For immediate release, August 12, 2007
Contact: John Quinn 1.508.384.3094 / 1.617.678.5395
ejohnquinn@yahoo.com / pippin@norwooddrama.com

Norwood High School Drama presents Pippin: September 14th—23rd, 2007

Norwood, MA—Norwood High School Drama presents Stephen Schwartz’s pop-infused time capsule of a musical comedy—Pippin—exploring the role of an idealistic kid who happens to be the son of a world ruler, in an era of social turmoil.

Schwartz, the award-winning composer of “Wicked” and “Godspell ,” along with the legendary Bob Fosse, created one of Broadway’s most unique and memorable works in “Pippin ,” a five-time Tony award winning fantasia about the rebel son of the medieval ruler King Charlemagne. Stephen Schwartz has said, “the main story in Pippin is timeless—someone trying to figure out what to do with his life. This is a question every generation has to deal with and the answer inevitably involves compromise and learning what’s important.”

Director John Quinn (Norwood High School’s drama teacher) partners once again with music director Cathy Connor-Moen (Norwood’s Fine Arts Director): a pair that previously brought to the community “The Sound of Music” and “Grease” to build an electrifying circus as relevant today as it was 30 years ago.

Norwood High School graduate / current Hofstra student Laura Henry, whose work was most recently seen in Norwood’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “Evita,” returns to choreograph the dance-filled show. Dean Calusdian has lent his talents to designing and constructing the dazzling array of costumes and props, and Jeri Sykes lights up the stage as lighting designer.

The cast of 30 includes Francis Sheehan, Norwood’s most recent Scrooge , is the play’s Leading Player, a role played by Ben Vereen onstage and in the movie version. Michael Slowey, fresh from a leading role as Romeo in Norwood’s Romeo & Juliet, is Pippin. Catherine is played on alternating nights by Kayla Ring and Shannon McDonough. Ian Cardoni and Chris Boyajian alternate in the role of Charlemagne.

“Like Pippin, these students are newly setting out on their life journeys, trying to make sense of political intrigue, war, and relationships, both meaningful and meaningless,” explained John Quinn on his choice of doing this particular play at this time. “Thematically, Pippin’s experience seems relevant to what they are facing, and most important, this sometimes misdirected quest for fulfillment and satisfaction is addressed with humor, but not dismissed or discouraged. And the music is brilliant!”

Performances will be held at Norwood’s Savage Center.

Friday, Sept 14th at 7pm
Saturday, Sept 15th at 7pm
Sunday, Sept 16th at 2pm
Friday, Sept 21st at 7pm
Saturday, Sept 22nd at 7pm
Sunday, Sept 23rd at 2pm

For ticket information, contact Jody Smith (Backstage Boosters) at 1.781.769.4224 or email pippin@norwooddrama.com. Information and photos can be found at norwooddrama.com as performance dates approach.