Boca Raton Theatre Guild to Present PIPPIN, 1/24-2/9

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild's production of Pippin will open on January 24th and run through February 9th at the Willow Theatre in Boca Raton's Sugar Sand Park.

"Although it's set in medieval times, Pippin is actually a joyous musical satire of the changing American culture in the early 1970s," explains the show's director, Keith Garsson. "It's another of Bob Fosse's classic (yet intimate) shows that proves once again his style has never dated."

According to musical theatre scholar Scott Miller in his 1996 book, From Assassins to West Side Story, "Pippin is a largely under-appreciated musical with a great deal more substance to it than many people realize..."

"The musical comedy highlights a young man (Mike Westrich recently of Tick, Tick... Boom!) who tries to 'find himself'", Garsson continues, "And reflects the baby boomers' coming of age as they took longer to decide careers, life partners, and children. Guiding Pippin through his various peregrinations is the Leading Player (Cabonell Award-winner Reggie White - fresh from the national tour of Porgy and Bess) who opens the show with the classic number Magic To Do. Pippin features one of the most entertaining and vivacious scores in Broadway history by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked)," Garsson says. "And we're thrilled to have Carbonell Award-winner Patti Gardner back after her terrific performance in our 2013 season's production of Chicago, along with Leah Sessa as Katherine, Troy Stanley as King Charlemagne, Conor Walton and Randy Charleville."

"Pippin was my very first professional show, and it almost did not happen," says Reggie Whitehead. I attended the South Eastern Theater Conferences many years ago, and almost missed seeing the director of that particular production. He spotted me (from my 8x10!) in a hallway and said that he had been waiting to see me. He had me come to his hotel suite, where I sang for him, a capella, and read for him. Well, I got the job.

"I love playing the role of the Leading Player," Whitehead continues, "Because I always find something new in the character and the show. This is my third time doing this role, and now that I am a little older, with a different outlook on life in general, I suppose some of that life experience will help me shape this incarnation, at this stage of my life."

Patti Gardner and Mike Westrich are equally excited to be a part of the Boca Raton Theatre Guild's first 2014 production:

"I'm playing two roles: Fastrada and Berthe," says Gardner. "Berthe is the role I've ALWAYS wanted to play ever since I saw the original production of Pippin in New York. Both women are diametrically opposed in every way...so it'll be great fun to do that."

"I'm thrilled to be playing such an amazing role, as I love the score to Pippin," Westrich says. "I love the interpretive nature of the piece and I can't wait to bring a new Pippin to the stage"

Tickets for Pippin are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 561-347-3948.

Performances are on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 pm, and Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets are on sale now, and may be purchased at the Willow Theatre Box Office at 561-347-3948. The Willow Theatre is located at 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton, 33486 (in the heart of Sugar Sand Park, just south of Palmetto Park Road).

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