'Pippin' soars onto GHS stage

The main characters in the Greencastle High School production of "Pippin" (from left) Lewis (Taylor Secrest), King Charles (Elijah Brattain), Fastrada (Bailey Hudson), Berthe (Michaela Semak) and Leading Player (Logan Beck) plead with Pippin to think about his life and choose their answer to ultimate fulfillment, while Pippin (Alex Briones, center) considers staying with Catherine (Hannah Brattain) and Theo (Arianna Pershing, right). (Photo by ERIC BERNSEE)

Pippin, the son of medieval legend King Charlemagne, will discover the true meaning of life this weekend at Greencastle High School's Parker Auditorium.

Show times for "Pippin" are Thursday, Frida, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 and will be available at the door.

Young Pippin (senior Alex Briones) feels he is missing something "completely fulfilling" in his life. So he accepts the help of a Band of Players lead by a relatively pushy Leading Player (junior Logan Beck).

Pippin then returns home to the castle of his father, King Charles (senior Elijah Brattain), although Pippin finds it difficult to talk to his father who has trouble expressing any loving emotions toward him. While home, Pippin also speaks with his sneaky stepmother Fastrada (junior Bailey Hudson) and his dim-witted half-brother Lewis (senior Taylor Secrest). Fastrada is scheming for Pippin and then Lewis to take over the throne hoping that Pippin will kill his father and that Pippin will die in battle.

When Pippin discovers that fighting in battle does not bring him the sense of fulfillment he was searching for, he seeks the advice of his grandmother Berthe (sophomore Michaela Semak). Berthe tells Pippin to stop taking life so seriously and to enjoy some love and romance.

He finds this love with Catherine (junior Hannah Brattain), a widow with a small boy named Theo (freshman Arianna Pershing). This relationship creates inner conflict for Pippin and irritates the Leading Player who has a different plan for Pippin, a "grand finale of monumental proportions."

Also included in the cast are 35 members of the Band of Players who portray soldiers, nobles, courtiers, circus people and dancers.

The show is being directed by Bethany Bax with music direction by Debby Lambert. Choreographer is Lori Briones with Robert Hedge as technical director.

The show also includes a crew of 22 students working backstage and in the lighting and sound booths.

"Pippin" is being presented by GHS through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).