Jeshamon Volkerts (left) as Pippin and Jesse Garcia (right) as the Lead Player.
Haley Paulissian as Fastrada.
Alyssa McCabe (center) as Catherine durring a solo.
Playhouse Merced sends off its 28th season appropriately with the fourth-wall destroying bang by bringing the beloved Broadway musical “Pippin” to town under the direction of GB Blackmon III and musical arrangement of Zakarias Dimpel-Alvarez.
The show opened last weekend to enthusiastic crowds, and will continue to perform on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. until May 27 — so please take your time to experience this show while you can. Also, due to the mature themes and subject matter, the show is NOT recommended for children under the age of 13.
Pippin the Musical was written and composed by Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson in 1972, and was loosely based on the lives and events surrounding the Frankish Prince Pippin and his father Charlemagne. This incredibly surreal, meta, and self-aware show follows the sensitive and thoughtful Prince Pippin as he searches for meaning and purpose in a world where he does not quite fit in. This experience is full of music, adult comedy, sarcasm, and unexpected turns of events — all while still retaining heart and offering real commentary on the human experience.
Cast: Jesse Garcia as the Lead Player, Jeshamon Volkerts as Pippin, Matthew Rivera as Charlemagne, Chris Espinoza as Lewis, Haley Paulissian as Fastrada, Samantha Brooke as Berthie, Alyssa McCabe as Catherine, Starr Schwartz as Theo, with the Ensemble consisting of Cheney Mcgee, Gabrielle Stokes, Katy Uyeno, Kalani Perez, Alejandro Arellano, Emily Caselman, and Asia Joaquim, and the Pit Singers consisting of Kaoko Kada, Karen Whitmyre, Izumi Johno, Mary Hintenach, Aralyn Day, and Bennet Young.
Whats Coming Next for Playhouse?
This summer will be packed with Playhouse programs and performances for the youth of the valley. It all starts this June with the Summer Stage Camps, which will conclude with a double feature performance from both productions. The two camps that they will be working on as well as performing “Sally Sells Seashells (And You Can Too!)” for those aged seven through twelve, and “Broadway on the Boardwalk” for those who are aged five and six. The camps will be running from June 5 to June 22, and the performances will be on June 22 through June 24 — so mark your calendars.
The older kids will also have their chance to shine this summer, with their production of the hit Sondheim musical “Into the Woods Jr.” for youth aged 13 to 18. This production will also be starting on June 5, however it is a more demanding experience and will be rehearsing until late July, with the performances scheduled from the 27th to the 29th
Registration is now open and quickly filling up, so if you’re interested in more information or signing up use the following website: www.playhousemerced.com/camps.