Why Not PIPPIN Instead of GODSPELL?

I hear from these boards that GODSPELL is headed back to Broadway. I love GODSPELL, and it means a lot to me. It plays about twice a year somewhere local, though - and PIPPIN never does. My mother played the music from Pippin so much when I was a child, that I never even realized it was from the early 70's. The music is very similar to GODSPELL, and I don't think PIPPIN has EVER had a revival (right?) So, I ask you? Why not revive PIPPIN instead of GODSPELL?

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That is a good question? why?

I'd kill to see Michael Arden as Pippin !

J*

"Plus a lot more average theatre-goers have heard of Godspell. "

true, but all you have to do is put, above the title, in huge block letters, "FROM THE CREATOR OF WICKED", and it's box office gold.

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Updated On: 1/4/08 at 04:30 PM

"true, but all you have to do is put, above the title, in huge block letters, "FROM THE CREATOR OF WICKED", and it's box office gold."
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OMG! I didn't even KNOW that! If THAT is the case - then a PIPPIN revival right now could be a box-office BONANZA!

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"It's because Godspell is cheaper to mount."
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No KIDDING! Usually when I see GODSPELL somewhere local there are almost no sets at all! That's fine for local - but are people going to show up for something like that on Broadway? Granite, the PIPPIN sets (I've only seen a DVD version with William Katt & Ben Vereen) are slight compared to something like WICKED... I think they COULD turn it into a stage extravaganza if they WANTED to.

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Godspell is a more audience friendly show. It's easier to stage and since it is ensemble casting the show is "diva retardant" -- it doesn't need a star to sell the show. Everybody recognizes "Day by Day", it's pretty easy to choreograph, and has an upbeat ending. The music has also been updated without hurting the score.

Pippin is a darker show with a rather cold ending. To sell the show today, Pippin and the Leading Player both need to be played by someone who has a box office name. The music is not as recognizable outside the theater community. Everyone expects Fosse or faux-Fosse choreography. And the music is still kind of stuck in the 70s. Plus nobody wants to mess with the comic legacy that Irene Ryan left playing Berthe. Who could do the part justice?

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"Granite, the PIPPIN sets..."


Granite is a rock.

You mean "granted."

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Nice, bobby!

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I think Godspell is a much more appealing show, I just re-watched the movie version a few days ago. All the songs are interesting. Pippin has two great songs and the rest have never held my interest. I could never understand why it ran so long. I recently rented the DVD of the broadway production and had trouble staying awake.

I don't think production costs are much of an issue, stage productions I have seen of each are fairly minimal.

Can I lobby for a broadway production of The Baker's Wife before revivals of either of those shows?

Updated On: 1/4/08 at 06:01 PM

I recently rented the DVD of the broadway production and had trouble staying awake.

What?! Is this a bootleg or are you speaking lies?

"I Guess I'll Miss the Man".


- which is one of my favorite numbers in the show.

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Well in my mind, Godspell is the superior of the two. One of the only things that made Pippin good in the first place was Bob Fosse. His vision, his book changes, his direction, his additions and subtractions. Pippin without Fosse is a VERY weak show. Which is why all following productions have had trouble standing on their own feet. The only way Pippin would work would be if someone recreated the Fosse production from top to bottom, or at least kept all of his changes. Which Schwartz will NEVER let occur.

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I'd rather see Pippin but it seems some shows just won't go away. Let Godspell come around again. Luckily we always have Off-Broadway to tide us over.