brings magic to the stage
P
C ARLYN TON S CH OOL D IS TR IC T NE WS
arlynton-Montour
Carlynton
High School
2016 Spring
Musical
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ippin, with an original 1970’s pop score by
composer Stephen Schwartz and original
choreography by Bob Fosse, is the story
of a young prince whose world is filled with
compromise and doubt as he deals with the
coming of age while trying to find meaning and
significance in life. The musical was performed
April 7-10 in the high school’s auditorium.
Leading the cast was senior Alex Pollak
as the Leading Player (narrator) and senior
John Oliver as Pippin. Seniors Jarod Latta,
Caleb Staker, Marin Exler and juniors
Morgan Vonada and Sofia Carrasco also held
significant roles in the show, with 33 ensemble
members performing as “Players.”
The musical’s show-stopping Fosse-esque
choreography and compelling songs, included
“Morning Glow,” performed powerfully by
Pippin, and a robust “Glory” sung by the
Leading Player. A buoyant duet with Pippin
and the Leading Player, “On the Right Track,”
made you believe in happy endings. And
Pippin bared his feelings in a rendition of
“Extraordinary,” when he sang, “Give me my
wings, and don’t make me think about ev’ryday
things. They’re so secondary, to someone who
is very extraordinary, like me!”
Pippin’s (John Oliver) journey through the
story is guided by the charismatic Leading
Player (Alex Pollak) who attempts to add
magic (opening song, “Magic to Do”) to the
plot with promises of a grand finale. During
the show, Pippin is influenced by his elusive
father, King Charlemagne (Jarod Latta), and
conniving stepmother Fastrada (Morgan
Vonada) who secretly wishes Pippin to be
more like her favored son, Lewis (Caleb Staker).
Pippin flees to the forest to consult with his
grandmother Berthe (Marin Exler), yet finds no
comfort in her wise words.
After many failed attempts to find adventure
and fulfillment (“Corner of the Sky”), the young
prince meets and falls in love with Catherine
(Sofia Carrasco), a widow and an “ordinary
kind of women,” as implied in her performance
of “Kind of Women.” Catherine and her son,
Theo (Mateo Carrasco), cause Pippin to realize
that the demand for something without flaw
or compromise is not just self-defeating but