Friends' Central Presenting 'Pippin' This Weekend

Friends' Central Upper School will present its production of the Tony-award winning musical "Pippin" this weekend, and you have three chances to see the student thespians tread the boards.

The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, March 3 and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday March 4 in Shallcross Hall. An ice cream social will follow the 2 p.m. show on Saturday.

"Come 'join us' while we help Pippin find his 'corner of the sky' through song and dance," Drama Director Terry Gurein said in a statement. "With a lively score by Stephen Schwartz, the musical Pippin has been delighting audiences since Bob Fosse directed the original production in 1974. Upper School singers and actors have some 'magic to do, just for you.'"

"Pippin" follows a mysterious performance troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of a young prince, Pippin, on his search for the real meaning of life.

Alex Bessen, who stars as the titular Pippin, says that the premise mirrors what he and his classmates have experienced in life.

“Pippin is looking for real significance, meaning, and direction of his life, and that’s what many of us in the senior class are also doing," Bessen said. "We’re searching forward this all means and what the next steps are for each of us."

Cast members are: Noelle Mercer, Alex Bessen, JulianShapiro-Barnum, Matt Blackman, Ciara Hervas, Saleana Copeland, Zoe Walker, Benny Flora, Jesse Gross, Margaux Berland, Mikaela Uricheck, James Peterson, Talia Rosenberg, Jake Lynn-Palevsky, Carmella Saia, Miles Meline, McKenna Blinman, Julian Brenman, Marielle Buxbaum, Anna Comstock, Olivia Comstock, Julia Dani, Brizhay Davis, Nicole Gilliland, Emma Gordon, Lisa Green, Kalila Jones, Maranda Plunkett, Nina Saligman, and Xinping Xie.

The stage crew includes Annie Roberts, Neil Goldader, Ethan Berger, Hannah Benjet, Zeeanne Choi, Mia Webster, SydneyKaplan, Joshua Weinstein, Sam Caccamo, Jordan Panzer, Alejandro Lopez, Taylor Brizill, Gianna Matika, and Nicole McCullough.

Friends Central School Upper School is located at 1101 City Ave., Wynnewood.

Watch a student-made trailer for the production below: