Seattle Pippin (with rewrites)

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:18pm

Full cast was just announced for Seattle's Pippin, which Schwartz is in town to do rewrites for.

Louis Hobson is Pippin
Jane Lanier is Fastrada
Kim Huber is Catherine
Keith Byron Kirk is The Leading Player
Mimi Hines is Berthe

Curious to see what he changes...

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:21pm

I love Kim Huber! I expect a full review, Bobby.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:23pm

Of course my darling. Schwartz is also giving a free concert with members of the Pippin company this Sunday.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:27pm

That's interesting in that Schwartz hated what Fosse did with the script of PIPPIN - so much so, that he insisted on directing the Australian production himself. It was a disaster. It will be interesting to see what he has in mind for "rewrites." Sometimes authors actually aren't the best judge of their own material.

[sadiem100]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:30pm

I'm so pissed that I can't go to that concert- I'm going to be flying down to California.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:31pm

Yeah. I know new songs have been written for this production. I'm not sure if any songs will be cut though.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:37pm

Well there are a few songs from PIPPIN that could be cut and the show would be none the worse...

I'm always wary too though of authors who add songs 30 years later. Sondheim wisely realized after the London production of FOLLIES that his newer songs - AH BUT UNDERNEATH and COUNTRY HOUSE may be fine on their own but don't fit at all with the style of the rest of the score.

[morosco]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:37pm

Does anyone know details about how Schwartz envisioned PIPPIN before Fosse became involved? Was it a style issue or substance?

[creasemouse]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:38pm

is the 'full cast' only 6?

i would love to see this show, the score is great.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:39pm

He literally saw the show as being performed in a field by a group of traveling Renaissance street performers...

Fosse's style and tone were VERY different and much more sinister.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:43pm

Crease-Those are the high profile principals. There's a large chorus, and some other roles cast with local actors.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:43pm

And doesn't Schwartz want all his shows performed in a field?

[Pippin]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 4:57pm

schwartz also wanted a large chorus, as you can hear in the vocal arrangements for morning glow. he didn't want it to be such a dancy show. Fosse wanted less people and more movement.


fosse won, and had Schwartz banned from the final rehearsals, apparently.

[jasobres]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 5:01pm

Yeah, that songwriter character in the movie All That Jazz is based upon Schwartz.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 5:03pm

Fosse's work (including the TV commercial he directed) made the show a hit, though, which helped make Schwartz the wealthy man he is today. It will be interesting to hear how much is changed.

[Pippin]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 5:10pm

that is true, because the show was not doing great until that commercial came to be. I'm sure it helped with schwart'z finances, but he already had godspell going for him, and had many long running shows since, so it's not as though fosse "made his career", though he certainly did give him a blockbuster show.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 5:20pm

New songs? Cut songs? What?!?! I understand cutting that horrific "Welcome Home" song/dialogue between Charlemagne and Pippin at the beginning, but everything else in the show is in there for a pretty good reason.

I think Pippin has enormous potential for being adapted into something totally different from its original version. I would love to see a Sweeney-esque reimagining on Broadway.

As for Schwartz reworking it, I know he was displeased with Fosse's original ending, which I agree with. I know that regional/school productions are now required to use Schwartz's ending when they do the show. Yet I really do believe the show is twisted and sinister. There's just too much magic and too many dark themes to offset the relative innocence of the title character.

I'm returning home to Seattle in mid-May and can't wait to see this production.

[boxers7]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 8:05pm

I know that Schwartz has always loved the way most community theatres re-stage the ending (with Theo singing Corner of the Sky) so perhaps he'll work that in.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 8:20pm

What concert Sunday?

[SimpleJoysHaveSimpleVoice]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 8:57pm

How much different is this show from the Los Angeles version put on by Reprise!?

The changes in that show were fresh and the new ending was workable. I spoke with the actors and producers of the Reprise! and none of them mentioned the issues that were mentioned above. They spoke of SS wanting to make the ending more meaningful to the audience, but there was no mention of a Fosse vs. SS divide.

Where is this fued documented? I need info.

thanks

[musicnmath]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 9:23pm

can anyone provide a little more info on the Schwartz vs. Fosse ending?

The only ending I know has Pippin alone on stage refusing to "jump into the flame"...then Catherine comes out with Theo...then they're stripped of clothing, makeup, lights, orchestra. "Pippin...how do you feel?" "Trapped....but happy. Not bad for the end of a musical comedy. Ta da!" or whatever it is.

Which ending is this? And what does the other look like?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 9:28pm

That ending Music is I believe the original Broadway ending; at least its the one preserved in the published script and on the video recording of the show.

Simply Joys, that arguement is detailed at length in ALL HIS JAZZ, a biography about Bob Fosse.

[musicnmath]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 9:52pm

Thanks, Michael. Anyone willing to explain the Schwartz ending then?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 10:05pm

I think it ends with Theo singing a brief reprise of "Corner of the Sky" as the leading players move in closer and closer with a menacing reprise of "Magic to Do."

[alwy15]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 10:39pm

which is interesting because schwartz said he didnt like how dark the ending was.
but with the player cornering in on theo while he sings corner of the sky--- that always seemed more sinister to me. the cycle continues, a bit more chilling, i think.