The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

‘Pippin’ marks theater grand opening

‘Spelling Bee’ musical onstage next weekend
2/5/12
Satchel Paige play joins Black History Month lineup
2/5/12
Arts sampler grows to 3 Saturdays
2/5/12
Playhouse actors 'Speaking in Tongues'
2/3/12
Cities cut giving taxpayer money to festivals
1/31/12
> More headlines

By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer 6:09 PM Thursday, May 13, 2010

LEBANON— The Lebanon Theatre Company closes out its 2009-2010// season with “Pippin,” which opens May 14 at the group’s new home on 10 Mechanic St.

The show features songs by Stephen Schwartz, the composer of “Wicked” and “Godspell” and was chosen because “this one hasn’t been done around here for quite some time,” said Georgia Dunn, the company’s managing director and an actress in the show.

The company moved to a new location, having failed to reach a new lease agreement with the Lebanon Shoe Factory, its base since 1996. The new space, a former Goodwill store, seats 108 people, about as many as the factory space did.  “We have a small theater, so we can’t do blockbuster musicals,” Dunn said. However, something smaller scale like “Pippin” filled the bill because “it’s kind of an intimate story,” Dunn said.

Pippin was a real person, a hunchback who was the son of Charlemagne. In the musical he struggles to find his place in the world, especially after he deposes his father. Songs in the show include “Corner of the Sky,” which was covered by the Jackson 5.

Dunn plays Berthe, Pippin’s grandmother, who is the “carpe diem person. I tell him don’t worry too much and don’t think too much,”

That’s easier said than done for Pippin, played by Kurt Percy, who at 21, is a LTC veteran, having been with the company for eight years. He particularly relates to this role, he said.

“Pippin is a very naive person,” Percy said. “I’m about to graduate from college, just like he graduated, being not really sure what he wants”

That may sound somewhat grim, but the overall the tone of the show is positive. Percy said.

“I hope (audiences) have a lot of fun. The show has things for every age, from kids to adults,” he said.

The opening night of the show, a dinner theater with dinner served at the Golden Lamb on 27 S. Broadway, is sold out. Otherwise, all show tickets are $16. The show dates are May 14-16 and May 20-23.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.