Spring Arts Calendar
Upper School Recital April 7, 7:00 pm Warner Theater Upper School Music Pops Night May 13,3:00 pm Warner Theater Middle School Drama 8th Grade Drama Workshop May 15, 7:00 pm Andes Pit Theater Middle School Spring Concert May 24, 7:00 pm Warner Theater
Worcester Academy Music and Theater Arts Department Presents:
Cole Porters
Directors Notes
Pippin is the third in our season of plays about the search for a place to belong, following Theophilus North and Hecuba. Since premiering on Broadway in 1972, Pippin has been popular with student and professional performers due to its tuneful pop score, uniquely theatrical approach and appealing story of a young man looking for his corner of the sky. In a world of American Idol, Kim Kardashian and Real Housewives, Pippin continues to be relevant. How far will we go to be noticed? What is the price of fame? What are we willing to do for a moment of glory? As we watch the Leading Player guide Pippin on his journey towards complete ultimate fulfillment, do we not recognize our own ambitions? As our society becomes more obsessed with our 15 minutes of fame, Pippin may hold a lesson for us all.
Pippin is Worcester Academys first all-school musical, utilizing students from 6th through 12th grade. The production is a collaboration of the music and theatre programs in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Worcester Academy offers a wide range of opportunities to students interested in theatre, through a holistic approach that engages students as practitioners, scholars and audience members. A range of courses encourages active hands-on learning, through which students learn about the history and craft of theatre. The program produces three upper school plays, and a middle school play, ranging from classical to contemporary, dramas and musicals. Students are actively involved in every aspect of production.
years of outstanding service to Worcester Academy!! You have guided many young thespians to a love of and carreer in theater!
Thank you Bill Taylor for over 35
Please join us for a reception for Bill Taylor in Walker Gallery immediately following the Saturday Matinee performance!
We would like to extend our warm greetings to our special alumni guests invited to Saturday afternoons performance.
Staff
Director...............................................................................William Addis Musical Director..................................................................Donald Irving Orchestra Manager and Sound Designer..............................Al Vaudreuil Scenic Designer, Technical Director and Light Designer......Joshua Webb Costume Designer.............................................................Joanne Buyniski
Welcome back to WA!!
Middle School Coordinator......................................................Eliza Hale Upper School Coordinator..........................................Nanci Shepardson Producer..........................................................................Kathy G. Tirado Properties.....................................................Eliza Hale, Jaquelyn Shartin Stage Manager...............................................................Hannah Lambert Assistant Stage Manager.................................................Mackenzie Baker Rehearsal Pianist....................................................................Paul Buono
Thank you for turning off your cell phone and not using flash photography during the show! Please join us for refreshments in the lobby during intermission!
Choreographer.................................................................Laurel Conrad
Crew
Costume Crew Chief..................................Yiyun (Erica) Guo Costume Crew....................Maya Franson, Gianna Anderson Stage Crew.................................... Julie Troy, Liandra Castro, Liu Yang, MingWai Shu, MingYan Shu, Tai-Hsuan Chang Sound Engineer...................................................Zachary Fask Poster and Program Artwork.................................Toby Irving
Acknowledgements
Support for this program, and other performing arts programs throughout the year, has been provided by the George A. & Donna M. McMillan Foundation Fund for Music and the Performing Arts at Worcester Academy.
Special Thanks to:
Christina Duff Bob Oborne Paul Gervais and Kurlan Music Ted Buyniski Casa de Lannoy Fabrics, Oranjestad, Aruba Willys Kitty Angels Jacqueline Plantier Jason Epstein Curry Printing, 165 Southbridge Street Worcester
Orchestra
Violin ----- Edlyn Zhang. Hikatu Ikebe, Charles Chiang Flute ----- Jiwon (Catalina) Kim, Alison Lanyon Trumpet ----- Johnathan Clark Viola ----- Regan Yeung Clarinet ----- Hyunjun (Jun) Yu, Serra (Jesse) Park Harp ----- Amelia Erskine Cello ----- Kiana Nedele Additional Reeds ----- Jim Allard Keyboard ----- Edlyn Zhang Bass ----- Peter Lewis Guitar/Banjo ----- Al Vaudreuil Drums ----- Bill Connor Piano ----- Paul Buono
Sally, a senior, is very excited to be in her first WA musical! It is never to late to try something new. Sally is very happy that she got to have this experience while in high school and cannot wait for people to see the play. She gives a huge thank-you to her friends and family, who have supported her throughout her life! Sally could not have done it without them! And one final thank-you to the person who decided to stage the musical in a different season than swim team! Thanawuth (Atom) Thanathibodee is the only postgraduate in this musical. This is the first time in his life that he has performed in a musical, so he is very excited to be in the show.
