(CINCINNATI, January 24, 2025) – Xavier University Theatre continues its 2024-25 season with Stephen Schwartz’s classic musical, Pippin. The show will run February 14-22.
Join the enigmatic Leading Player and their magical troupe as they lead Pippin and the audience on an immersive journey through a contemporary club scene. Experience Pippin’s struggle to find their place in this dazzling and intoxicating world.
Carolyn Guido Clifford (she/her), who directs the show, is drawn to Pippin for a unique reason. “I see the musical as an exploration of gender and self. Pippin, like all of us, is trapped in a world eager to impose labels. The show invites us to question those definitions and explore what it means to find inner peace and confidence—even without having all the answers.”
Junior Leo Jenkins (he/him), who plays Pippin, is excited for audiences to be uniquely immersed in the world of the musical, being performed in the intimate Gallagher Student Center Studio Theatre. “Pippin is such an interesting story when it comes to finding oneself in the chaos that is the world. There are so many ways the show can resonate with members of the audience and actors, bringing everyone together to reflect on the tumultuous time that is finding your belonging and purpose in life,” he said.
Senior Kate Crisp (she/her), who plays Fastrada, points out the poignancy of the theme of self-discovery in college. She said, “Pippin explores the universal message of finding your place in the world, a theme that resonates deeply during the pivotal college years when young adults are discovering how they want to express themselves.”
The cast includes seniors Owen Clark (Charlemagne), Kate Crisp (Fastrada), Mary McMurray (Leading Player), and Tierra London Rush (Catherine); junior Jenkins (Pippin); sophomore Josi Pietrzyk (Berthe); and first-year student Loften Cooper (Lewis/Theo).
The show is directed and choreographed by Carolyn Guido Clifford. Music direction is by Erin McCamley. The design team includes Joe Leonard (technical director and set designer), Rob Holland (light designer), Jessica Pitcairn (costume designer), and Jason Sebastian (sound designer), and sophomores Darah Chandler and Loretta Rubin (props designers). The associate choreographer is sophomore Gracie Phlipot. The stage managers are senior Mattie Cieplak and first-year Anya Sperber, and the assistant stage managers are junior Brookelyn Duncan and sophomore Julianne Schultz.
Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. on February 14, 15, 21, and 22, and 2:00 pm on February 16 and 22. Tickets are limited and are available now. They are $20 each for adults and $15 each for Xavier students, faculty and staff. To purchase tickets, visit https://xaviertheatre.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200455420.
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