Pippin (musical)

Pippin
Original Cast Recording
Music	Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics	Stephen Schwartz
Book	Roger O. Hirson
Basis	Fictitious life of Pippin the Hunchback, son of Charlemagne
Productions	1972 Broadway 1973 West End 1981 Canadian television 2009 Los Angeles 2012 Cambridge 2013 Broadway revival 2014 US National Tour 2017 2nd US National Tour
Awards	Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical

Pippin is a Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance.

The protagonist Pippin and his father Charlemagne are characters derived from two real-life individuals of the early Middle Ages, though the plot presents no historical accuracy regarding either. The play rather derives from the old Burlesque of Faust. The show was partially financed by Motown Records. As of November 2015, the original run of Pippin is the 33rd longest-running Broadway show.

Ben Vereen and Patina Miller won Tony Awards for their portrayals of the Leading Player in the original Broadway production and the 2013 revival, respectively, making them the first two actors of different sexes to win a Tony for the same role.

Pippin was originally conceived as a student musical entitled Pippin, Pippin and performed by Carnegie Mellon University's Scotch'n'Soda theatre troupe. Stephen Schwartz collaborated with Ron Strauss, and, when Schwartz decided to develop the show further, Strauss left the project. Stephen Schwartz has said on Pippin, Pippin that not a single line or note that was in the show at Carnegie Mellon made it into the final show we see today.