On Thursday, November 16, Chesterton High School (CHS) presented the opening night of its fall musical, “Pippin.” Originally written and performed in the ‘70s, this well-loved musical has taught audience members time and time again that the best way to find happiness in life is to enjoy what’s right in front of them. Now, the CHS Music Department is sharing that meaningful message with the Region.
“This is one of those musicals that continues to cycle back because it is about something that is always prevalent. The musical tells the story of Pippin, a young prince who searches for his purpose in life and longs to be extraordinary, only he never feels fulfilled and never finds what he’s looking for. The story shows us that there are extraordinary things in each of us that can be found even in the most ordinary places,” said Director Kristin Morris.
When looking for the perfect fall musical, Morris wanted to find a show CHS had never done before that would push her students both morally and musically. “Pippin” couldn’t have been a better choice.
“This was a play that was new for a lot of the kids. It’s not one of the big ones they had heard about, so watching the kids get into the story and get into the choreography has been so much fun,” said Morris.
CHS’ performance of “Pippin” was astonishing to say the least. The show had a plethora of big production numbers that the audience couldn’t help but cheer and sing along to. Each dance number was carefully choreographed — several of the students even did aerial acrobatics. It was clear that the students poured everything they had into the performance.
“We only had about 17 rehearsals with a 34-person cast, so these kids had to learn all the staging, choreography, and vocals pretty quickly. They’ve done an incredible job. I’m super proud of them — I always set the bar high, and they continue to reach it,” said Morris.
The show pushed the students beyond just talent. Even more importantly, the show pushed the students to grow. Sisters Ava and Sofia Cunningham were cast as the musical’s Leading Players. The Leading Player is usually only one character, but after auditions, Morris decided to split the character into two. The Cunninghams loved building their teamwork skills to share such an important role and had fun learning to come into their own to play such bold characters.
“The Leading Players are such strong, powerful characters who have this confidence in them that I like. I’ve loved performing like this. I’ve learned to take risks and make bold choices both in my acting and my life,” said Ava Cunningham.
The show also allowed students to reflect on their own life experiences and realize how focusing on the positive things in life has changed their lives for the better. Senior Luke Housman, who played the lead role of Pippin, couldn’t help but draw parallels between himself and his character.
“I have a lot of anxiety sometimes, so when I first moved here last year it was a little hard for me to adjust and find where I belonged. Everyone ended up welcoming me right in, and it was a wonderful experience. I learned to enjoy the simple things just like Pippin,” said Housman.
Aside from putting on a great show, the students' only hope is that their audience gained as much from the musical as they have.
“I hope everyone walks away with the message that they have to enjoy the simple things around them. There are so many good things in the world — we just have to open our eyes to those things to find the joy,” said Housman.
Ultimately, CHS’ production of “Pippin” was a showstopper. Not only was it visually stunning, it encouraged audience members to look at life in a completely different way and taught the students a lot about who they are and who they want to be. The CHS Music Department students are grateful to have been a part of such a life-changing experience.
“We’re both so thankful to our parents for being our biggest supporters. We’re thankful to Ms. Morris for the amazing opportunity that she’s given us. We’re also thankful for our cast for always being so much fun to work with. They always make our days happier and brighter,” said Sofia Cunningham.
For all the musical lovers who missed out on tonight’s show, don’t worry. CHS will hold two more spectacular shows on Friday, November 17, and Saturday, November 18 at 7 p.m. in the CHS auditorium. The CHS Music Department encourages everyone to come out and see for themselves what makes “Pippin” so uniquely inspirational.
“This show is so different from any other musical. It’s not just a show that’s fun to watch–it’s a show that sends a great message to people and teaches them about life. I think that’s a beautiful thing,” said Housman. To learn more about Chesterton High School, visit duneland.k12.in.us/chs.