Seattle Pippin (with rewrites)

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...

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

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

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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.

is the 'full cast' only 6?

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

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

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.

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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.

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.

What concert Sunday?

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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?

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

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.