BrightSide Theatre, Naperville’s professional theatre company, has announced the cast for the final show of its 13^th season – the Stephen Schwartz/Roger O. Hirson musical PIPPIN. This tale of a prince who learns the true meaning of glory, love, and war ran for nearly five years in its original Broadway production, thanks to the captivating songs by Schwartz (songwriter of WICKED, GODSPELL, THE MAGIC SHOW and others), and the stunning staging and choreography by the legendary Bob Fosse. A Broadway-sized cast of 17 and an orchestra of seven will bring PIPPIN to life for BrightSide in a glorious, fully staged production at the company’s home venue of the Meiley-Swallow Hall at North Central College, from June 13 – 29. BrightSide Theatre’s Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass, whose more than 30 productions for BrightSide Theatre include such musicals as JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, CHESS IN CONCERT, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and GYPSY, will direct. Phil Videckis, music director for BrightSide’s JEKYLL AND HYDE IN CONCERT and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, will be music director for Schwartz’s marvelous score that includes the legendary opening number “Magic to Do,” the plaintive “Corner of the Sky,” and the comic “No Time at All.” Aria Brynne, a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago, who recently created the dances for THE PROM with St. Paul Conservatory of the Arts, is Choreographer. 

BrightSide’s PIPPIN cast will include Kassidy Alderman (Player, Chicago), Matthew Andresen (Player, Greenfield WI), Stan Austin (Charles/Player, Winfield), Michelle Bolliger (Fastrada/Player, Roselle), Shane Alexander Brown (Player, Villa Park), Evelyn Dorough (Theo, Plainfield), Thomas Ferro (Lewis/Player, Chicago), Erol Ibrahimovic (Player, Chicago), Delaney Katz (Player, Lake Zurich), Meghan Kessel (Player, Chicago), Cheryl Newman (Berthe/Player, Naperville), Tommy O'Brien (Pippin, Chicago), Asia Posey (Leading Player, Chicago), Monica Romo (Player, Niles), Amy Steele (Catherine/Player, Naperville), Jubilee Tai (Player, Elk Grove Village), and Amanda Vinson (Player, Chicago).

The production team, in addition to Cass, Videckis and Brynne, includes Arabella Zurbano (Scenic Designer), Cheryl Newman (Costume Designer), Kurt Ottinger (Lighting Designer), Delaney Kosar (Props Designer), Gabe Seplow (Production Manager), and Jeff Sand (Technical Director). 

PIPPIN will be performed in the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville. Tickets are $37.00 for adults and $32.00 for students and seniors and are on sale now at www.BrightSidetheatre.com or by phone at 630-447-TIXS (8497). 

LISTING INFORMATION 

PIPPIN

Book by Roger O. Hirson

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Directed by Jeffrey Cass

Music Direction by Phil Videckis

Choreography by Aria Brynne

June 13-29, 2025

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm

Press Opening Friday, June 13 at 7:30 pm

Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall

North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth in Naperville

Tickets $32 - $37, available at www.BrightSideTheatre.com or at 630-447-TIXS (8497)

From the Tony Award winning composer of WICKED and GODSPELL, Stephen Schwartz, comes a captivating tale of a prince who learns the true meaning of glory, love, and war that will sweep you off your feet. With its unforgettable music, dynamic choreography, and imaginative storytelling, PIPPIN is a feast for the senses. There’s magic to do as the young prince finds that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day.

BIOS 

Jeffrey Cass (Artistic Director/Director) is a Joseph Jefferson Award Nominee and has successfully directed over 30 Productions for BrightSide Theatre, most recently JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, CHESS IN CONCERT, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and GYPSY. He also played “Edna” in BST’s production of HAIRSPRAY. He holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theater Performance from Roosevelt University. He previously served as the Producing Director for Circle Theatre where he directed eight productions, including THE WHO’S TOMMY (6 Joseph Jefferson Nominations including Best Musical and Best Director).

Stephen Schwartz (Music and Lyrics). Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the current Broadway hit WICKED. In addition, he has contributed music and lyrics to GODSPELL, PIPPIN, THE BAKER’S WIFE, WORKING, CHILDREN OF EDEN, RAGS (music by Charles Strouse), SNAPSHOTS: A MUSICAL SCRAPBOOK, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (music by Alan Menken) and THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, as well as two musicals for younger audiences, CAPTAIN LOUIE and MY SON PINOCCHIO. Mr. Schwartz has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a special Tony Award for his support of young theatre artists.

Roger O. Hirson (Book).  Awards and nominations: 1973 Tony Award® Best Book of a Musical Pippin [nominee] 1967 Tony Award® Best Musical Walking Happy [nominee] Productions: PIPPIN Book [Original, Musical, Comedy] (Oct 23, 1972 - Jun 12, 1977). WALKING HAPPY Book [Original, Musical] (Nov 26, 1966 - Apr 22, 1967).

ABOUT BRIGHTSIDE THEATRE

BrightSide Theatre (Jeffrey Cass, Artistic Director and Julie Ann Kornak, Executive Director) is committed to Enlighten, Educate, and Entertain through comedies and inspirational stories from across the globe.  A unique blend of award-winners, premieres, modern works and timeless classics meant to reflect upon and inform our community inhabit BrightSide’s stage. For more information on BrightSide Theatre, please visit www.BrightSidetheatre.com.

