The Sacramento State Theatre and Dance Department asked audience members to reflect on personal purpose at the opening night of “Pippin” last Thursday, April 30. The cast has been working since early fall to create a show that left lasting impressions on audience members.
In Sac State’s “Pippin,” the audience isn’t just watching the story unfold; they are a part of it. The Theatre and Dance Department’s latest production transforms the stage into an immersive environment, blurring the line between performer and audience.
Attendees were placed on stage, experiencing the show firsthand, while performers broke the fourth wall. Running April 30 to May 10, the show reimagines Stephen Schwartz’s iconic musical, exploring identity, ambition and the search for meaning.
Warm, golden tones filled the theater, creating an inviting, moody atmosphere. Upbeat jazz drifted across the space as performers weaved between audience members. Action unfolded in all directions, placing viewers at the center of the story.
Christine Nicholson, the director of the show, said she wants students to seek the important questions and answer them after the show.
“It’s a play for our time because it’s about finding a sense of self and how to move forward in life,” Nicholson said. “It asks big questions, and I hope people come away asking themselves those questions.”
Nicholson also talked about the show’s unique beauty, complex storyline and character development. She said that “Pippin” encourages self-discovery, spinning a historical narrative into a unique musical audiences have never experienced before.
“The show is visually stunning. Some of it’s really funny, and some of it will make you cry,” Nicholson said.
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Abigail Simens, a third-year theatre major, is part of the dancing ensemble in the show. She said she finds the show appealing for its humor and vibrance, as well as the difficult technical dancing.
“It’s a little quirky. I always think the quirky ones are fun,” Simens said. “We’re active, singing and dancing the whole time; there is never a dull moment in this musical.”
Choreographer and Director Bob Fosse originally directed the Broadway production of “Pippin.” He is known for his unique style of dance, eponymously called “Fosse.”
“It is a lot of jazz but with more specifications. Isolations and jazz hands are a huge part of Fosse,” Simens said.
Mastering this dance style was challenging, according to the dancers, but something the cast was happy to take on. Aaron James Kaheaku, a member of the ensemble, was particularly brave in this regard,
“I didn’t have any background in dancing, so learning all that was like, ‘Oh my God,’” Kaheaku said. “Thankfully, I’ve been getting it. It’s been fun.”
With dance practices four to five nights a week since January, cast members were committed. Even more experienced dancers in the cast recognized the challenge.
“I have never done Fosse, but I have danced my whole life. I’ve done a lot of dancing ensembles; it’s one of my favorite parts to play,” Simens said. “This show is definitely the hardest dance I’ve ever had to do, but it’s worth it.”
Cooper Davey, a fourth-year theatre major, plays the lead role in the show as Pippin. He said the show is set in the early Middle Ages, when the Holy Roman Empire ruled over Central Europe.
“It’s about King Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire, one of the greatest emperors,” Davey said. “The story follows his son, Pippin, and from there, we make it our own.”
Inspired by the legacy of Charlemagne, the musical does not aim for historical accuracy. Instead, the show uses the medieval setting as a framework for a fictitious story centered on a young prince’s search for identity and meaning.
Students were selected through a workshop-style audition process. After casting, they started training more seriously.
“We spent the Fall semester training in Fosse once a week, building stamina,” Davey said. “By January, we started blocking and rehearsing each song.”
Aaron James Kaheaku, a performer in the ensemble, talked about the role the musical has taken in his life over the last few months. With the constant practices and preparation for the shows, performers have put in constant, demanding hours.
“‘Pippin’ has just been my life for the past few months: wake up, it’s ‘Pippin,’ go to sleep, it’s ‘Pippin,’” James Kaheaku said. “I’ve been doing rehearsals in my mind.”
Abigail Simens discussed the delicate balance between school, life and the show. In preparation for “Pippin,” theater and dance students have spent long hours practicing, maintaining their grades and preparing for finals week.
“A lot of us are used to balancing school and the show. But during tech week, we’re getting out at 10 o’clock, and then it’s homework time,” Simens said.
Productions like “Pippin” give talented theater and dance students hands-on experience outside of the classroom.
“We have really strong singers. We have really strong actors. We have really strong dancers,” said Nicholson, “That synergy has been profound because they learn from each other.”
As the show continues, the production invites audiences not just to watch “Pippin” but to step into it. The show takes place in University Theatre at Shasta Hall, Room 113, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through Hornet Tickets, with prices ranging from $17 for students to $26 for premium.
