Memo from the RTC: Pippin Opens to Full House in Director John
Gilleece Finale (Maybe)
By Norm Scott
I saw the original Pippin with Ben Vereen as the Leading
Player on Broadway in the 1970s. I think I fell asleep, as I usually did at the
theater in those days. So I barely remembered it. But we did name one of our
cats Pippin and she lived to be eighteen, so I have a deep connection to the
show, though it wasn’t one of my favorites. With the Rockaway Theatre Company
closing its season with the 2012 revival of the play, I finally got to see a
more exciting version of the show and remained fully awake. There was such a
feast of activity taking place on stage, and at times in the aisles, I didn’t
know where to put my eyeballs. I’m going back at least two more times.
I talked to Director John Gilleece at the show and he was
bursting with pride over the performers and what they have managed to pull off
at what may turn out to be his final turn at directing, though he remains the
Artistic Director of the RTC which he played an instrumental in its founding
two decades ago. John has helped nurture a 2nd and even a 3rd
generation of performers and directors. Next year we will see a bunch of plays
directed by the under 35 crowd who got their start as teens at the RTC. What a
tribute to the work John has done and will continue to do.
If John is the boss at the RTC, Producer Susan Jasper is the
under-boss. It is hard to imagine the two of them not doing a play together and
I would wager we will see the partnership revived at some point. Susan will
continue to produce the plays next year.
Musical Director Richard Louis-Pierre has been a third leg
on the Gilleece/Jasper team and once again he has put together a spectacular
band. Rich does so many things so well around the theater and is there so often
sometimes I think he lives there.
Wait until you see the movement and dance choreographed by
Gabrielle Mangano whom I can remember as a teen performer. Gabby is also one of
the acrobats, who are captained by St. Louis native Ashley Ann Jones who made
her memorable RTC debut as Judy Turner in “A Chorus Line.”
The two main leads are played by RTC veterans of a recent
vintage who made their debuts in “La Cage Aux Folles.” Murrow HS grad Erech
Holder-Hetmeyer has the Ben Vereen role as the Leading Player, a narrator of
sorts and as far as I’m concerned, Erech could go toe to toe with the pro. A
perfect Pippin is played by Max Lamadrid, who also made is RTC debut in La
Cage. He and Erech are triple threats as actors, singers and dancers.
 |
| Congrats Andrew on going to Broadway |
I’ll talk about others in the show next time. Last week I
reported that children workshop and adult main stage RTC vet Andrew Barth
Feldman will be starring on Broadway as the lead in “Dear Evan Hanson” starting
at the end of January. Everyone who’s seen Andy knows what a talent he is, so
this is not surprise. Andy was at opening night and was treated like a
conquering hero by the RTC community. We wish him luck and hope to see him in
the play when he opens.
SHOWTIMES
Evenings November 23,
24, December 1, 2 at 8pm
Matinees November 25,
December 2 at 2pm
Tickets may be purchased the web.
www.rockawaytheatrecompany.org
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