recording has the very weak-voiced John Rubenstein not even coming close to the gorgeous voice of Michael Arden. Anyone who saw Michael in Pippin will be seriously disappointed by the OBC recording.

[RockyRoad]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 3:56am

I wish the Reprise one had been recorded!

[Jimbo2]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 9:47am

So do I! I wish they'd bring back here to NY too!

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 10:17am

Rentboy86, I love the OCR of PIPPIN starring Ben Vereen, John Rubenstein and Irene Ryan. I am not sure what you mean by more "current and contemporary" sound. I think the OCR of PIPPIN sounds just great. If you have not heard it, I suggest you "take a listen." Enjoy!

[Jimbo2]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 10:19am

Did you get to see or hear Arden sing Morning Glow while Pippin was in concert here in NY? With an entire chorus singing backup it was incredible-gave me the chills!

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 10:23am

I would love to hear Arden sing the PIPPIN songs, I never have heard him........Morning Glow is indeed my least favorite song in the score. Corner of the Sky is my favorite song sung by the PIPPIN character. :) My favorite PIPPIN song is Magic To Do, followed by Time to Start Livin' and Average Ordinary Kind of Woman (sorry if I didn't get the titles exactly right) I also think War is a Science is an excellent theater song. :)

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 1:37pm

Thanks for bringing back the subject of Pippin. Yes, the Reprise! production was top shelf. Michael Arden carried the show, Sam Harris was working his chucky 'arse' off, and the remaining players were in a word "ideal". If anyone has a recording...hand it over!

The Reprise! shows at UCLA always have the orchestra on stage due to the fact there is no pit. The fact that they are on stage lends to its own unique experience.

Morning Glow was outstanding and also brought chills to me.

[mallardo]

Posted: 3/19/05 at 2:19pm

Both Encores in New York and Reprise in LA have the same basic template - to resurrect for a few performances older musicals which deserve to be seen and heard again. Yet in New York, Encores enforces the Equity rule that the actors must carry their scripts on stage with them, thus putting them into a lower salary category. While in LA, at Reprise, actors play without scripts performing as they normally would in a full production. Are the Equity rules different on the West Coast?

[eslgr8]

Posted: 3/20/05 at 12:36pm

Very interesting post Mallardo. I don't think the Equity rules are different here, because Musical Theatre Guild does them the same way you describe for Encores (with script in hand). MTG show are "staged readings" and actors are required by Equity to hold their scripts, except during dance numbers I believe. Reprise shows must fall into a different category. I would guess that they are considered actual productions, the only difference being that the orchestra is on stage, and sets are quite simple. Brigadoon was vitually setless (and for that reason I think the production suffered, as it was hard to imagine the heather on the hill), while Babes in Arms and Company had quite clever sets that utilized the orchestra while still giving the feeling of a real stage set. Pippin was somewhere in between. By the way, if you're not familiar with MTG, you should go to their shows. Their full season is at the Alex in Glendale, one performance only. Some of their shows also play in Long Beach and Thousand Oaks. I recently saw them do Redhead (with Jane Lanier) and Roberta (with Kim Huber). Upcoming are Noel Coward's Sail Away (might see it) and Lippa's The Wild Party (June 6, only at the Alex) which I will definitely be seeing. Even script in hand and setless, they do top-notch work, about 90-95% Equity cast, with many Broadway and Regional vets in their casts.
MUSICAL THEATRE LEAGUE

[KindnessofStrangers]

Posted: 3/20/05 at 1:31pm

The REPRISE production of Pippin was quite amazing. Michael Arden with that gorgeous face and voice and cheeky acting style was perfectly cast. His version of Corner of the Sky soared above other versions I've heard. Sam Harris was also terrific as Leading Player. I'd even go so far as to say his version of Magic to Do was superior to Ben Vereen's.

[mallardo]

Posted: 3/20/05 at 2:39pm

eslgr8, thanks, as always, for the heads up. You are a true fount of information. I will definitely try to catch The Wild Party!!!

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/20/05 at 2:52pm

I <3 the OBC, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear Michael Arden's take on the material too...

[BroadwayBound06]

Posted: 3/20/05 at 3:31pm

Does anyone have the link to the video with clips of the Pippin AIDs Day Concert?

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 3/20/05 at 7:43pm

I wasnt able to see the Reprise Pippin, but I saw the World AIDS Day concert and it was nothing short of amazing. That cast was perfect(with the obvious exception of Rosie) and I think if it ever gets revived, they should use that cast

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/21/05 at 4:26pm

anyone hear ARDEN on WallTo Wall Sondheim?
His "Giants in the Sky" was a highlight of the Day!

[Feathah]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 1:11pm

Was Ben Vereen at the World AIDS Day concert?

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 1:22pm

Yes, Ben was involved. There was a video highlights that was just fascinating. I do hope there is a BW revival soon.

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 2:07pm

Is there news on a recording or DVD of the AIDS benefit concert? Does anyone have some scoop?