Pippin, 2021

I was the dramaturg for EPE's production of Pippin, by Bob Fosse and Stephen Schwartz, in 2021. I gave a couple of presentations to the cast about the history, the content, and the director's vision. I also wrote a short note for the program:

Pippin. The classic coming-of-age tale where a young man seeks to find his purpose in life, frequently by taking the women around him for granted. Pippin was written and created by Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics), Roger O'Hirson (book), and Bob Fosse (director, choreographer) and opened on Broadway in 1972. Originally, reviews weren't great for the musical as many critics weren't happy with the somewhat “boring” or uninspired plot. But no one had a bad thing to say about Bob Fosse’s somewhat demonic and extraordinarily creepy staging and direction. With its themes of existentialism and influence from the 1960s anti-war movement, Pippin is an undeniably captivating show as we watch the title character struggle to find his “corner of the sky” time and time again to no avail. Pippin eventually turned into a common show for high schools and amateur theatre companies to do, given its ‘coming of age’ themes. Many of these productions, however, are rarely faithful to the dark undertones of the original production, prompting critics like Scott Miller to claim that “Pippin is a largely under-appreciated musical with a great deal more substance to it than many people realize....Because of its 1970s pop style score…, the show now has a reputation for being merely cute and harmlessly naughty; but if done the way director Bob Fosse envisioned it, the show is surreal and disturbing.” We hope our production has not fallen into this trap and leaves you feeling a little uncomfortable.
One way we have tried to keep the disturbing nature of the original production is through our framing of the performance group putting on the production of “Pippin.” Given Pippin’s ‘show within a show’ framing, all the performers on stage are playing two roles– that of a member of the performance group (or, a player) as well as their specific character within the story of Pippin. We wanted to be sure that there was a unique relationship between all the players on stage. We eventually landed on the idea that the theatre troupe performing Pippin for you is a cult of theatricality named the Morning Glow Cult. This got me really excited, because it meant I got to do a ton of research on cults– a topic I am incredibly fascinated by (as I write this note about Pippin, I am simultaneously watching the 2019 film Midsommar). Something I focused on in my research trying to understand who the target demographic for cults are, and I was definitely surprised by what I found out. First, though, I think it’s important for us to define what a cult is so we’re all on the same page. Generally speaking, cults are communities of people who live on the outskirts of society, frequently practicing unique spiritual, philosophical, or religious beliefs. Cults are not necessarily religious, but many will devote themselves so a specific deity, object, figure, etc.
Now, before you keep reading, think about who is stereotyped as the ideal target for a cult. Are you thinking about it? Yes? Keep thinking about it. OK good. The truth is that all of us young adults in the cast are at a higher risk of falling into a cult. Young people who have just finished some kind of formal schooling and have just moved away from their families are more likely to join cults than anyone else. Interesting right? A little terrifying too…People our age are likely still looking for a community outside of the one we were brought up in. Plus, since many of us are in or have just finished school, we are used to hearing and accepting new ideas, leaving us less likely to get scared away by cults. It’s pretty scary stuff! In doing this research I have definitely added some new anxieties to lay awake at night and think about. But a cult is the perfect way to describe the players in front of you. The cult that we have created in this production of Pippin, the Morning Glow Cult, is devoted to the idea of theatricality. The Morning Glow Cult feeds off putting on the most extravagant, over the top performances. They dedicate their entire lives and bodies to theatricality, doing whatever is necessary to put on a good show. The Morning Glow Cult may take the art of performance too far in mine, yours, and our performers eyes, but you can’t deny that our climax is terrifyingly theatrical. If it happens, which who knows if it will tonight, you will remember it for the rest of your lives.