The red curtain rose once more in Schreiber Auditorium for Pioneer Theatre Guild’s fall production of Stephen Schwartz’s PIPPIN that opened Friday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 PM. And for a musical based on the wonders of magic and miracles, it has certainly seen a magical rehearsal process.

The show follows a theatre troupe helping Pippin find his one true purpose in life through the various outlets their world provides: war, women, government, and ordinary, familial life. In pursuit of something extraordinary, Pippin explores each of these areas alongside a cast of singing, dancing, and hula-hooping characters, hoping they will lead him to discovering a completely fulfilling future.

As a member of the cast of PIPPIN and many previous PTG productions, I can honestly say that I have never seen a more determined, excited, and supportive group of people working to put on a high school musical. Although the cast is full of new faces—freshman as well as transfer and exchange students—our rehearsals ran surprisingly smooth.

This past week has been a special testament to the drive of the entire PIPPIN team. The cast and crew planned to open the production on a Saturday, per usual PTG tradition. However, this coming Saturday, Nov. 9, our original opening date, also happens to be a game day. Here, Michigan Football fans from all over flock to the Pioneer High School parking lot to celebrate the leaders and the best. Unfortunately, Michigan football is not a force to be reckoned with and because of this, PIPPIN’s team chose to bump opening night back one day, to Friday, Nov. 8.

One less day means one less dress rehearsal—one less day to get it right. We ran the show for the first time with costumes and makeup on Wednesday, Nov. 6, and had only one more opportunity to practice the show’s spectacle of technical elements. Watching everyone step up to this challenge has been incredible; the hard work put into the sets, costumes, lights, props, and performance shines on the stage.

Seeing a show being built from the ground up is an inspiring process, especially when conquering a daring endeavor like PIPPIN. With students hanging in hoops suspended in midair and stacking on top of each other to form human pyramids, we’re literally leaving our lives on the stage. Although my character doesn’t participate in this kind of insane extravaganza—perhaps for the best—it didn’t make the reality of an opening any less nerve-wracking. Yet even with butterflies in my stomach, I was overcome with excitement buzzing in my brain. After two months of rehearsals, I was ready for the red curtain to rise on Pioneer Theatre Guild’s production of PIPPIN.

Come see PIPPIN at Pioneer High School on 11/8, 11/15, and 11/16 at 7:30 PM and on 11/10 and 11/17 at 2 PM. Tickets are available online at www.showtix4u.com and at the door.