{"id":23367,"date":"2017-03-06T14:41:01","date_gmt":"2017-03-06T19:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=23367"},"modified":"2017-03-06T14:41:04","modified_gmt":"2017-03-06T19:41:04","slug":"on-stage-bonus-pippin-still-enchants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=23367","title":{"rendered":"On Stage (Bonus): Pippin still enchants"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There are two productions coming to the area this week that both tell a story and have circus elements.<\/span><\/p>\n

The hit musical \u201cPippin\u201d will open at the Playhouse on Rodney Square (10th and Market streets, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-0200, www. duponttheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) on March 7 and run through March 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cirque du Soleil\u2019s \u201cTORUK \u2013\u00a0The First Flight\u201d will open at the Wells Fargo Center, Broad Street below Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, https:\/\/www.cirquedusoleil.com\/usa\/philadelphia\/toruk\/buy-tickets\/<\/span><\/a>) on March 8 and run through March 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

Usually, the Broadway shows that go out on national tours are either relatively recent shows that have garnered awards and generated attention from social media or classics in semi-permanent touring rotation such as \u201cAnnie,\u201d \u201cBeauty and the Beast\u201d or \u201cRent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPippin\u201d does not fall into either category. Despite winning Tony Awards both with the original production in 1972 and the Broadway revival in 2013, \u201cPippin\u201d has not spent much time in national tour mode.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to its run in Philly last February, the last time tours of \u201cPippin\u201d visited this area were 2006 at the DuPont Theater in Wilmington and 2007 at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia (with former Monkee Mickey Dolenz in the role of King Charlemagne).<\/span><\/p>\n

The tour that hit Philly last year is now playing in Europe and a new national tour is travelling back-and-forth across America.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing you should know is that the title character in the stage show has nothing to do with \u201cThe Lord of the Rings\u201d. The Pippin in this show is definitely not Pippin \u2013 one of the names used by Peregrin Took in Tolkien\u2019s tales. The Pippin in \u201cPippin\u201d is Pippin, the son of Charlemagne (King Charles).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPippin\u201d is Broadway\u2019s hit musical known for extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats and soaring songs from the composer of \u201cWicked.\u201d This elaborate new production was the winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cPippin\u201d opened 44 years ago on Broadway and ran for just under 2,000 performances. The hit musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Roger O. Hirson and is based on \u201cThe Story of Pippin, Son of Charlemagne\u201d. The \u201cLeading Player\u201d narrates the story of Pippin as he embarks on his quest for self-discovery.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Housso Semon<\/p><\/div>\n

Housso Semon is currently starring as the Leading Player in the 1st National Tour of \u201cPippin.\u201d Her credits include Deloris in \u201cSister Act,\u201d Aida in \u201cAida,\u201d Charlayne in \u201cAin\u2019t Misbehavin\u2019,\u201d Brenda in \u201cSmokey Joe\u2019s Caf\u00e9\u201d, and Dynamite in \u201cHairspray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw \u2018Pippin\u2019 on Broadway,\u201d said Semon, during a phone interview Wednesday from a tour stop in Binghamton, New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI also did a workshop \u2018Making It on Broadway\u2019 with Carly Hughes, who had played Leading Player on Broadway. She was teaching the class.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I saw the show on Broadway, I liked that it was a story anybody could relate to. And, I love that they included the circus elements.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The well-written script uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for the meaning of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like how in charge she is,\u201d said Semon, who graduated from AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy). I love everything she\u2019s about. She\u2019s always striving to be better.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s really strong and very passionate. She does have a darker side at times \u2013 but everybody has a darker side. It\u2019s nice for her to be vulnerable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the original Broadway production, Ben Vereen played the role of Leading Player. He brought the house down every night with his spirited performance and won the Tony Award for \u201cBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Semon, who moved to America from the Ivory Coast when she was six, has been acting for a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was in middle school, my elementary school music teacher planned a trip to see \u2018Aida\u2019 on Broadway,\u201d said Semon. \u201cAfter seeing that show, I knew that theater was something I wanted to do,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn high school, I was a member of the Running to Places theater group. I actually decided pretty late that I wanted to go to school for theater. Because of seeing \u2018Aida,\u2019 I decided to audition for AMDA.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I graduated from AMDA, I had the good fortune of doing a showcase at Town Hall called \u2018Broadway\u2019s Rising Star.\u2019 From there, I auditioned for more shows. I worked on cruise lines and at a theater in Macau. Then, I came back to the city and started doing regional theater.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Semon has a coveted role \u2013 a role that is demanding from an acting standpoint and from a physical standpoint.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe most challenging part is Fosse\u2019s dancing aspect,\u201d said Semon. \u201cIt\u2019s also very physically demanding. The character has to have a lot of stamina.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo keep up the energy, I take yoga classes. I drink lots of water. And, I get eight hours of sleep a night. I also do a vocal warm-up before every performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a great show that really resonates with audiences. It\u2019s a show about the human experience. It makes you laugh and it makes you cry. It is a roller coaster of emotions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cPippin\u201d \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/RStRcR9e2BY<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets for the six-day run of \u201cPippin\u201d range from $40-$85.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

