Spring Broadway musical announced
Posted on 12/01/2021
(SPS) -- This spring's musical promises to be much more than singing and dancing. The crowd will be wowed with circus acts!

Sapulpa High School will bring the big top to Shaw Auditorium, putting on a production of the Broadway show Pippin.

Pippin is a 1972 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell) and book by Roger O. Hirson. Famed choreographer Bob Fosse directed the original Broadway production.

Pippin tells the story of the son of Charlemagne the Great as he travels with a performance troupe looking for his purpose in life.

The production brings aerial acts, silk ropes and acrobatics to the stage, but it's also a timeless story of love and the search for one's place in life.

Auditions will be held December 7 and December 8, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Any student in grades 10 - 12 may audition. If you audition, you must read a section of Pippin and bring a song to sing with music.

Because Pippin includes physical acrobatic feats, students cast in the production will train at Tribe Circus Arts in Bixby.

"I've been thinking for years, if we could get students to perform in the air, it would be super cool," said Becky Braswell, Sapulpa High School theatre director. "We have just the right kids this year who fit the bill, and now we've got the resources to train circus performers with Tribe Circus Arts."

About ten students have already been practicing at Tribe Circus Arts.

"We'll bring in big rigs with a hook and apparatus so performers can swing in the air," said Braswell.

She says there will be mats placed on the ground and each cast member will specialize in a particular act.

To make this production even bigger, next year will also be the 50th anniversary of Pippin.

"The story of Pippin is about the search for fulfillment and the circus performers are orchestrating Pippin's life," said vocal music director Gina Myers. "Students have the opportunity to be a main character or part of the performance troupe."  

Sapulpa High School band will also provide live music for the production.

The students will perform preview shows for the junior high and high school. 

Sapulpa School Board members approved Pippin at November's board meeting.

Performances are set for March 3, 4, and 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Shaw Auditorium. Tickets will be $10.

Special thanks to the Bartlett Foundation and the Oklahoma Arts Council for generous donations which help support performing arts at Sapulpa Public Schools.