See Pippin before season ends

THREE WEEKS REMAINING FOR SYDNEY AUDIENCES

SYDNEY-SIDERS have only three weeks remaining to enjoy the magic of the high-flying, death-defying hit Broadway musical PIPPIN before it closes on January 24, 2021 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

Pippin is wowing audiences at the Lyric Theatre Sydney. The season ends on January 24. Photo by Brian Geach

After nine spectacular weeks of performances, the curtain will come down on Sydney’s unforgettable summer hit musical, full of extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats and soaring songs from the composer of Wicked.

The first large scale musical theatre production to open in Australia since COVID-19 led to theatres closing down in March, PIPPIN has paved the way for other shows to follow.

Foundation Theatres, owners of the Lyric and Capitol Theatres, became the first theatres in Australia to welcome back audiences in excess of 1000 into their COVID-Safe Theatres.

300 Jobs Created

Staging the production created jobs in industries which had been decimated by the pandemic - 29 cast and 13 band members were employed during 14 weeks of rehearsals and performances; 66 Creatives, crew and management worked on the show, along with 22 marketing, publicity and production staff; and 150 ushers, bar staff and venue personnel gained employment. 

In total PIPPIN generated employment for almost 300 people who would not have otherwise had work in theatres.

Tens of thousands of guests came back to the theatre, most of whom had not been to a stage show since theatres closed down in March, and those guests stimulated local businesses including restaurants, cafes, bars and retail businesses.

The Australian Premiere was secured exclusively for Sydney by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. 

The role of the young and confused protagonist Pippin is played by Ainsley Melham, while Gabrielle McClinton plays the charming and manipulative Leading Player.

Returning to the stage after an award-winning career on television is Kerri-Anne Kennerley as Berthe, Pippin’s saucy grandmother.

Simon Burke plays Charles, Pippin’s demanding father, with Lucy Maunder as Catherine, a widow who falls in love with Pippin.

In the role of Pippin’s conniving stepmother Fastrada is Leslie Bell, and Euan Doidge plays the role of her son Lewis, Pippin’s half-brother.

The young actors who play the role of Theo, Catherine’s son, are Andy Alexander, George Holahan-Cantwell, William Wheeler and Ryan Yeates.

Also in the cast as Players and Swings are Danik Abishev, Olivia Carniato, Angelique Cassimatis, Bayley Edmends, Joel Granger, Chaska Halliday, Matt Jenson, Adam Malone, Zoe Marshall, Harley McLeish, William Meager, Joe Meldrum, Amy Nightingale-Olsen, Thomas Remaili, Gretel Scarlett, Suzanne Steele, Andrew Sumner and Jessica Ward.

With a beloved score by Oscar and Grammy winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell), PIPPIN tells the story of a young man at a crossroads in his life. Does he follow in the footsteps of his father, one of the most powerful men in the land? Or does he strike out on his own, to find his own ‘corner of the sky’?

PIPPIN is a play within a play. The story is told by a travelling troupe of actors and acrobats (called ‘Players’), directed by the mysterious Leading Player. Like a vaudeville act, the Players both act out the roles of the story and speak directly to the audience.

The captivating new production is directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus (Hair, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess). It features sizzling choreography by Tony Award nominee Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse and circus creation of breathtaking acrobatics by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers).

PIPPIN features many Broadway standards including Corner of the Sky, Magic To Do, Glory, No Time at All, Morning Glow and Love Song.

With a book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, PIPPIN features music supervision by Ryan Cantwell, arrangements by Nadia DiGiallonardo, orchestrations by Tony Award® winner Larry Hochman, scenic design by Tony Award® winner Scott Pask, costume design by Dominique Lemieux, lighting design by Tony Award® winner Kenneth Posner, sound design by Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm.

PIPPIN is produced in Australia by John Frost and Suzanne Jones in association with Barry and Fran Weissler, and Howard and Janet Kagan.

The season at Sydney Lyric Theatre, The Star ends on January 24, 2021.

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