From the Director:
There are very few things that compare to the experience of enjoying live musical theater, whether it’s on Broadway or right here in our very own town. At Riverview, we delight in introducing young people to the arts. We believe that by unlocking a student’s imagination, we give them the power to envision a world better than the one in which we live. That gift is why our production team continues to be a strong supporter for arts education.
Tonight we have the rare opportunity to watch how the arts can bring out the best in our kids. We see first hand how it dares them to try new things and inspires their creativity. When the music, the dancing, and the drama of a production come together, it is an amazing experience for the performers, production staff, and most importantly, our audience. We strive to bring our audiences the best that Broadway has to offer, and with every new production, we raise the bar again.
I want to thank all of you who have come to this production, all those who have joined us virtually: the patrons who financially back our musical, the school board, the production team and my wife Rachele for their unending support. So tonight, sit back, relax, and get ready for the magic to begin.
JohnPaul Bertucci
Director
From the Producer:
It goes without saying that COVID-19 has presented enormous challenges to mounting a show. Riverview's 2020 production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was tragically cut short, just a few weeks before opening night. This year, we were determined to overcome every obstacle to make sure our students had the chance to perform Pippin for their families and our community.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the producer of Riverview's musical this year, following in the footsteps of my mom, who produced our shows from 2008-2011! I'm a proud alumnus of Riverview's musicals from 2000-2005, and have been so humbled to have had the chance to work on the directing staff for the past decade.
Pippin is a show with local roots - it was originally written by Stephen Schwartz (composer of Broadway hits including Godspell and Wicked) in 1967 while he was a student at Carnegie Mellon University, for the Scotch'n'Soda Theatre student troupe. I was honored to have the opportunity to perform as part of the cast of the 40th anniversary production in 2007 while a member of Scotch'n'Soda at CMU. It's been a blast sharing my love of this show with the students!
While COVID has forced us to scale back on many of the usual trappings of a Riverview Musical -- posters, printed programs, concessions, cast parties, an army of volunteers, just to name a few things -- we have dedicated all of our limited resources this year to making sure that the show you are about to enjoy is the best it can possibly be. I am enormously grateful to the Riverview School District, the parents of the students involved, and our generous patrons, without whose support this production would not have been possible.
Our production team has gone above and beyond the call of duty, putting in many hundreds of hours collectively over the past three months. You all have my enduring thanks!
Finally, to the student cast & crew of Pippin: I am beyond proud of each and every one of you, for your hard work, your dedication, your positive attitudes in spite of our many challenges, and for the talent and spirit you have poured into this show. I stand in awe of you!
Alex DiClaudio (RHS Class of 2005)
Producer