TORUK \u2013 The First Flight<\/p><\/div>\n

A theatrical stage show of a different type will be presented from March 8-12 when Cirque du Soleil brings \u201cTORUK \u2013\u00a0The First Flight\u201d to the Wells Fargo Center. The show had its premiere in Montreal back in December.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cTORUK \u2013\u00a0The First Flight\u201d is a live immersive multimedia spectacle that brings to the stage the breathtaking world of James Cameron\u2019s popular movie \u201cAvatar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Through a fusion of cutting-edge visuals, puppetry, stagecraft and soaring cinematic score, Cirque du Soleil applies its unique signature style to Cameron\u2019s imaginary world.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show is an ode to the Na\u2019vi\u2019s symbiotic coexistence with nature and their belief in the basic interconnectedness of all living things.<\/span><\/p>\n

Narrated by a \u201cNa\u2019vi Storyteller\u201d and populated by unforgettable characters, the production is a mythical tale set thousands of years before the events depicted in the film \u201cAvatar\u201d — long before any humans ever set foot on Pandora.<\/span><\/p>\n

When a natural catastrophe threatens to destroy the sacred Tree of Souls, Ralu and Entu, two Omaticaya boys on the brink of adulthood, fearlessly decide to take matters into their own hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon learning that Toruk can help them save the Tree of Souls, they set out, together with their newfound friend Tsyal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Their quest takes them high up in the Floating Mountains to find the mighty red and orange predator that rules the Pandoran sky. Prophecy is fulfilled when a pure soul rises among the clans to ride Toruk for the first time and save the Na\u2019vi from a terrible fate.<\/span><\/p>\n

The cast includes human actors and larger-than-life puppets \u2013 the Pandoran animals.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pandoran animals will be brought to life through large-scale puppetry. Toruk itself is a \u201creverse string puppet\u201d (handled from the base) while the Austrapede, Turtapede and Direhorse are \u201clived-in puppets\u201d (someone is inside) and the Viperwolf is an \u201cin-view puppet\u201d (the lower half of the puppeteer is outside, becoming a part of the puppet, while his\/her upper body is inside the puppet). Altogether, 16 puppets appear in the show.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the puppeteers is Kristi Hughes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis production was the first time that Cirque du Soleil decided to hire professional puppeteers to manipulate these large-scale animal objects,\u201d said Hughes, during a recent phone interview from a tour stop in Monterey, Mexico.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was part of the creation in July 2013. I had worked with Cirque du Soleil before and it\u2019s always been my goal to be a part of a Cirque du Soleil creation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a diverse array of puppets that Hughes and the other five puppeteers manipulate in various ways while performing in this show.<\/span><\/p>\n

In one of the two-peopled direhorses, Hughes handles the front legs. As a viperwolf, she occupies the upper part of the five-feet-long puppet and manipulates the sides and lower half using a handlebar situated on the puppet\u2019s head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen doing the viperwolves, our hands are in the body part so that we can move the wolves like a wild animal running,\u201d said Hughes. \u201cThe biggest challenge with the viperwolves is trying to get used to how the wolves run in the film.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hughes studied at <\/span>the renowned L\u2019\u00c9cole Internationale de Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. One of the school\u2019s alumni is director and actor Toby Sedgwick, who choreographed the Tony Award-winning play \u201cWar Horse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy school in Paris was a physical theater school,\u201d said Hughes, who lives in Berlin, Germany. \u201cPuppetry was a theme in the school and we all did a lot of masque theater.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After graduation from the Lecoq school in 2002, Hughes worked with theater companies in Paris and Germany. She also worked with Cirque du Soleil on a small production on a cruise ship that sailed the Caribbean and the Baltic Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

