Ditzler announces that L-S will stage "Pippin" as spring musical

Image courtesy of illinoistheatrefest.org/
As dozens of interested students gathered in the chorus room after school on Wednesday afternoon, anticipation was in the air. One question permeated their minds: what would be the spring musical?

Then, director Kevin Ditzler put that question to rest when he announced that it would be "Pippin", the Stephen Schwartz standard that details the travails of Charlemagne and his son Pippin. Licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI), the production will be staged in the L-S Performing Arts Center from March 10-12.

Ditzler admitted that selecting a show this year "snuck up" on him, and that an original idea did not pan out, leading him to Pippin, which he anticipates will be quite challenging, but rewarding.

"I think it's going to be very difficult," he says. "It frightens the heck out of me."

The selection of this show once again followed the cycle of types of shows the staff explores, hoping to give each student the opportunity to participate in comedy, tragedy, drama, and conceptual theatre during their time at L-S.

And although some of the show can be on the more risque side, he assures that it will be appropriate for high school. “You can lean on double entendre as light or heavy as you want,” he said, pointing to a particular scene where Pippin’s grandmother suggest he “frolick more” as an area where a change in delivery would be a change in meaning.

In addition, the show poses a challenge in terms of acrobatics -- a circus is present, and designing a set that conjures images of a jungle gym is a priority.

"[I want] to see what talent we have," says Ditzler in regards to finding people who can bring the acrobatic elements to life. "[We'll] use magic for what we don't have."

Overall, Ditzler's outlook is simple.

"I'm excited to get started."

--Justin Burkett, LSNews.org Managing Editor and Benjamin Pontz, LSNews.org Editor-In-Chief

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