Levels’ production of ‘Pippin’ at GN Library

The Island Now
Photo: The Levels Teen Center presents the musical comedy Pippin. Illustration by Sarah Smith.

Levels will present the Tony Award-winning musical comedy “Pippin” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 16, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. in the Levels Teen Center on the lower level of the Great Neck Library’s Main Building, 159 Bayview Ave. in Great Neck. Admission is free and the show is open to the public.

Levels, the library’s cultural center for teenagers established in 1974, presents several fully-staged theatrical productions a year, giving teens the opportunity to learn leadership and responsibility through the arts. Levels productions are traditionally directed, produced and performed by students seventh grade through college-age under the guidance of Levels’ staff of accomplished adult artists.

In “Pippin,” a mysterious troupe of traveling players tells us the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory? Pippin features a well-loved score by Stephen Schwartz (“Godspell,” “Wicked”) that includes such musical theatre standards as “Magic to Do” and “Corner of the Sky,” and a thoughtful and hilarious book by Roger O. Hirson.

Choreography is by Kate Smolens and orchestral direction by Omeed Tartak, both veteran Levels students. Set design is by Ava Hoffman, costume design by Nina Zar, lighting design/set construction by Tyler Hakimian, and makeup design by Hannah Romano. Publicity art is by Sarah Smith.

The cast of high school and middle school students includes Jack Brenner, Adi Elkarat, Aliza Fine, Allison Fuller, Achintyaa Gupta, Kenneth Lee, Ryan McNeely, Emely Renteria, Britt Trachtenberg, Kevin Wang and Katie Wang. The live student orchestra features musicians Samuel Calto, Nina Phillips, Freddy Sion, Omeed Tartak and Alice Yang.

Though admission is free, tickets are available to guarantee seating as space is limited. They can be requested at the circulation desks of all Great Neck Library facilities while they last. Doors open 45 minutes before showtime for ticketholders and 15 minutes for non-ticketholders. For more information, contact Levels at 516-466-8055 ext. 216 or email levels@greatnecklibrary.org.

 

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