Pippin Stars Find Seattle is Their "Corner of the Sky."
Stephen Schwartz Returns to Seattle April 9. Performs His Own Songs, Discusses PIPPIN's Current Political Relevance.
Performances: May 2 - 21, 2006
Opening/Press Night: Friday, May 5, 2006 8 p.m.
Spotlight Night: Sunday, April 9, 2006 7 p.m.
SEATTLE - Actors are drawn to Seattle and the bejeweled 5th Avenue stage. When director David Armstrong started the casting process for PIPPIN, he had no problem convincing talented performers like Mimi Hines (Berthe), Keith Byron Kirk (Leading Player), Kim Huber (Catherine) and Jane Lanier (Fastrada) to relocate to Seattle for the eight week commitment. Even the show's composer and lyricist, Stephen Schwartz, jumped at the opportunity to return to the Emerald City for Spotlight Night on April 9, 2006. On the other hand, Louis Hobson (Pippin), Jim Gall (Charlemagne) and the PIPPIN ensemble have long claimed this city as their own "corner of the sky." What secret do these resident and guest performers know?
David Armstrong explains, "there are creative challenges and opportunities in Seattle that performers can't get anywhere else; great roles in fantastic Broadway caliber productions. When you package that with the city's warm and sophisticated audience, extraordinary theaters, an agreeable climate and comfortable housing, it is very hard for an actor to say no." Kim Huber got her taste of Seattle when she starred as Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC and Martha in 1776. Mimi Hines got her feet wet in 2002 when visiting for the Theatre's 75th anniversary celebration. Jane Lanier has returned a few times with A CHORUS LINE, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES and SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE and Keith Byron Kirk has made the stop many times with National Tours like PARADE. Stephen Schwartz spent time here in 2005 while working on a project with The Village Theatre. On April 9 the Grammy, Tony and Academy Award-winning writer/lyricist returns to Seattle for The 5th Avenue Theatre's hugely popular SPOTLIGHT NIGHT. He will discuss PIPPIN's current political relevance and perform many of his own songs.
SPOTLIGHT NIGHTS, hosted by Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, are one-night-only events designed to enhance the audience's musical theater experience and are crafted to highlight specific aspects of each show. Part community forum, part musical entertainment, part behind-the-scenes look at how a Broadway musical is made, Spotlight Nights are held at The 5th Avenue Theatre and are open to the public. Seating is general admission and reservations are strongly recommended.
The five-time Tony Award-winning musical PIPPIN is as relevant today as it was when it was written three decades ago during the "Me Generation." Stephen Schwartz elaborates, "the main story in PIPPIN is timeless - someone trying to figure out what to do with his life. This is a question every generation has to deal with and the answer inevitably involves compromise and learning what's important." PIPPIN is an electrifying, tongue-in-cheek fairy tale that dazzles audiences with a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds. Prince Pippin, son of Charlemagne, embarks upon a quest for true fulfillment, seeking his own corner of the sky. He relishes the glories of the battlefield, savors the temptations of the flesh and embroils himself in political intrigues. But neither war, sex, revolution nor domesticity can satisfy him - or so he thinks. Stephen Schwartz's vibrant pop-rock score features "Magic to Do," "Morning Glow" and "Corner of the Sky." Over the years these songs have been re-recorded by everyone from The Jackson 5 to The Supremes and Ben Vereen. The 5th Avenue Theatre's production will include lavish costumes and a unique set design that seats the orchestra on stage instead of the pit.
The cast of 20 includes: Collin Morris (Theo) and ensemble members: Scott Brateng, Eric Brotherson, Kari Lee Cartwright, Daniel Cruz, Marc delaCruz, Bernadette Havok, Jayme McDaniel, Stacee Raber Nault, Matt Owen, Maya RS Perkins, Tanesha Ross, Pamela Turpen and Troy L. Wageman.
PIPPIN is directed and choreographed by The 5th Avenue's Producing Artistic Director, David Armstrong (HAIR, Sweeney Todd, Anything Goes). The associate choreographers are Jane Lanier and Daniel Cruz and the conductor/musical director is Richard Gray (The Rocky Horror Show). Tom Sturge (Sweeney Todd, Wonderful Town) is the lighting and set designer, Kurt Fischer is the sound designer, Bradley Reed is the costume designer, Mary Pyanowski is the hair/make-up designer and Anne Kearson is the production stage manager.
STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (Music and Lyrics) has contributed music and/or lyrics to Wicked, Godspell, The Magic Show, The Baker's Wife, Working (which he also adapted and directed), Personals, Rags and Children of Eden. For films, he collaborated with Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and wrote the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt. He has released two CDs of new songs entitled Reluctant Pilgrim and Uncharted Territory available at www.stephenschwartz.com. Mr. Schwartz is also the artistic director of the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshops and a member of the Dramatists Guild Council. Awards include three Academy Awards, three Grammy Awards, three Drama Desk Awards and a tiny handful of tennis trophies.
