'Pippin' Teaches an Important Lesson About Life Choices, Director Says

The Woodbridge Community Youth Players have practiced for weeks to prepare for the Wednesday through Sunday performances of “Pippin” at The Theatre at Woodbridge Middle School.

“Pippin” is “funny and certainly a little racy,” Director/Producer Ricki Cohn said. “Underneath it all, there's an important lesson for all to learn about choices in life.”

“Pippin” is a musical about a young prince who is searching for his meaning in life. Although he is a prince, Cohn still believes the meaning behind the story can resonate with everyone.

In the Broadway production of “Pippin”, the cast performs a series of acrobatics and circus tricks, but the Woodbridge Community Youth Players are refraining from those and Cohn is rather focusing on the universal nature of the story, she said.

After a grueling six weeks of practice the players are ready to finally hit the stage.

“I think the cast is most excited now about finally performing in front of an audience,” Cohn said. “Their dedication and commitment and talent has made it all worth while.”

One of the highlights of rehearsals was when Russell Fischer of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys” and a former star of “Pippin” when Cohn directed the show in 2004 at Woodbridge High School, visited the cast.

“He watched Act I and then offered suggestions and talked with the cast,” Cohn told Patch. “To have someone starring in a Broadway show come and do this for our group was amazing”

Cohn said it is incredible how closely the 29 cast members have bonded in such a short time. She also credits her amazing team of choreographer, Q Bunch and scenic designer, Beth Armory, who both founded the Woodbridge Community Youth Players group with her.

Fischer used to refer to the bunch as the “dream team.”

View photos for a full list of cast and creative members, or visit the Woodbridge Community Youth Players’ website.

Ticket information for “Pippin” is available online. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or at the door for $15. Show times are July 17-20 at 7:30p.m. and July 21 at 2 p.m.

Check back with Woodbridge Patch for more on the show.