BWW Blog: Molly Tynes of A.R.T.'s PIPPIN - PIPPIN Gets Political

Hello again! After the craziness of Hurricane Sandy, things are slowly but surely getting back to normal.

At the theater our generator provided only limited power, so most of the building was still dark. Yet somehow this strange and almost creepy setting felt appropriate for rehearsing “Pippin.” Fortunately the power returned on Saturday, so when we began rehearsals this week, things were more or less back to normal.

This week we have been staging the “Politics” section of the show in which Pippin questions the tyrannical rule of his father, joins the uprising against him, and in one of the show’s most beautiful and iconic songs, “Morning Glow,” becomes King himself.

Coincidentally, the Presidential Election was also this week. Many of our company members stayed up into the wee hours on Election Night to watch President Obama’s inspiring acceptance speech. We may have been tired the next day, but we certainly had an extra little glint in our eyes as Matthew James Thomas (Pippin) sang the all too topical lyrics, “Morning glow starts to glimmer when you know winds of change are set to blow and sweep this whole land through. Morning glow is long past due!”

We have also spent much of this week cleaning and perfecting choreography - particularly "War Is a Science." In the original staging, seated soldiers tap out intricate rhythms on their bodies while Charlemagne sings. Our choreographer, Chet Walker, has referenced that staging in our version. To create the right effect, it is imperative that we be absolutely in unison. So Chet's assistant, Brad Musgrove, has been drilling this number with us almost daily. It is really starting to look good!

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Rachel Bay Jones rehearsing the “Politics” section

Diane Paulus directs the cast in “Morning Glow”

Terrence Mann and Matthew James Thomas rehearsing

Olga Karmansky, Molly Tynes, and Viktoria Grimmy pose for a pic

Colin Cunliffe, Anthony Wayne, and Andrew Fitch on a break