If you can’t get to Broadway before Pippin closes in January, the national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical, which stops at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts this week, might be the next best thing.
The story of a young prince’s coming of age, Pippin debuted at a time when pseudo-historical musicals with bohemian dress and a rock ’n’ roll score were all the rage. In that way, Pippin is the spiritual successor to Jesus Christ Superstar and a forebearer to Godspell, all of which owe no small debt to Hair, the granddaddy of this bare-chested, countercultural subgenre of Broadway musicals.
The original 1972 production was famous for a star-making (and Tony-winning) turn by Ben Vereen as the Leading Player and typically inspired choreography from Broadway legend Bob Fosse, as well as a score from Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) that’s very of its time, to say the least.
Songs like “Corner of the Sky,” “Magic to Do” and “No Time at All” wouldn’t have sounded out of place following Cat Stevens’ Tea for the Tillerman or Carole King’s Tapestry on the mid-’70s turntable.
The current national tour features Sasha Allen (Leading Player), a veteran of the fourth season of NBC’s The Voice, and Lucie Arnaz (Berthe), the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, a couple whose showbiz reputation speaks for itself.
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25-28, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29-30, starting at $39 plus tax and fee, 361 Symphony Park Ave. 702.749.2000