Fun fact. I went into Music Theater Works’ production of Pippin knowing the songs, knowing the show, and knowing I’d have a good time. But afterwards, I learned from my daughter, herself a current member of Scotch’n’Soda Theatre, Carnegie Mellon University’s student theater troupe, that the beloved musical didn’t just appear out of thin air, manufactured by the Broadway gods and bestowed upon us earthly theatergoers.

But Pippin didn’t just appear magically like all the good shows seem to have done. It was originally written by Stephen Schwartz as a student show for Scotch’n’Soda Theatre before its first Broadway run, directed by the great Bob Fosse. Knowing that now, the show’s youthful exuberance and dated innocence makes sense. Of course it was written by a kid, albeit a very talented kid.

Knowing that, the show means that much more—the story of a talented kid figuring out life and yearning for something, written by a kid like that. And knowing that, it’s fitting that my favorite part of this fine production of Pippin, directed by Kyle A. Dougan at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, was its young and talented and eager and enthusiastic ensemble. Seriously, the ensemble works (and sings and dances and acts) their tails off.

Choreographed by Mollyanne Nunn and Kaitlyn Pasquinelli, both ensemble members as well, there is always something fascinating going on across the stage; I never knew quite where to look because there was always someone stunning me with a dance move or making me laugh with a random bit of incidental tomfoolery. The scenic design by Shane Cinal and the costumes by Jazmin Aurora Medina only furthered the youthful feel, for me especially, as the themes and color palette and props all screamed 80s and 90s. And said costumes and props were put to good use by the cast, with Ciara Hickey and Jordan Ordonez two standouts, the latter joining Lacey Jack and Sonia Goldberg’s Leading Player for the dance scene in “Glory.”

Goldberg starred last year in Theo Ubique’s Once Upon a Mattress, and again takes center stage in the role of Leading Player, originated by Ben Vereen, leading the production throughout. Goldberg also leads youthful and yearning Pippin through the show’s story, for this production played by Connor Ripperger. Both Ripperger and Goldberg have phenomenal vocal skills, and show them off throughout. Their talents are matched by the rest of the main cast, including a hilarious (and hilariously costumed) Thomas M. Shea as Pippin’s royal father, King Charlemagne, Andrew Freeland as Lewis, Desiree Gonzalez as Catherine, and Di’Aire Wilson as Theo. The two women competing in the king’s life are wonderful; Kathleen Puls Andrade’s Berthe kills “No Time at All” (helped out, of course, by the audience on the choruses) and Savannah Sinclair flashes her dancing skills as Fastrada.

But again, this production is most enjoyable as a whole—because of all the talent onstage, because of all the enthusiasm shown by every single member of the cast, and because of all the hard work that has obviously been put into the show by everyone involved with Music Theater Works. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the orchestra, conducted by Justin Akira Kono. Kono leads the strings, horns, and trumpets through the show’s beloved soundtrack, and gives it a real Broadway feel. Because yes, this might be a show about youthful angst, written by a college kid for a college theater, but it’s also a beloved Broadway classic, jam-packed with beloved standards. And from now through June 25, you can see the cast and crew of Music Theater Works give it their all in Pippin at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

Over 40 years ago, Pippin made its debut on Broadway and now it is back and in Chicago for the next few weeks. Pippin is the story of a young prince on his somewhat Faustian journey to find purpose in life, as told through the mysterious performance troupe lead by the Lead Player as our narrator.  In this touring revival, the performance troupe is set in a circus which brings the magic of the big top to the show.  

Overall, I found the show truly a spectacular, spectacular with the chaotic excitement on stage befitting a Baz Luhrmann film (of which I am also a fan!).  The combination of acrobatics by Gypsy Snider, Fosse style choreography by Chet Walker and stunning costumes designed by Dominque Lemieux all in the circus tent set by Scott Pask creates a production that will be sure to wow everyone in the audience.

The original production was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse and it was wonderful to still see his stylistic influences throughout this show. Appreciating the difficulty of Fosse choreography, I was impressed with the dancing in the show. It was taken to a whole new level with the choreographic updates and addition of high flying and jaw dropping acrobatics and stunts which you have to see to believe.

This show breaks down the 4^th wall with the actors addressing the audience directly, and calling out the fact that they are in a show. Sasha Allen in the role of the Lead Player was fantastic and her powerful singing gave me chills more than once during the show.  In the role of Pippin, Sam Lips was a star. He was a strong lead with a fantastic voice and personality that drew the audience in. My favorite actor of the show was hands down Adrienne Barbeau as Berthe, Pippin sassy grandmother.  In the song “No Time as All” she will thrill and truly shock and surprise you – a surprise which I will not ruin for those who are heading out to see the show!

The show is funny and thrilling with plenty of good one-liners and jokes that get the audience laughing and (warning parents!) some scenes that get a pretty racy! At the same time, it has a much deeper and darker plot that speaks more to real life than your typical happy go lucky musical.  In an all around well-executed show, the performance troupe takes us on a journey of seeking greatness and meaning in a world where there is no clear path. Through a series of compromises shrouded in doubt and confused all the more by the influence of the Leading Player we watch Pippin settle for ordinary over extraordinary in the end, seemingly happy with his ultimate decision.

I can highly recommend this show as a great breakaway from your traditional Broadway production that will thrill you, give you the chills, and also make you stop and reflect on the challenges of real life.  It is playing at the Cadillac Palace Theater through August 9^th.  Get your tickets before the final curtain falls and the lights are all turned off on Pippin in Chicago!