Everybody has goals and dreams they hope to achieve during their lifetime. I have the great privilege of seeing one of mine come to fruition, directing a production of PIPPIN. I first saw the musical PIPPIN during the mid 1970's at a professional Equity summer-stock theatre in Michigan. That production still remains my favorite theatre experience and I decided then that I would somehow be involved with this show during my lifetime.

PIPPIN opened on Broadway in 1972 and ran for 4 ½ years, 1944 performances. It was honored with five Tony awards during its first year. The show was somewhat controversial and shocking, as many musicals were during this era. The director, Bob Fosse, added many personal touches creating a dark, cynical, and highly sexually charged musical. Over the years, PIPPIN has remained somewhat obscure, having carried the burden of the indelible stamp that Fosse placed on it.
The show's composer and author, Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson, were never satisfied with the Broadway production. Their sweet love story was turned into something grotesque. They wanted the chance to tell their story the way they had originally conceived it.

They had their opportunity last summer, when PIPPIN was restaged at the Paper Mill Playhouse, an off-Broadway theatre, in Millburn, New Jersey. The script was reworked, adding a new ending to both acts I and II, developmental sections were compressed and streamlined, and some of the gentleness was returned. With the assistance of orchestrator David Siegel, the music was modernized, removing the somewhat dated 1970's style.
I had the pleasure of seeing this new production and met with the cast, the music director, and the officials at the Paper Mill. Working closely the past year with composer Stephen Schwartz, his assistant Michael Cole, the Paper Mill Playhouse, and the leasing agent, Music Theatre International, CSTOCK was granted the exclusive right to produce the West Coast premier and first amateur production of this new version of PIPPIN. This is a very great honor, especially for a small theatre company in Kitsap County.

For those unfamiliar with the musical PIPPIN, it is the story of the eldest son of King Charlemagne, the heir apparent to the Holy Roman Empire. Though set in the Dark Ages, this is far from a period piece. Many modern elements are juxtaposed with ancient ones, adding unexpected humor and delight. Young Pippin believes he is destined for greatness, but is unsure of which path to take. He experiences the horror of war in his father's army, the over-indulgence and emptiness of the pleasures of the flesh, and frustrations with the intrigue of politics. Through his journey, he gains new insights and maturity and finally realizes what he needed and desired all along.

The show is brimming with beautiful and memorable melodies, from inspirational, broadly comic, to tender and romantic, encompassing a broad range of musical styles, including rock, jazz, country, and Latin. Moments of great tenderness are blended with vaudevillian slapstick, darkness, and pathos, surprising even the most diehard theatergoer. It is truly a reflection of life itself. Because of some of the mature themes, PIPPIN may not be suitable for the youngest members of the family.
PIPPIN is a dancer's showcase - the majority of the musical numbers include involved and elaborate dance routines. You will be amazed and impressed with the level of talent that exists in Kitsap County. Few shows are as spectacular in the musical and dance numbers as PIPPIN.

We hope to make this production one of the most memorable, touching and inspiring theatre experiences of your lifetime. We truly have magic to do . . .

--Director Bob Olcott

Paul Adkins
Adrienne Baltz
Janet Barton
Jennifer Breckel
Eric Engelhard
Zach Fisher
Robert Forman
Travis Gamble
Sharon Greany

Jessica Markiewicz
Alena Menefee
Matthew Mitchell
Kate O'Hearn
Betsy Oesterhaus
Zach Parker
Vanessa Russo
Eric Schreck
Mia Song Swartwood