LOUIS HOBSON (Pippin) returns to The 5th Avenue for his eleventh production. Recently he appeared as Daniel in the world premiere of Stephen Schwartz's new musical Snapshots at Village Theatre. Favorite 5th credits: Miss Saigon (Chris), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Henry), The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), The Rocky Horror Show (Brad), My Fair Lady (Freddy) and HAIR (Claude, Footlight Award). 2005/06: Neechee (Footlight Award) in Stupid Kids at Empty Space, Arthur in David Friedman's new musical Stunt Girl at VT (BOF Award), Wickersham Brother in Seussical at SCT (Footlight Award), Clayton in Temple at Seattle Rep (dir. Gabe Barre).
KEITH BYRON KIRK (Leading Player) Broadway credits include Steppenwolf Theater Company's The Grapes of Wrath, The Piano Lesson, King David, The Civil War and Miss Saigon (John). Off-Broadway credits include William Finn's A New Brain and Elegies, both at Lincoln Center Theater, The Goodman Theater, La Jolla Playhouse. Tours: Evita (Che), Parade (Jim Conley) and The Civil War (Frederick Douglass). As a playwright he is the author of Ft. Lonesome, Urban Trilogy, As Reaper In Summer Grain (2004 Eugene O'Neill Conference), Knees of a Natural Man and is writing the book for a new musical based on the Montgomery Bus Boycott commissioned by the Rosa Parks Library Foundation. Keith was recently nominated for a 2005 Drama Desk Award for his work on the Transport Groups The Audience.
MIMI HINES (Berthe) After numerous nightclub and TV appearances with her partner, Phil Ford, Mimi succeeded Barbra Streisand as Broadway's Funny Girl, running that show for 18 months on her own star power. Subsequent starring roles include national tours of I Do, I Do!, Sugar Babies, Nite Club Confidential and, most recently, Hello, Dolly! Born in Vancouver, Mimi currently resides in Las Vegas, but spends her life on tour. And, yes, she still does her classic impression of the NBC Peacock upon request.
KIM HUBER (Catherine) returns to The 5th Avenue after starring as Maria in The Sound of Music earlier this season. Previous appearances at The 5th include: Martha 1776 and Belle in the national tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Broadway: Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Sunset Boulevard (with Glenn Close) and Marie Christine. Her portrayal of Nellie Collins in the Floyd Collins national tour earned her Barrymore and Jeff Award Nominations. L.A. Premieres: The Last Five Years (Cathy), The Spitfire Grill (Shelby) and Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night (Helen). Kim will be making her debut as a soloist with the California Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall this summer, and can be heard as the singing voice of Sleeping Beauty on Disney Records.
JANE LANIER (Fastrada, Associate Choreographer). Broadway: Fosse (Drama Desk nomination), Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Tony Award nomination), Guys and Dolls and Anything Goes (Jerry Zaks), Sweet Charity (Bob Fosse) and On Your Toes (George Abbott). Regional: Pajama Game, Can-Can, Sweet Charity, Counselor-At-Law (LADCC, Drama-Logue and Ovation Awards), On The Town, Guys and Dolls, A Little Night Music, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, A Chorus Line and The Wild Party. Film and TV: Michael (John Travolta), Mercy, The Shield, Diagnosis Murder, Passion and Murder One. Choreography: Smokey Joe's Cafe (5th Avenue Theatre), The Wild Party (Blank Theatre Co. Drama-Logue Award and L.A. Weekly nomination), Kiss Me Kate (Musical Theatre West), Guys and Dolls (Interact Theatre Co.), Ernest in Love (Fremont Theatre), Pajama Game, On the Town, Sugar and Kiss Me Kate (Hamilton Academy), HBO's Dream On, ABC after-school special Summer Stories, many S.T.A.G.E. and Actor's Fund Benefits and several national commercials.
JIM GALL (Charlemagne) was last seen as Chick Clark in Wonderful Town. Before that, Jim was McKean in the earthquake-interrupted 1776 in 2001. Jim appeared in Requiem For A Heavyweight at Theater Schmeater (where he garnered a Seattle Times Footlight Award for his role as Mountain McClintock), Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird at Village Theatre and Richard Amory in Black Coffee at ACT.
Tickets to PIPPIN are on sale now and range in price from $19-$71. Tickets are available over the phone through Ticketmaster at (206) 292-ARTS (2787), online at ticketmaster.com or in person at any Ticketmaster Ticket Center as well as The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office, 1308 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle. There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle's premier musical theater showplace. The 2005-2006 season marks the 25th anniversary of the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre which, in 1980, began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of 23,000 and an annual attendance of 200,000 - 300,000.ยจ› It ranks among the nation's largest and most respected musical theater companies. The theater is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy. Visit www.5thavenue.org. Audi dealers of the Puget Sound region are the official automobile sponsor of The 5th Avenue Theatre's 2005-2006 season. This is the final show in The 5th Avenue Theatre's 2005-2006 season. Up next is the "Season Extra" LES MISERABLES May 24 - June 4, 2006.
Please contact Jennifer Rice, Public Relations Manager, at 206-625-1418 with press questions or to schedule individual interviews.