‘Pippin’ Heads to San Francisco for Month Long Run

Fresh off its four Tony Award wins, including best revival of a musical, Pippin is going to San Francisco.

The national touring version, which was just revealed last month, has just announced a stop at the city’s Golden Gate Theater September 23-October 19 for the 2013-2014 SHN season. The touring version and the current Broadway revival are both a new take on the original musical and first appeared in Boston at the American Repertory Theater last fall. It opened on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre on April 25 following previews that began March 23.

“Everything has its season… and this season, Pippin returns to Broadway for the first time since it first thrilled audiences 40 years ago!” said the new production’s official website. “With a beloved score by Tony Award nominee Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked) that includes the favorites ‘Magic to Do,’ ‘Glory’ and ‘Corner of the Sky,’ Pippin tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory?”

The original production premiered in 1972, and though it initially received mixed reviews, it went on to win five Tony Awards and run for nearly 2,000 performances over five years.

The new production is directed by Diane Paulus, who also directed recent revivals of Porgy and Bess and Hair. Both of those musicals also won Tony Awards for best revival of a musical. However, her win for best direction of a musical is the first Tony she has won for directing.

The other two Tony wins for Pippin were for best leading actress in a musical (for Patina Miller) and best featured actress in a musical (for Andrea Martin).