REVOLUTION STAGE COMPANY

Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson’s visionary musical Pippin unfolds as a mesmerizing meta-theatrical experience, brought to life by a traveling troupe of performers under the seductive guidance of the mysterious Leading Player. This charismatic ringmaster serves as both narrator and manipulator, orchestrating the coming-of-age story of Prince Pippin, the idealistic heir to King Charlemagne’s Frankish throne, with equal parts showmanship and sinister intent.

​

Fresh from his university studies and brimming with naive optimism, Pippin embarks on an existential quest to find his “corner of the sky” - that singular purpose that will make his life extraordinary. The Leading Player and their troupe tempt him through a series of increasingly extravagant and dangerous adventures, each more alluring than the last. Pippin tests the glory of war in the rousing Glory, only to discover its horrifying costs. He indulges in hedonistic pleasures and sexual liberation with his captivating grandmother Berthe in the show-stopping No Time at All. He even attempts political revolution and regal responsibility, stepping into his father’s crown with disastrous results. Yet with each new experience, Pippin grows more disillusioned, realizing that fulfillment cannot be found in extremes - a revelation that threatens the Leading Player’s carefully constructed spectacle.

​

Featuring Schwartz’s unforgettable score, from the haunting opener Magic to Do to the plaintive ballad Corner of the Sky, and brought to life through Bob Fosse’s original, Tony-winning choreography (reimagined in the 2013 revival with breathtaking acrobatics), Pippin dazzles with its theatrical magic while delivering a surprisingly profound meditation on maturity and meaning. The musical’s bright, carnival-like atmosphere gradually gives way to darker undertones, exposing the emptiness behind the Leading Player’s promises and the terrifying price of extraordinary pursuits.

​

First captivating audiences in 1972 and winning five Tonys including Best Musical, then triumphantly revived in 2013 with additional Fosse material and circus-inspired staging, Pippin remains a timeless exploration of youthful idealism colliding with hard-won wisdom. It’s a show that challenges its audience to look beyond the glittering surface, asking uncomfortable questions about what truly constitutes an “extraordinary” life - and who gets to define it.