And, she spent <\/span>a year-and-a-half with a German-language production of \u201cWar Horse,\u201d in which she was a puppeteer on the young version of Joey, the horse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got back into puppetry in 2005,\u201d said Hughes. \u201cThey did the first foreign language production of \u2018War Horse.\u2019 I was Joey, the smaller version of the horse. It was a great experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018War Horse\u2019 was definitely an inspiration for Cirque du Soleil to work with puppeteers. The style is similar. As puppeteers, we have our own language — things that were unspoken about bringing puppets to life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn this show, it takes all six of us to manipulate Toruk. He weighs 250 pounds, has a 40-foot wingspan and is manipulated as an upside-down marionette. The show has six puppeteers and 16 puppets altogether.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another unique element to the production is that this is the first Cirque du Soleil show with a storytelling element. There is quite a bit of dialogue in it and the characters all speak in Na\u2019vi. The storyteller helps translate the Na\u2019vi.\u00a0 It\u2019s a different Cirque show because of the story and the language.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a Cirque du Soleil show so there still is a lot of physical action. It is separated from the other shows only in that it has a story element. The story takes precedence but a lot of us cast members were chosen for their movement-type qualities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cTORUK \u2013\u00a0The First Flight — https:\/\/youtu.be\/E63VxxjkRYY<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets for the shows at the Wells Fargo Center range in price from $38-$140.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Lowland Hum<\/p><\/div>\n

On February 10, Lowland Hum <\/span>released its latest album \u201cThin,\u201d an album filled with beautiful songs with lilting melodies and warm lyrics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Lowland Hum, which is the husband-and-wife team of Lauren and Daniel Goans, is taking the album on tour \u2013 a tour that stops in the area on March 7 at <\/span>MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 215- 925-6455, www.milkboyphilly.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe started working on \u2018Thin\u2019 in the summer of 2016,\u201d said Lauren Goans, during a phone interview last week. \u201cWe\u2019re based in Charlottesville, Virginia and right now we\u2019re somewhere in the mountains on our way to Washington, D.C.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the songs were written in 2015 and 2016. We still travelled in 2016 but we took some time to devote to writing. We built up 17 demos that we decided between. We had more than that that we didn\u2019t demo out. We had 17 songs and cut it to 11 for the album. It was kind of difficult. But, we could tell which ones really belonged.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Lauren and Daniel met in North Carolina in 2009 when Daniel crashed a party at Lauren\u2019s apartment. The next year, Daniel asked Lauren to collaborate on an album he was working on, by adding harmony vocals and designing the artwork for the project. Eventually, Lauren\u2019s voice was added to half the album.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lowland Hum formed officially in 2012, a few months after the two were married. In the years following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, \u201cNative Air\u201d (2013), they have toured the country almost nonstop. In 2014, they followed up their debut with \u201cFour Sisters,\u201d a conceptual EP and video series. In 2015, they released their eponymous sophomore full-length album.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lowland Hum\u2019s new album has a definite link to the Brandywine Valley \u2013 a reference to local artist Andrew Wyeth in the song \u201cThin Places.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Daniel Goans, \u201cThe song \u2018<\/span>Thin Places\u2019 was written during a writing retreat on the eastern shore of Maryland at a property overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. When I wrote the central guitar part, it immediately conjured the imagery of tall grass fading in and out of focus on the edge of a body of water. Some of the lyrics recall strange instances in which something unexpected jolted me into hyper-awareness and gratitude.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe song references Andrew Wyeth, whose work seems to share a color palette with the clearings surrounding the Chesapeake Bay. The arrangement features interplay between acoustic guitar, sung melody and sporadic piano parts. There is a call-and-response element to the way the parts interact with one another… the piano in particular became a character with a distinct personality in this song.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The whole album has a mellow, pleasant feeling that draws listeners in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll the songs we recorded had a specific vibe,\u201d said Lauren. \u201cAnd, we limited them to things we could play live with what we have with the two of us \u2013 lead vocals, guitar, a little bit of keys and light percussion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe write together. It\u2019s a pretty collaborative process. Daniel plays guitar, I play piano and we both sing. A big part of our writing process is harmony writing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to recording, we have our own equipment. When we made the album, we set up our equipment in a friend\u2019s attic because our apartment is next to a train track and the trains are very noisy. Our plates rattle every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we were making \u2018Thin,\u2019 one of us would engineer while the other would play. It was done track-by-track. We tried to limit the recordings to what we could do live. We\u2019ve had several singles off the album \u2013 \u2018Thin Places,\u2019 \u2018Folded Flowers,\u2019 and \u2018Palm Lines.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn our live show, we\u2019re playing mostly songs from the new album \u2013 all but three. And, we throw in a couple older songs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Lowland Hum \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/n-qnipkKH9w<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at MilkBoy Philly, which has Like Crazy as the opening act, will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n

