Chet Walker News

The Music Box Theatre will soon be home to The American Repertory Theatre production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's Pippin, directed by Diane Paulus. The cast met the press last week, and BroadwayWorld brings you full coverage of the festivities below!

The Music Box Theatre will soon be home to the American Repertory Theatre production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's Pippin, directed by Diane Paulus. The cast features Matthew James Thomas as Pippin, Tony and Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller as Leading Player, Tony Award nominee Terrence Mann as Charles, Tony Award nominee Charlotte d'Amboise as Fastrada, Rachel Bay Jones as Catherine and Tony Award winner Andrea Martin as Berthe. Other members of the company include Erik Altemus as Lewis, Gregory Arsenal, Andrew Cekala, Lolita Costet, Colin Cunliffe, Andrew Fitch, Orion Griffiths, Viktoria Grimmy, Olga Karmansky, Bethany Moore, Brad Musgrove, Stephanie Pope, Philip Rosenberg, YanNick Thomas, Molly Tynes, Anthony Wayne. The cast met the press earlier today and you can check out a photo preview from the festivities below!

This week is all about getting in the mood! We spent last week cleaning vocals and dance steps, reviewing, and adding new elements to support and enhance the show we had already created. This week we get to delve in a little deeper - to focus less on notes, steps, and lines and more on the mood and delivery of what we are doing. What are we trying to communicate with those steps and vocals? How should they feel?

Our first week of rehearsal has just come to a close. As many of you probably know, this production of "Pippin" originated at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA this past winter. Our director, Diane Paulus ("Porgy and Bess," "Hair"), collaborated with Gypsy Snider (a founding director of the circus company Les 7 Doigts de la Main) to create a new context and theme for the show - the circus. However Diane also wanted to incorporate some of the beloved choreography and iconic style from the original 1972 production created by Director/Choreographer Bob Fosse. Our choreographer, Chet Walker (an expert on the Fosse style and a cast member of the original production of "Pippin"), has made several referential nods to the original "Pippin" in his choreography and has even utilized some of the original choreography in a couple of key moments. (For more information on the new concept and the creation of the show, see my previous BroadwayWorld blog posts about our time at the A.R.T. here: http://americanrepertorytheater.org/inside/articles/look-inside-pippin-molly-tynes.)

The Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) box office will open Saturday, March 2nd for the eagerly anticipated American Repertory Theatre production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN, directed by Diane Paulus. Patrons who purchase tickets at the box office on March 2nd will be entered into a drawing to receive two tickets and party passes to the opening night celebration on Thursday, April 25. For more details, visit the box office. PIPPIN begins preview performances on Saturday, March 23.

You've probably seen the movie, but what does FLASHDANCE the Musical have that the movie doesn't? One word. Sas. That's right ladies and gents. Broadway veteran Rachelle Rak has taken on the role of Tess in this brand new musical that is currently sweeping across the US.

Broadway World [BWW] sat down with Broadway veterans, Lloyd Culbreath and Valarie Pettiford, to discuss their efforts to preserve Bob Fosse's legendary choreography for the next generation of dancers. The pair held an exclusive Fosse Workshop in early February and invited fifty professional dancers to learn the signature style and articulation of Fosse choreography.

Producers Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan have announced casting for Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN, directed by Diane Paulus. PIPPIN will begin preview performances on Broadway Saturday, March 23, 2013 and officially open Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre. Tickets are available through www.telecharge.com/pippin, by calling 212-239-6200, and in person beginning Saturday, March 2nd at the Music Box Theatre box office (239 West 45th Street).

PIPPIN ends its pre-Broadway run today, January 20, 2013 at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, Mass., where Diane Paulus serves as Artistic Director.

With the classic 1972 musical on its way back to Broadway, last week's poll asked what other 1970's musical you would like to see revived. Check out your response below!

Today in 1999, Fosse opened at the Broadhurst THeatre, where it ran for 1093 performances. Fosse is a three-act musical revue showcasing the choreography of Bob Fosse. The original Broadway production, conceived and directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Ann Reinking was choreographed by Reinking and Chet Walker. In 2002, Fosse, featuring Reinking and Ben Vereen, was aired as part of the Great Performances series on PBS television. A London production opened at the West End Prince of Wales Theatre on February 8, 2000 and closed January 6, 2001. The musical did not recreate the musical numbers as originally presented but instead had primarily black-and-white costumes (including the all-important hats), set against a simple setting.

Tickets go on sale to the general public today for the first Broadway revival of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN, directed by Diane Paulus, produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan. Tickets are available through www.Telecharge.com, by calling 212-239-6200, and in person beginning Saturday, March 2nd at the Music Box Theatre box office (239 West 45th Street).

Actors Terrence Mann and Charlotte d'Amboise break from PIPPIN to discuss their work in it, their characters, and the changes in theme from the original to Diane Paulus' circus-themed current production.

As BroadwayWorld reported last night, producers Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan will present the American Repertory Theater's 40th Anniversary production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's Pippin, directed by Diane Paulus, on Broadway in the Spring of 2013. PIPPIN will begin preview performances on Broadway on Saturday, March 23, 2013 and officially open on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

Producers Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan present the American Repertory Theater's 40th Anniversary production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's Pippin, directed by Diane Paulus, on Broadway in the Spring of 2013. PIPPIN will begin preview performances on Broadway on Saturday, March 23, 2013 and officially open on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). The marquee just went up at the Music Box and you can check it out below!

Dazzling acrobatics, insightful direction, shrewd performances, and rich new orchestrations make this creaky 1970s pop musical a timely and timeless exploration of personal fulfillment and existential angst

An exclusive ticket pre-sale through Audience Rewards began today at 10 a.m. for the American Repertory Theater's 40th Anniversary production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN, directed by Diane Paulus, produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan. During this pre-sale period, tickets can be purchased at www.AudienceRewards.com. Single tickets go on sale Monday, January 14. PIPPIN will begin preview performances on Broadway Saturday, March 23, 2013 and officially open Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). PIPPIN is currently playing through January 20, 2013 at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, MA, where Diane Paulus serves as Artistic Director. The beloved coming-of-age musical PIPPIN, with a book by Roger O. Hirson, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is directed by Diane Paulus with circus creation by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers) and choreography by Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse. Set design for the A.R.T. production of PIPPIN is by Tony Award-winning designer Scott Pask, costume design by Dominique Lemieux, lighting design by Tony Award-winning designer Kenneth Posner, and sound design by Tony winner and A.R.T. Resident Sound Designer Clive Goodwin. Orchestration is by Larry Hochman (Tony winner for The Book of Mormon), Music Supervision by Nadia Di Giallonardo, and the Music Director is Charlie Alterman. Royal heir Pippin is spurred on by a mysterious group of performers to embark on a death-defying journey to find his "corner of the sky." The original production of PIPPIN, directed by Bob Fosse, premiered on Broadway in 1972. It won five Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards, and ran for close to 2000 performances before closing in 1977. PIPPIN is noted for many Broadway standards including "Corner of the Sky," "Magic To Do," "l Guess I'll Miss The Man," "Glory," "No Time at All," "Morning Glow," and "Love Song."

Just days after producers Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan announced that American Repertory Theater's 40th Anniversary production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN, directed by Diane Paulus, is headed to Broadway in Spring of 2013, the musical has created official pages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - Which 1970's musical should be revived on Broadway next?

As BroadwayWorld reported last night, producers Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan will present the American Repertory Theater's 40th Anniversary production of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's Pippin, directed by Diane Paulus, on Broadway in the Spring of 2013. PIPPIN will begin preview performances on Broadway on Saturday, March 23, 2013 and officially open on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).