Northstar Playmakers Bring Pippin to Life

By Leia Potenza

Westhills’ Northstar Playmakers have ‘magic to do’ as they enter into the final stages of their upcoming production of Pippin. However, this achievement didn’t come without its challenges. From technical issues to conceptual complications, there’s been no shortage of difficulties with putting on a show of this caliber. 

Pippin follows the story of a young prince searching for fulfillment. He is led down different life paths by Leading Player and their band of performers, before the show culminates in a finale where the players attempt to convince Pippin to commit suicide. 

“The ensemble members are less their own people and more extensions of Pippin. That’s hard to grasp and really work in,” said Ava Sanchez (‘26). 

Due to the abstract style of Pippin, it can be difficult for the cast to portray the story in an easily understandable way. However, the challenge of how to ‘act’ such a conceptual show is only one of the many obstacles of putting on Pippin. Pippin was originally choreographed by Bob Fosse and composed by Stephen Schwartz, both of whom are known in musical theater for their difficult content- some of which has carried through to Westhill’s production of the show. 

“The show is packed with many complicated dances and songs…as challenging as this show is, our cast rose to the occasion,” said Niko Rinaldi (‘25), the president of Northstar Playmakers. 

While Pippin does offer a range of challenges to the cast, it is also an extremely difficult show from a crew perspective. Pippin hosts a variety of large colorful sets, a multitude of costumes for each member of the cast, complicated lighting cues, and countless other challenges for the tech crew. 

“I have spent hours after school and on weekends coming in to make sure sets, costumes, and other parts of tech are organized,” said Izzy Nastasi (‘28), the stage manager. 

All involved in the show have poured hours into making sure it’s the best it can be, but a special acknowledgement needs to be paid towards the tech crew. The crew often stays hours later than the cast, helping create the world Pippin takes place in, proving their dedication to their craft. While Pippin as a show has faced its challenges, it is at the point where everyone’s individual efforts are coming together to create something cohesive and wonderful. 

“I think it’s going to be a phenomenal show. The cast, crew, and creative team have all poured their hearts and souls into this production” said Rinaldi (‘25). 

Theater is a wonderful opportunity for people to come together and create something amazing. The connections made while a part of a show are what lends to the captivating aspect of a production, and Pippin has been no exception when it comes to fostering these bonds. 

“Being stage manager has allowed me to make many new friends in both tech crew and the cast,” Nastasi (‘28) said. 

As the opening dates of Pippin approach, these connections will only grow stronger, as will the ‘magic’ that the show has to offer.