The Music Theatre Company Presents PIPPIN, 3/22-5/6

The Music Theatre Company, Highland Park's Equity theatre, announced its spring production of Pippin by Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson, directed and choreographed by Founding Artistic Director Jessica Redish. The production will run March 22 - May 6, 2012 at The Music Theatre Company located in the Karger Center, 1850 Green Bay Road in Highland Park.

Pippin, a musical fable about of the son of Charlemagne, tells the story of a young man in search of happiness and fulfillment. Led by a Leading Player and his troupe of Players, Pippin journeys through the battlefield, temptations of the flesh, political plots for power and, ultimately, finds satisfaction in an unexpected place.

Previews are March 22 through March 25, 2012 and tickets are $35. Performances are March 30 through May 6 and tickets are $40.

Curtain Times are Thursdays – Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. Additional Tuesday and Wednesday performances begin at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 847.579.4900, Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 6:00pm, or visiting www.themusictheatrecompany.org. Groups of ten or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 847.579.4950 x 2.

Pippin is sponsored by YEA! Highland Park, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Highland Park Cultural Arts Commission, and BMO Harris Bank.

Take the Metra Union Pacific-North Line and get off at the Highland Park station. Walk approximately one block north to Central Ave and turn left (west) on Central. Continue two and a half blocks to Green Bay Road, and go north approximately one block. The Music Theatre Company is on the west side of Green Bay (just north of Sunset Foods).

The Music Theatre Company's patrons will receive a 15% discount at participating restaurants. Bring in your email ticket confirmation before or after the show to receive the discount. Discount applies for dining the day of performance only. Reservations are recommended and please inform the restaurant if you are dining pre-show. For participating restaurants & their guidelines, go to www.themusictheatrecompany.org.

Pippin features Andrew Keltz in the title role, with Joey Stone as the Leading Player, James Rank as Charlemagne, Jess Godwin as Catherine, Zach Zube as Lewis and Peggy Roeder as Berthe (March 22-April 13). Cindy Gold will assume the role of Berthe April 19-May 6. The actress playing Fastrada is to be announced. Ian Weinberger music directs, lighting design is by Charlie Cooper, scenic design is by Stephen Carmody, properties design is by Nick Heggestad, costumes are by Jessica Snyder, Sound Design is by Christopher Kriz.

The ensemble includes: Erica Bittner, Elliot Burton, Brian M. Duncan, Bobby Johnson, Sasha Kostyrko, Kristin O'Connell, Jeremy Sonkin, Tommy Rivera-Vega and Lucy Zukaitis.

Jessica Redish (Director/Choreographer) is the Founding Artistic Director of The Music Theatre Company where she directed and choreographed the company's Jeff-Nominated production of Merrily We Roll Along and Erika's Wall. She also directed, choreographed and conceived the company's The 9/11 Report: A Bipartisan Musical Fantasia by Michael Mahler. Jessica choreographed She Loves Me at Writers' Theatre in Glencoe, and will be directing Summertime, with music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler and book by Laura Eason, currently in development. She served as Movement Director for the off-Broadway production of Adding Machine directed by David Cromer and will be choreographing RENT at American Theatre Company/About Face Theatre directed by Mr. Cromer. Jessica is an alumna of Northwestern University and is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

The Music Theatre Company values the musical as an art form. Through the presentation of fully-staged productions, commissions of new works, musical experiments and an interactive dialogue between artist and community, The Music Theatre Company, a nationally-based company of professional artists creating work in Highland Park, explores the musical in the interest of expanding the canon of musical theatre. For more information visit www.themusictheatrecompany.org.