NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Magical Two-Show Day at Broadway's Pippin With High-Flying Acrobat Viktoria GrimmyViktoria Grimmy, one of the acrobats who perform the dazzling feats wowing audiences in the new Broadway revival of Pippin, shares a day in her life. This particularly busy afternoon includes two performances and an appearance on "Good Morning America."
By
Matthew Blank
July 17, 2013
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Magical Two-Show Day at Broadway's Pippin With High-Flying Acrobat Viktoria Grimmy
Performing since three, Grimmy is a fifth generation circus performer. Credits include principle Contortionist in Burlesque, Specialty Artist on Britney Spears World Circus Tour and Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey. She placed in the International Circus Competition in Monte Carlo.
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This new cirque-inspired revival of Roger O. Hirson and Schwartz's dark and groovy coming-of-age musical — which won the 2013 Best Musical Revival Tony Award — premiered at the American Repertory Theater, where Tony-winning director Paulus (Hair, Porgy and Bess) is artistic director, last fall. The staging incorporates circus choreography and acrobatics by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (7 Fingers). Broadway previews began March 23, prior to an official opening April 25, at the Music Box Theatre.
British actor Matthew James Thomas, who is no stranger to high-flying stunts on Broadway, having starred as the Peter Parker alternate in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, takes on the title role in the modern classic. He is joined by Patina Miller (Sister Act, Hair) as Leading Player, the show's singing, dancing and charming ringmaster, with Tony Award winner Andrea Martin (My Favorite Year) as Berthe, Tony Award nominee Terrence Mann (Les Miserables, The Scarlet Pimpernel) as King Charles, Tony Award nominee Charlotte d'Amboise (Chicago, Carrie) as Fastrada, Erik Altemus (The Fantasticks) as Lewis, Andrew Cekala (Marie Antoinette) as Theo and Rachel Bay Jones (Women on the Verge..., Hair) as Catherine.
The revival has new orchestrations by Larry Hochman and music supervision by Nadia Di Giallonardo. Charlie Alterman serves as musical director.
Pippin has set design by Tony Award-winning designer Scott Pask, costume design by Dominique Lemieux, lighting design by Tony Award-winning designer Kenneth Posner, sound design by Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm, illusions by Paul Kieve, fire effects by Chic Silber and flying effects by ZFX, Inc.
Pippin features such songs as "Corner of the Sky," "Magic To Do," "With You," "Glory," "No Time at All," "Morning Glow" and "Love Song."
The queer-themed short plays will be made available for free to non-profit theatres, schools, and community organizations to support fundraising for LGBTQIA+ groups.