Framingham's Jamey Miller in Wellesley Theatre Project's Pippin

Since its Broadway premiere in 1972, Steven Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson’s Tony award-winning musical Pippin, the Musical has been almost everywhere. Not only has the show enjoyed successful runs all over the country and around the world, but directors have found seemingly countless settings for the story of a young man searching for lasting happiness. The action has been set in the modern day, in a video game, in a punk-rock no man’s land, and, in Diane Paulus’s recent Broadway revival, a high-flying acrobatic circus.

The Wellesley Theatre Project takes the story to the streets of San Francisco in the 1970s.

Each of the 22 cast members portrays a street performer working to lure in an audience to see their show.

Keeping in mind theatre’s mission to challenge students “to become citizen artists--improving the quality of life in their local and global community by emphasizing collaboration, cultural, and social understanding,” Director and Resident Choreographer Hannah Shihdanian has used the show as a springboard to address and comment on the social issues of the 70s and of today. Each of the cast members was asked to seriously engage with these issues by researching 1970’s culture, the tradition of street performance, and the important political figures of the period.

The issues that Pippin, the Musical touches upon could not be more relevant to our world today. As the title character navigates his way through life, seeking his Corner of the Sky, he is continually sidetracked by war, by religious conflict, by lust, and by his hunger for glory. In a world still pervaded by these conflicts and anxieties, Wellesley Theatre’s Pippin, the Musical affirms the simple joys of love, comfort, and family.

Cast members are between the ages of 12 and 17, and reside in Wellesley as well as neighboring communities including, Natick, Newton, Weston, Needham, Waban, Framingham, and Dover.

The final performance is Saturday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. at Babson College’s The Sorenson Center, 19 Babson College Dr, Wellesley, MA 02482.

Tickets are priced $12 for adults and $6 for students and seniors, and may be purchased online at www.wellesleytheatreproject.org in advance, or at the door for $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.