Cast
Leading Player............................Anita Alur Pippin..................................Andrew Reiter Charlemagne.............Dermot McCormack Lewis......................................Chris Gibson Fastrada..................................Claire Byrnes Berthe.................................Lauren Sullivan Catherine..........................Sun-Mee Kasper Theo......................................Daniel Martin
The Players:
Georgianna Angelis Emma Berry Meghan Butler Amiranour (Mimi) El-Nemr Sean Finn Nicole Fleming David Gibson Emily Goodell Haeyun (Julianne) Kang Heeyun (Helen) Kang Sydney Kennedy Amanda LaCoy Henri Noel Sarah Padgett Alan Phung Sarah Potter Sally Shepardson Thanawuth Thanathibodee Zhuochen (Bryan) Wang Mika Yoshie
Zhuochen (Bryan) Wang is a senior and an active member of the music program. This is his first play. Thank you Mr. Addis and Mr. Irving.
Mika Yoshie is a sophomore from Japan. This is her first upper school play at Worcester Academy. She was on costume crew in the fall and winter. Her make up design for Hecuba won best make up design from the MA Educational Theater Guild. Thank you Mr. Addis, Mr. Irving, Mrs. Shepardson and Ms. Buyniski.
Musical Numbers
Act 1 Magic to Do -- Leading Player, The Players Corner of the Sky -- Pippin Welcome Home -- Pippin, Charles War is a Science -- Charles Glory -- Leading Player, The Players, Featured Dancers:Claire Byrnes, Mika Yoshie, and Sarah Potter Simple Joys -- Leading Player No Time at All -- Berthe With You - Pippin Spread a Little Sunshine -- Fastrada Morning Glow -- Pippin, Player Zhuochen (Bryan) Wang Act 1 Finale - Leading Player, The Players Act 2 Right Track -- Leading Player, Pippin There He Was -- Catherine Kind of Woman -- Catherine, The Players:Heeyun (Helen) Kang, Sally Shepardson, and Mika Yoshie Extraordinary -- Pippin Prayer for a Duck -- Pippin Love Song - Pippin and Catherine I Guess Ill Miss the Man - Catherine Finale -- All
Amanda LaCoy is a sixth grader. Thank you to Mr. Addis, Ms. Hale and the whole cast.
Henri is currently a sophomore. He has performed in The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Sideways Stories from Wayside School during his Middle School career. This is his first musical in high school and he wishes everyone break a leg!
Sarah Padgett is currently a freshman. Pippin is her first Upper School play at Worcester Academy, but you may have seen her in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Schoolhouse Rock last year. She really enjoyed working with and getting to know new people during the musical, and is very excited for the performance! She wishes for everybody to break a leg!
Alan Phung is very happy to be able to be a part of the spring musical. He is a 14-year-old freshman. Alan appeared in the fall play at WA and many other numerous plays at his former school. He is very excited about Pippin and hopes everyone will break a leg!
Sarah Potter is a freshman. She recently appeared in Theophilus North. Thanks to Mr. Addis, Mr. Irving and Laurel!
David Gibson is a junior and has appeared in many plays, including Theophilus North and Hecuba this year. He basically lives in the theater, but still somehow fails to show up for his costume fittings or photo calls. He thanks his brother Chris, Mr Addis and especially Ms. Buyniski for putting up with him.
