Towle Theater Managing Director Jeff Casey is used to pivoting during challenging times while operating the 80-seat regional theater stage space in Hammond during the past two decades.
But his “swan song,” intended to be the main event to cap his 20 years of hard work, became an even greater challenge for his staging of the Broadway classic “Pippin.”
“I’ve been talking about and promoting this newly imagined ‘Pippin’ for almost a year now,” Casey said.’
“Because of an illness within the cast, we had to push back our opening weekend. It’s been a challenge, but still worth it for the audience experience.”
“Pippin” debuted on Broadway as the 1972 hit musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson as directed by legendary Bob Fosse.
Casey, as director of the Towle version of “Pippin,” found new inspiration for his incarnation of the musical, but faced cast illness just before the scheduled July 12 opening weekend.
The show opens July 19 with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the theater in Hammond.
“Unfortunately, we can’t add back that lost weekend with an extension because we already have other programming,” Casey said.
“But we are still making the most of the two weekends that we have with our audiences.”
Casey is joined by Jim LaPietra as assistant director with music directed by Ron Attreau and featuring choreography by Nikki Dizon. The production is sponsored by Greg and Beth Zargocki.
“For anyone unfamiliar, ‘Pippin’ ranks as one of my favorites because it is the story of one young man’s journey to be extraordinary as the heir to the Frankish throne,” Casey said.
“Prince Pippin is in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power after disposing of his father who is King Charlemagne the Great. This musical explores the lessons learned about the real meaning of happiness.”
Daniel Rausch plays Pippin and is joined by Autumn Christensen, Lili Galluzzo, Natalie Rae and Allison Sokolowski,, all returning Towle actors. The show cast also includes Towle newcomers Mara Currens, Anthony James, Sarah Beth Lipsman, Kacey Marovich, Cris Moreno, Travis Shanahan, Carlos Toral, Jay Torrens and Amanda Wilt.
“We have this full cast of 14 and also eight musicians so that’s a lot of people on a stage our size,” Casey said.
“We get it to work and the cast chemistry is terrific. Our version of ‘Pippin’ gives it a corporate business approach, and even though costumes include business suits, we’ve made them very avant garde.”
Casey said the Towle is also still honoring an Educator Appreciation Nights on July 26 for teachers and administrators to receive “buy-one-get-one free tickets” by showing a school ID and making the reservation in advance.
The original Broadway cast of “Pippin” was a who’s who of talents with careers spanning both movies and television, as well as stage, such as John Rubinstein as Pippin, Ben Vereen as The Leading Player, Jill Clayburgh as love interest Catherine and Irene Ryan, who played Granny on TV’s “The Beverly Hillbillies” as Berthe.
“I love all of these characters and also the musical numbers which is why I wanted to do this production for my final season at the Towle, despite any challenges,” Casey said.
“Of all of the musical numbers, I’d say the song ‘Morning Glow’ at the close of Act One is still my all-time favorites. It is stirring, and it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.”
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for The Post-Tribune.
‘Pippin’
When: Weekends July 19-28
Where: Towle Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave., Hammond
Cost: $24
Information: 219-937-8780; towletheater.org