MilkBoy Philly will host a show on March 8 featuring a singer-songwriter with a completely different background.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Alex Dezen Band<\/p><\/div>\n

Alex Dezen, who is headlining the show, is now a solo artist after many years as the guitarist and lead singer of the Brooklyn-based band The Damnwells. He now is touring in support of his new album \u201cAlex Dezen II.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have six people in my band now \u2013 two backup vocalists, guitar, bass, drums and I play rhythm guitar and sing,\u201d said Dezen, during a phone interview last week from Orlando, Florida.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been in rehearsal here in Orlando for the last week and just did a soft opening. I\u2019ve known some of these musicians for a while. They\u2019re all members of Mike Dunn\u2019s band, which is opening for me. Mike was a member of The Damnwells for a while. So, we decided to share a band on this tour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, The Damnwells are history. All of its members have gone their own ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had been playing with The Damnwells for 16 years,\u201d said Dezen, who is also a multi-platinum-selling songwriter who has penned songs for Justin Bieber, The Veronicas and Cody Simpson . \u201cI had never really made a record. I had many years of material that came bubbling up to the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had been making music for The Damnwells for a long, long time. Now, I\u2019m exploring things I didn\u2019t get a chance to do. Now, there is no rule. It\u2019s definitely different from The Damnwells.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Damnwells have had ups-and-downs with regard to fan engagement. It\u2019s been a while since that band was at its peak. The original guitarist and drummer –David Chernis and Steven Terry — left in 2007. It was just me and Ted (bassist Ted Hudson) from 2007-2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe original band got back together in 2015. It felt like family. We recorded anpther album and toured and then that was it. It felt good tri finish with all of us back at the helm. I\u2019m very proud of the stuff I wrote with The Damnwells.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dezen embarked on his solo career in 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

A series of 4 solo EPs, known as “The Bedhead EPs,” were released throughout 2014. The first one, titled \u201c1\/4\u201d released in January 2014. The second \u201c2\/4\u201d came out three months later and was followed by \u201c3\/4\u201d in July and \u201c4\/4\u201d in December.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2015, Dezen collaborated with the American dance company Pilobolus, composing the music for the dance piece \u201cWednesday Morning, 11:45\u201d (2015),<\/i> which premiered at The American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina in June 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

On November 3, 2015, Dezen announced a PledgeMusic project of songs written in early 2015 to be released as his first solo album. The project reached its crowdfunding goal in one week.<\/span><\/p>\n

The self-titled album was released by Rock Ridge Music on February 12, 2016, followed by a nine-hour, free internet concert where Dezen performed acoustic versions of every song he has ever released over his band and solo career.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI released my first solo album \u2018Alex Dezen\u2019 early last year,\u201d said Dezen. \u201cThis one is my second one and it came out a month ago. That\u2019s the one I\u2019m touring. By the time the first album came out, the second one was already done.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, the focus will be on the second one. The set is 50\/50 solo material and Damnwells\u2019 songs. I\u2019d like to be playing some songs from the third but I have 16 years of Damnwells and two solo albums out so that dictates where the focus should be this time out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Alex Dezen \u2013https:\/\/youtu.be\/7u5ippGVRPY<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at MilkBoy Philly, which has Mike Dunn and Chris Gennett as openers, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times There are two productions coming to the area this week that both tell a story and have circus elements. The hit musical \u201cPippin\u201d will open at the Playhouse on Rodney Square (10th and Market streets, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-0200, www. duponttheatre.com) on March 7 and run through March 12. Cirque […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[8622,6518,8621,7142,8620],"class_list":["post-23367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-alex-dezen-band","tag-featured","tag-lowland-hum","tag-pippin","tag-toruk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23367"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23368,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23367\/revisions\/23368"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}