Singers, dancers, and actors will be taking the stage for Monmouth University Music and Theatre Arts Department’s production of Pippin this November. This 1972 musical is, for the first time, being set at Monmouth University. From orientation to graduation, Pippin will take on the challenges and victories that Monmouth students experience in real life.
“There have been a million productions of Pippin in the last fifty years. It has been placed everywhere from the Crusades to the circus, always with a healthy dose of magic and effects,” director, Professor Sheri Anderson, said.
Anderson continued, “However, when you strip away the spectacle, Pippin is, at its core, a story about a young person trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world. Nowhere is that ‘quarter-life crisis’s more relevant than a college campus.”
She said that facing hardships in university is exhausting but that, “Pippin’s journey shows us that it is ok to be lost, to be young, to take risks; to fail a million times if it gets you closer to your truth.”
Nearly every student will face some sort of challenge in their university career. These challenges help us grow and learn about ourselves. College gives us the chance to find out where we fit in.
Samantha Jordan, a senior music industry student said she found her home at Lauren K. Woods Theatre. Jordan, who has been acting at Monmouth since the start of her first year, reflects on finding her way. “Looking back on when I started college, I feel like I had a very clear plan in my brain to get me to that sense of belonging at Monmouth, and that plan was to have faith in my passions, music and theater, while also putting myself out there and trying new things,” she said.
Her extensive involvement in department shows and extracurricular participation in theatre has helped her get comfortable in college. “I can now confidently say I found my best friends for life, and it is them that give me a sense of belonging at Monmouth,” Jordan added. Jordan is playing Berthe in Pippin.
Pippin boasts a cast of 19, a student crew of at least 15, and a professional staff of designers. Over the next two months, this team will work enthusiastically to put on an incredible performance. Many of these students are newcomers to the Woods Theatre stage.
John Terista freshman business student, is leading the show as Pippin. Much like Pippin, Terista is transitioning to college and trying to figure out who he is and who he can be.
Acting in a leading role is no easy feat, especially in your first semester. On taking on this role, Terista said, “There are always going to be nerves when taking on a leading role such as Pippin, but it is my philosophy is to turn that nervous energy into excitement. Especially given the circumstances of taking on this role for my first college production, I can’t help being absolutely stoked for this wonderful opportunity that so many others in this industry dream of.”
This production gives many first-year students the opportunity to shine. In fact, for more than half the cast, this is their first Monmouth production. Each student came to the first rehearsal Thursday with a smile on their face.
Theatre at Monmouth gives students a sense of excitement as they get to foster their passion. Terista said he has lots to look forward to, such as making his mark in the Music and Theatre Arts program. But at the end of the day, it’s connectivity that drives his desire to get involved.
“Above all, I am most excited to connect with each and every one of my cast mates during the entire rehearsal process and join the family that I know the Music and Theatre Arts Department is here at Monmouth,” Terista said. He says his biggest passion is connecting with others and says that having that opportunity through this show.
By setting Pippin at Monmouth University, students get the chance to see themselves on stage, making them feel less isolated. Professor Anderson’s approach is unique and current, reinventing theatre, something she believes is necessary. She said, “If we can do that in a way that is fresh and relevant to our campus community, we owe it to them to try.”
Pippin will be open to Monmouth students, faculty, and the public. The show will run on Nov. 16 at 8:00 p.m., Nov. 17 at 8:00 p.m., Nov. 18 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Nov. 19 at 3:00 p.m. in Lauren K. Woods Theatre.
