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Pippi Longstocking by J*Company  The greatest Swedish heroine of all time is back. That
oddball redhead with long braids that wing out on either side of her head is back to charm
yet another generation of children. Her appeal is pretty clear – she lives by her
own rules alone in a house with a monkey and horse and all the gold she could
ever want thanks to her long-lost pirate pappy. She’s also the strongest girl
in the world, so she can handle pretty much any situation that comes along. And
a lot of situations come along.
J*Company is staging this musical version of Pippi Longstocking with a cast ranging in age from seven to thirteen, and featuring a few added songs written just for this production by the show’s talented musical director Rayme Sciaroni. During the course of the show, Pippi out-wrestles strong man circus performer Mighty Adolph (Joshua Shtein), protects her gold from bungling burglars (Izzy Pollak and Beth Jacobs), gives the child welfare board the runaround, thumbs her nose at the ridiculous social airs adults put on, drives an amusingly horrid teacher (Lena White) nuts, and teaches her friends to enjoy life and just be whoever they are. Sarah Knapp is the irrepressible Pippi, and she lights into the role with infectious enthusiasm for life and friendship while confounding persnickety adults. She also boasts a great singing voice that she uses to sing lullabies, deliver wisdom like You Never Know Where You Might Be Tomorrow, and encourage others to greatness with You Could Be Someone Special. She is flanked by Katheryne Penny and Adam Faison as her best friends Annika and Tommy who both deliver outstanding performances as well – especially in Sciaroni’s original tune Me and You and You and Me. Director Becky Cherlin Baird directs an ensemble of more than sixty kids, and they are a polished group -- everyone from the prissy women who are offended by Pippi to the townspeople and sailors to the adorable schoolchildren as they learn their “pluttification.” Bright costumes and sets, including Pippi’s colorful Villa Villekulla estate, add much to the fun and frivolity of the show.Performed through May 29, 2005.
~ Cast ~
Pippi Longstocking: Sarah Knapp Tommy Settergren: Adam Faison Annika Settergren: Katheryne Penny Mrs. Prysselius: Abigail Hirschfeld Klang: Megan Phillips Larsson: Ryan Hastings-Echo Thunder: Izzy Pollak Bloom: Beth Jacobs Teacher: Lena White Capt. Longstocking: Matt Maretz Mrs. Settergren: Brenna Clemens Mrs. Grandberg: Gaby Maio Mrs. Lindgren: Adina Wollner Carnival Manager: Adam Recht Mighty Adolph: Joshua Shtein Mr. Neilsen: Elisa Greenberg School Kids: Sasha Altschuler Danielle Gardner Katie Harmeyer Daniela Jinich Adrienne Krichman Danielle Levin Mady Maio Talia Maio Sara Mills Madeline Ottelie Samantha Pollak Danielle Slomka Celia Tedde Athena Tsunis Hayley Scarano Brittney Vevaina Loren Vevaina Ali Viterbi Sailors: Joanne Edelstein Tyler Ellison Mara Jacobs Julian Kalb Mark Steitz Taylor Strumwasser Alison Tradonsky Townspeople: Lindsey Aiello Simone Arasimowicz Keila Ashkenasi Nancy Edid Jacqueline Gillies Danya Greenberg Ellen Gunnarsson Hannah Houts Sonya Jacobs Rachel Kritzik Ashley Lopez Cory Mills Kaydon Schanberger Joshua Shtein Madison Simpson Stefan Wendel Dancers: Nicole Athill Danielle Smotrich Rachel Atkins Natalie Buchbinder Jesters: Zoe Eprile and Ari Krasner Toy Venders: Connor Fanning and Matthew Schaerer Little Girls: Annie Charlat Sara Frank Gabriella Greenwald Halle Hoffman Hanna Prater Gabrielle Smotrich Accordion Player: Kelly Rubin Candy Vendors: Michaela Schenk and Ben Schwartz
Director/Choreographer: Becky Cherlin Baird |