June 20-23 and 27-30, 2024
(Tickets will go on sale in Spring 2024.)
Summary
In this beloved play-within-a-play, a band of performers presents the story of Pippin, a young adult searching for what makes life extraordinary. Meanwhile the Leading Player, for reasons of her own, tries to send the Pippin actor down a destructive path. The push and pull of the sweet inner story and the dark outer plot makes the show deliciously tense and compelling.
When Pippin premiered, the Band of Players were Commedia dell’Arte. For the 2013 revival, they were a circus troupe. For CEC’s production, they are TikTok-ers… influencers… Insta-famous. So bring your best social media game face!
Book by ROGER O. HIRSON
Music & Lyrics by STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
Directed by: Meg Phillips Crespy
Production Schedule:
Rehearsals will begin April 22. They will run M, Tu, Th, F from 7-10pm.
Performances of Pippin will take place June 20-23 and 27-30, 2024.
Auditions: March 16th and 17th, 2024. Callbacks March 23rd.
Audition Information:
Auditions will run 2-5pm. Please arrive by 2 and plan to stay for the duration.
Callbacks will be Mar 23 from 2-5pm.
If you have a conflict for Mar 16/17, a video submission can be accepted.
Be prepared to sing 32-ish bars (about 1 minute) of a song, preferably a showtune. An accompanist will be present. While any song is acceptable, keep in mind Pippin is a musical comedy. Your song is a chance to showcase comic skills and bring a character to life. TIP: your 32 bars don’t have to begin at the song’s start; you can choose the best part of your song.
You may sing a capella, although accompaniment is preferred. (Most songs can be found at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/ or https://www.musicnotes.com/.) Please bring sheet music in a three-ring binder, or in PDF form on a swipe-able tablet. You may also sing to a recorded track from your phone; if so, please bring a bluetooth speaker or other amplifier.
There will be a dance audition (wear comfortable clothing), and we’ll read sides. The script can be found online at https://www.mtishows.com/news/magic-to-do-with-a-free-read-of-pippin
Casting is open and welcoming to all ages, gender identities, orientation, and ethnicities. We welcome anyone to audition. Understudies may be cast in this production, and/or roles might be double-cast.
If you have any questions, please contact the director at megphillipscrespy@gmail.com.
Characters:
All roles are open to actors of any race/ethnicity, and any body type or ability.
Leading Player – Age: late 20s or above – Charismatic, a charmer, #obsessed with creating an amazing show. A master manipulator; needs therapy but will never seek it. Excellent mover/dancer. Female-identifying or non-binary.
Pippin – Age: late teens to late 20s – The hero of our play-within-a-play. Impressionable, restless. He longs to discover his corner of the sky and tries everything… war, sex, politics, more… before falling for Catherine. The character of Pippin is male-identifying; the “Player” portraying Pippin is female-identifying or non-binary.
Charlemagne – Age: 40s to 60s – King of the Holy Roman Empire and Pippin’s father. Maaaaybe not the best dad in the world. Powerful. Insanely confident. He’s sure that, a millenia after his death, we’ll still know his name… and he’s right! Male-identifying or non-binary.
Lewis – Age: late teens to early 20s – Charlemagne and Fastrada’s son, and a great comic role. Lewis loves weightlifting, Lewis loves wrestling, but most of all, Lewis loves Lewis. Male-identifying or non-binary.
Fastrada – Age: 30s to 50s – Pippin’s stepmother and doting mother to Lewis. Glamorous. Crafty. Captivating. Hell-bent on gaining the throne for her son. Holds her own against Charlemagne, which is pretty impressive. Good mover/dancer. Female-identifying or non-binary.
Berthe – Age: 60s or above. Pippin’s grandmother. Spicy. Funny. Full of wisdom; has zero f**ks to give. Maybe she has something amazing up her sleeve? (In the 2013 revival, she hung from a trapeze!) Berthe encourages Pippin to live life to the fullest… like she does. Female-identifying or non-binary.
Catherine – Age: 20s to 30s – A widow and mother. Hopelessly romantic, entirely human. A great sense of humor; perhaps the funniest role in the show. She encounters Pippin at his lowest point and falls for him. And… maybe the feelings belong to not just Catherine, but also the “Player” who embodies her. Female-identifying or non-binary.
Theo – Age: 13-18 – Catherine’s son. So. Very. Emo. Adults are dumb. Get out of my room. …Also, I kinda need you in my life, so don’t go anywhere, ok? ***Parents of any actor auditioning for this role must acknowledge that they have read the script due to some adult situations.*** The character of Theo is male-identifying; the “Player” portraying Theo can be any gender.
**All roles, except the Leading Player and Pippin, double as part of the chorus.**
Band of Players (chorus) – Age: 18 and above – Heavily showcased throughout, these talented performers play many roles. They take part in scenes, group numbers and, in some cases, featured dances. Seeking all (adult) ages, genders and types.
Pippin is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
