Drama students learn about themselves as they explore their characters in ‘Pippin’

By Mayuka Valluri and Asha Das

Family feuds, fire, and finding fulfillment – a humorously tender story is coming to the stage at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in April and May.

Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson’s musical “Pippin” is a lively tale following the titular character as he searches for what will give his life meaning – eventually discovering it may not be exactly what he envisioned.

The show’s overarching themes focus on the ideas of belonging and fulfillment as Pippin is pressured into increasingly uncomfortable situations. The desire to find purpose rings strongly among many high schoolers, and the students in TJ’s theater arts department are no exception.

Freshman actor and Annandale resident Annie Chiu spent the last few months delving into the script and developing her character, “Player,” an ensemble member who pushes Pippin down the road of self-discovery.

Pippin’s greatest insecurity lies in his need to achieve something extraordinary, but the pressure surrounding his goal pushes him to deviate from his noble intentions.

That looming sentiment resonates deeply with Annie. “During the pandemic, I thought I needed to meet society’s beauty standards,” she says. “When I got to TJ and met other people in the theater department, that changed. The message in ‘Pippin’ is similar – you don’t have to be what everyone expects of you.” Being a part of the theater department has been a comfort to Annie, a reminder that she is “really loved and cared for” just the way she is.

Character work – the act of exploring a character’s motivations, desires, and ambitions – has been one of the most important aspects of the rehearsal process so far for Annie.

“So, I’ve kind of gone back and forth on who my character really was. At first, my character was kind of like this person that’s been in the ensemble for a while,” Annie says, discussing her process of designing a character. “I’m playing this creepy but also, like, intriguing person,” she adds. “My character loves to toy with Pippin.”

While Annie works to bring “Pippin” to life onstage, a slew of people work behind the scenes to piece the show together. Designers and technicians carefully analyze the themes of the show and determine how to represent them through technical elements.

Lighting designer and Annandale resident Cullan Kelley uses complex techniques to enhance the message of ‘Pippin.’ “I have to go through the script, and I have to figure out, okay, I feel like this song uses this kind of mood, or this kind of tone,” Cullan explains. Using emotion as the backdrop to design the lighting, the team decides when to “slow down and almost take a step back and have the lights reflect the intensity that makes the show feel darker, closer, and more intimate.”

With a month of work left, the cast and crew at TJ are gearing up to put on a touching, yet comical production.

There will be seven performances of ‘Pippin,” on April 26, 27, and 28, and May 5 and 6. Tickets are available for purchase on the Thomas Jefferson Theater Arts website.

Mayuka Valluri and Asha Das are students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.