Tyler Carey as Pippin: a behind the scenes look at RHS upcoming musical

Opening this Friday, March 17, is Ridgefield High School's Visual and Performing Arts Department adaptation of the beloved musical Pippin, by Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz.

Evening performances will be held Friday, March 17, Saturday, March 18, the following Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. A matinee performance will be held Sunday, March 19, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults; cash and checks made out to RHS are accepted.

According to the high school's performance page, Pippin is told through the ensemble cast about, "a young prince who longs to find passion and adventure in his life." The musical's director, however, took the play in a direction not many have ever seen before. To learn more about this I recently sat down with the lead of the show, Tyler Carey, a senior at RHS. Some of you may wonder how I got such an audience with the young star... he's my younger brother and I couldn't be more proud.

Pippin normally takes place at the circus, but your director has chosen a Steam Punk version, why was that?

Our director after reading the script saw that the word "time" was repeated almost every page and seemed to be the main focus of this plot. She loved how the leading player stops time in Pippin's story in order to fix and correct things in the show. We have used gears and clocks in almost every piece of clothing to reflect the main focus of this show which is time. Steam punk fit the mold of time and gears and clockwork perfectly.

Is this cast special to you being that it's your senior year?

This cast is so special to me. Of course having this show be my last at RHS makes it's extremely meaningful, but also the cast members I get to perform this with make it even more so. I truly love every member of my cast from the freshman in the ensemble to the pit orchestra. There is such a large sense of comradery in this show and it shows in the performance.

What sets this show apart from the previous years?

This show has never been done at RHS before, to me there are so many reasons this show is different, from the music, to the not so ordinary story line, to the costumes, and the book. It's a unique show and it really has a sense of magic and wonder to it.

Do you think high school students can relate to the show?

I think students are really going to relate to the character Pippin, including those about the go to college. Throughout the entire show he his being pushed around to different places in his life because he doesn't know what he wants to do, or be for the rest of his life. Which I think a lot of high school students are also struggling with. Pippin, when he is simplified is really just a teenager trying to figure out what he wants in life while trying not to be persuaded by other people in his life.

What's been the best part about performing Pippin?

The best part about Pippin for me is being able to sing the music. I love the music Pippin gets to sing and I get so excited to be able to portray such an important character.

This is surely a performance no one will want to or should miss. The cast is full of talented players who have literally grown up on the stage. For many of them this is their last year performing on the RHS stage before they head off onto their next theatre adventure. The cast includes:

  • Tyler Carey, senior, as Pippin
  • Sarah Ford, senior, as Leading Player
  • Aidan Meacham, senior, as King Charles
  • Rosie Staudt, senior, as Catherine
  • Sarah Thorn, senior, as Fastrada
  • Casey Wishna, senior, as Lewis
  • Hazel Neil, senior, as Berthe
  • Evan Smolin, sophmore, as Theo

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at www.rhsperformingarts.info. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

R
Submitted by Ridgefield, CT

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