BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Union High School Music Department presents the musical Pippin on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Feb. 14, 15, and 16, in the BUHS Auditorium.
The Thursday performance will begin at 4 p.m. and the Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 7 p.m. All tickets for the Thursday matinee are $6. Tickets for the Friday and Saturday performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for senior citizens.
Tickets may be purchased in the BUHS front office Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. or at the box office before each performance. For more information on tickets, call 802-451-3407 or visit buhs.wsesu.org.
The ensemble cast tells the story of Pippin, a young prince who longs to find passion and adventure in his life. To prove his loyalty to his distracted father, King Charles, Pippin goes to war. But when the prince decides to fight tyranny, Pippin kills Charles and takes over the throne.
Pippin becomes king and decides that the answer to all problems is to eliminate taxes, give land to his peasants, give money to the poor, and abolish the army. Soon, Pippin is forced to revoke all his promises.
As encouraged by the Leading Player, Pippin dabbles in bloody battle, licentious and lusty sexual entanglements, and savvy political maneuvers, only to discover that true happiness is more complicated than he thought.
This story is both a humorous allegory about growing up and a dark tale of the danger of false appearances and empty promises.
The BUHS production is directed by Robert Kramsky with Stephen Rice and Anthony Speranza as co-musical directors, Mary Linney as the costumer, Melanie Zinn as the choreographer, and Michelle Page as the producer.
The production features Amelia Graff as the Leading Player, Henry O'Connell as Pippin, Malcolm Toleno as Charles, and Joslynn Wright as Catherine. The ensemble also includes Mycroft Stone, Hazel Kinnersley, Sarah Gordon-Macey, Annabelle Thies, Samantha Mills, Alissa Walkowiak, Anni Kuusinen, Cassidy Majer, Grace Learey, James Jarvis-Stores, Sofia Thorsson, Julius Jensen, and Meaghan Landin.
The show's orchestra comprises BUHS students and local musicians; Caitlin Sullivan, Jordan Roach, Virgil Neddenriep, Abe Moore Odell, Colin Greenleaf, Sebastian Paquette, Ari Essunfeld, Ella Aquadro, Becky Graber, Michelle Liechti, Mark Meese, and Patty Meyer.
Behind the scenes, many students are involved with creating costumes, running the sound board and lights and working as the backstage crew. Crew members include Liam Kennedy, Samantha Winter, Jasper Everingham, Emilia Dick, Emmett Dews, Katherine Taggard, Lily Buettner, Lucy Parks, Marielle Meyer, Maxine Hlavaty, Natalya Forkin, Padma Mendelsund, Sam Kuusinen, Sophia Hamm, Jenna Barry-Stoughton, and Maia McNeil.