Broadway's Original 'Pippin' John Rubinstein Joins Cast

Broadway's original Pippin, Tony Award Winning actor John Rubenstein will join the current Broadway company at the Music Box Theatre for a limited engagement from Friday 20 June to Sunday 27 July 2014. He will takeover the role of 'Charles', filling in for Terrance Mann's leave of absence.

Rubenstein made his Broadway debut in the original 1972 production of Pippin, creating the iconic title role. He played the part at the Imperial Theatre from 23 Oct 1972 to Nov 1974 alongside Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen and Eric Berry.

John Rubenstein's extended Broadway credits include 'Children of a Lesser God', 'Hurlyburly', 'M. Butterfly', 'Getting Away With Murder', and the original Broadway production of 'Ragtime'.

The cast of Pippin currently features: Kyle Dean Massey as Pippin, Ciara Renée as Leading Player, Charlotte d'Amboise as Fastrada, Rachel Bay Jones as Catherine and Annie Potts as Berthe. Other members of the company include Erik Altemus, Luke Kolbe Mannikus, Ashton Woerz, Colin Cunliffe, Fernando Dudka, Andrew Fitch, Orion Griffiths, Sabrina Harper, Kelsey Jamieson, Preston Jamieson, Olga Karmansky, Richard Maguire, Gabrielle McClinton, Bethany Moore, Brad Musgrove, Mirela Golinska Roche, Billy Harrigan Tighe, Molly Tynes, and Anthony Wayne.

Pippin features a book by Roger O. Hirson, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and is directed by Diane Paulus with circus creation by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as 7 Fingers) and choreography by Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse.

The Broadway revival opened at the Music Box Theatre on 25 Apr 2013, following previews from 23 Mar 2013. The show opened to excellent reviews: Sensational revival (NY Post); Beautifully buoyant, intoxicatingly sensual revival (Back Stage); Eye-popping, jaw-dropping extravaganza (Time Out NY); A wonder to behold (Hollywood Reporter).

The production won four Tony Awards: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Patina Miller), Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Andrea Martin) and Best Direction of a musical (Diane Paulus).

Pippin is currently booking through 4 Jan 2015 at the Music Box Theatre.

- by Dom O'Hanlon