STAGE TUBE: Stephen Schwartz on the History of PIPPIN, Value of Cast Recordings & More

A video interview with Stephen Schwartz, PIPPIN's composer and lyricist, recently debuted on the revival's new cast recording, which is resting easy at the top of Billboard's Cast Album Chart. Check out what Schwartz had to say on the the history of PIPPIN, bringing the score to life in a modern recording studio, and more in the video!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) production of PIPPIN is directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus and features choreography by Tony Award nominee Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse and circus creation by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers).

The cast features Matthew James Thomas as Pippin, Tony Award winner 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 two time Tony Award winner Andrea Martin as Berthe. Other members of the company include Erik Altemus, Grégory Arsenal, Andrew Cekala, Lolita Costet, Colin Cunliffe, Andrew Fitch, Orion Griffiths, Viktoria Grimmy, Sabrina Harper, Olga Karmansky, Bethany Moore, Brad Musgrove, Stephanie Pope, Philip Rosenberg, YanNick Thomas, Molly Tynes,Anthony Wayne and Ashton Woerz.

Matthew James Thomas is appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity. The producers gratefully acknowledge Actors' Equity Association for its assistance on this production.

With a book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Schwartz, PIPPIN features 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, sound design by Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm, Inc., 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 ofPIPPIN, 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. This production of PIPPIN made its debut at American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, MA, where Diane Paulus serves as Artistic Director; December 5, 2012 to January 20, 2013.

Tickets for PIPPIN are available through www.telecharge.com/pippin, by calling 212-239-6200, and in person at the Music Box Theatre box office (239 West 45thStreet). Tickets range in price from $142 to $59 (all prices include a $2.00 facility fee). Premium seating is available.