Pippin brings musical theatre back to Australia
Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Pippin, will reopen the Sydney Lyric Theatre at The Star in Sydney on November 24.
It is being brought to Australia by producers, John Frost and Suzanne Jones, along with Foundation Theatres and The Star, in association with Barry and Fran Weissler, and Howard and Janet Kagan.
“We’re thrilled to invite audiences back to the theatre to experience this magical show,” stated John Frost and Suzanne Jones. “We saw this astonishing new production of Pippin in New York where it was the most nominated Broadway show of the year, and it has gone on to thrill audiences across the globe. Now it’s Australia’s turn to enjoy the Pippin magic with this exclusive Sydney season.”
Their production is built on a score by Oscar and Grammy winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell) and is directed by Tony winner, Diane Paulus (Hair, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess). It features choreography by Tony Award nominee, Chet Walker, in the style of Bob Fosse and acrobatics by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal circus company, Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers). Pippin has already generated many Broadway standards such as Corner of the Sky, Magic To Do, Glory, No Time at All, Morning Glow and Love Song.
Pippin’s music and lyrics are by Stephen Schwartz, with music supervision and 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; and sound design by Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm.
The new production has already won four Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical and Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and has won applause such as the New York Times’ comment, “Astonishing. A Pippin for the 21st century. Dazzling and awe-inspiring.”
Pippin was first performed at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University.
“Foundation Theatres is delighted to be reopening the Sydney Lyric in November with this brilliant show,” added Foundation Theatres’ owner, Stephen Found. “We are a proud part of the wonderful tapestry of venues, producers, artists, managers, technicians, crew and creatives that all combine to make magic on our stages, and we want to see them back at work. It’s now time to act to restore confidence in the theatre industry for theatre-goers to feel safe when seeing shows again and for theatre-makers to weave their magic."
Pippin was first performed at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University.
Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100.
- CANDIDE MCDONALD