Meet the Cast
Anita Alur is a junior, and this is her third musical at WA She has performed in two Upper School plays,and three Middle School plays. Anita has had a great time working on Pippin, and she would like thank Mr. Addis, Mr. Irving, the orchestra, Laurel, Ms. Buyniski, Mr. Webb, and the crew for putting in so much time and effort to make the show a success! She hopes that you all enjoy Pippin!
Emily Goodell is a freshman. This is her first upper school play. She really likes the color purple as does her hero Ms. Tirado. Thank you everybody!!
Haeyun (Julianne) Kang is a sophomore from Korea. This is the first time that she has performed in a musical. Juliann elikes singing and music. She has enjoyed working on the musical a lot and hopes it brings a smile to everyones face!
Andrew Reiter is a junior. He will be performing in his sixth theatrical production on the Hilltop. Hed like to thank his directors, the costume crew, the stage crew, and Paul. Andrew is very excited for everyone to see the show and hopes they like it... and even if they dont like it, he wants them to tell him they liked it anyways. Hell miss his senior comrades next year and wishes his fellow cast members to break a leg! The road to an EGOT is a long one.
Dermot McCormack is a senior making his Worcester Academy upper school play debut. He is active in the choral program. He is grateful to Mr. Addis for being incredible and Ms. Tirado for inspiring him every day. Heeyun (Helen) Kang is from Koriea and this is her first time in the musical. Thanks to Mr. Irving and Mr. Addis.
Sydney Kennedy is in the sixth grade. Sydney has been in two performances, one at Calliope Theater, and another at her previous school. She enjoys singing, playing the piano, and photography.
Christopher Gibson is a freshman. He is 15 and has been interested in theatre for four years. Chris has been in several plays and musicals in the past such as Seussical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Secret Garden, Hecuba, and now Pippin. Chris looks forward to performing in this wonderful musical for all to see.
Claire Byrnes is a senior who has previously appeared in Seussical, Edwin Drood and Hecuba, for which she was recognized by the MA Educational Theater Guild as an outstanding performer of the year. She is incredibly appreciative of Mr. Addis.
Emma Berry is a freshman. She previously appeared this year in Hecuba. Mr. Addis is her hero.
Lauren Sullivan is a freshman. This is the first theater production she has been in at WA, but she has been a part of other shows and musicals. Lauren has really enjoyed working with the directors and cast and cant wait for opening night!
Meghan Butler is a junior, and is super excited to be participating in her first musical. Meg also participates in Hillpoppas and the Habitat for Humanity club. Meg wishes her new friends good luck in the show, and wants to thank Mr. Addis, Mr. Irving, Laurel, and Paul for their hard work on the musical!
Sun-Mee Kasper, a senior, is extremely excited to perform in Pippin, her fourth and final musical on the Hilltop. Past roles at WA include the title character in the soon-to-be-revived Edwin Drood, two crazy doctors and a talk show host in Craig Lucas Reckless, and most recently, the Chorus Leader in the half-hour hit, Hecuba. Sunny plans to continue living the dream next year at Case Western. An avid alliterator, Sunny would like to thank her family and friends for putting up with her incessant infatuations with England, Broadway, sushi, and lipstick.
Amiranour (Mimi) El-Nemr is in the seventh grade, and Pippin is her second musical/play. Last year Mimi appeared in Schoolhouse Rock, an all middle school musical. She enjoys singing by herself and sometimes with her friends. Mimi has enjoyed working with the cast of Pippin.
Daniel Martin is a sixth grader. This is his Worcester Academy debut. Thanks to Mr. Addis and Ms. Hale.
Sean Finn is a freshman who has appeared many times in plays in the middle school and was in the upper school production of Hecuba. Thank you to Mr. Addis.
Georgianna Angelis is currently in sixth grade. She recently performed in a Christmas recital. Georgianna enjoys singing and wishes that Pippin be a success!
Nicole Fleming is a freshman. This is her third WA show, and first WA musical! Shes had so much fun working on Pippin with the cast, and hopes everyone enjoys the show!
