Five Reasons to See Pippin at The Academy of Music

The Bee and I had an opportunity to see Pippin at the Academy of Music Tuesday and it was an amazing experience. The show is described as “An eye-popping, jaw-dropping, visually stunning extravaganza” and it really is. Pippin is the story of one man’s journey to be extraordinary and it was a rollicking ride watching him figure out his why.

I was mostly unfamiliar with Pippin, only slightly familiar with the song “Magic To Do” and worried that we would not enjoy the show. After watching my teen caught up in the magic of the show, I wanted to make sure to share this show with you dear readers and reasons you should see the show.

1. Something new! Seriously, I sometimes get into a showtunes rut and this show is really unlike anything I have ever experienced. It was funky and fresh and the performers exploded off stage to creatre a magical surreal setting set up against a three ring circus. Although this show is FORTY years old, the music has a funky beat, the dancing is HOT and the message of the show is timely as middle age waves Hello to me and adulthood is on the horizon for The Bee.
2. Pippin’s message of looking for the extraordinary in your ordinary. Throughout the play, Pippin wants something more for his life and his search leads him to meaningless relationships, religion, a career change (he joins his father’s army and briefly becomes king) and nothing leaves him satisfied. It’s not until he learns to embrace his life as it is and without chasing what he thinks it should be does he realize that he has everything that he wants.
3. Adrienne Barbeau as Berthe, Pippin’s grandmother.
   Dude. Ms. Barbeau is totally my spirit animal, dancing and slinking across the stage, holding her own against dancers who were proabably half her age. Her song, “No Time at All” has that showtunes flavor but it was also a hopeful message to stop waiting and start livin.”Oh, it’s time to start livin’
   Time to take a little from this world we’re given
   Time to take time, cause spring will turn to fall
   In just no time at all….”
4. Bob Fosse inspired choreography! Oh the moves…perfectly in sync, so precise, sharp, crisp, a celebration the human body.
   4 1/2 is a shoutout to the supporting dancers. The circus creation of breathtaking acrobatics by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main was stunning. Their moves were flawless and creative, dazzling and made their appearance on stage breathtaking.
   
5. The breaking of the Fourth Wall. Pippin invites the audience into the show with a character called Leading Player. Throughout our show Leading Player acts as narrator, mentor, guide to Pippin and lets us know little bits about the players of the show. She’s not the only one engaging the audience. Pippin’s grandmother invited us to sing the chorus of her song. Pippin himself joined us in the audience thrilling The Bee and Me when he sat next to us at the start of act 2.

So…should you go see Pippin?
Yes! It was such a great time and a wonderful experience. Take a look at a clip of the show below.

[Tweet “There will be magic to do when the cast of @Pippinthemuscial swings into the #AcademyofMusic Now through Feb 28, visit blog for ticket info”]

Remaining performances of Pippin are
Friday, February 26, 2016, 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 27, 2016, 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
Sunday, February 28, 2016, 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm

Tickets

Tickets are on sale to the public now and start at $55. Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org, at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883.

ABOUT Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, The Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of The Kimmel Center’s 2015-2016 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.

THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION has been in the forefront of the American theatre since the start of the 20th century. The company has produced and co-produced hundreds of Broadway plays and musicals. Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman, and Robert E. Wankel, President, the Shubert Organization owns and operates 17 historic Broadway theatres, six off-Broadway venues, and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Notable Shubert productions and co-productions include Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, The Heidi Chronicles, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Amadeus, Children of a Lesser God, The Grapes of Wrath, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Spamalot. In recent seasons, Shubert co-producing credits have included God of Carnage, Lucky Guy, Once, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, This Is Our Youth, A Delicate Balance, The Elephant Man, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Audience, Skylight and Wolf Hall. Since 1983, Shubert Ticketing and Telecharge have provided superior ticketing and marketing services to the
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