“Parts to Perform, Hearts to Warm”

Greenwood’s full-school musical, which ran May 2, 3 and 4, featured a cast of students from Grades 7 to 12, a live pit band, and a sizable crew. Combining students and staff, Pippin had more than 75 community members involved, and between the dress rehearsal and the four performances, the show reached about 650 audience members. 

Pippin tells the tale of a travelling troupe of performers who aim to dazzle the audience with their production called Pippin: His Life and Times, in which the protagonist searches for the meaning of life. Pippin wants his life to be extraordinary and seeks glory and fulfillment in a variety of pursuits: love, war, revolution, art, and more. He discovers, however, that life’s meaning is not rooted in grandeur, but found in the simple joys of the everyday. He leaves the stage without a grand finale, but rather with his choice for love and freedom.

Theatre’s beauty lies in its transience, its unique ability to capture and reflect the essence of life in real time. This is why so many theatre enthusiasts believe that the role of theatre in our society is to reflect reality, illuminating truths about society and human nature. In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the central character explains to a group of actors that they are “to hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature”. And so, it was no surprise that this is exactly what our full-school musical did. Pippin boasts a myriad of themes, including the cyclical nature of theatre and of life itself. Seeing our grads take one final bow on the stage and be recognized by the younger students after closing night mirrored the end of Pippin in which the title character and Catherine (played by Finley Burke ‘24 and Evie Ohlsen ‘24) exit the theatre for the last time, while young Theo (Elliot Veneziano ‘29) takes their place as the next protagonist for the troupe.

And so besides the high-energy songs, the expert pit band, the whimsical story, and the exceptional performances, what made this performance special was the cross-grade friendships that were fostered and the memories made. Older students mentored and led by example, demonstrating theatre etiquette and expertise, and finally passing the torch to our younger students. Pippin’s success was not only in the show itself, but in the beautiful example of community. Congratulations to all involved!

Director & Choreographer: Emily Borden

Music Director: Richard Piasetski

Vocal Captain: Mel Edgell ‘25

Graphic Design: Danielle Tylman ‘25

Student Choreographers: Charlotte Hounsome ‘25, Charlotte Polley ‘26 and Elle Robinson ‘26

Head of Wardrobe: Sarah Ewen & Hailey Scott

Costume Crew: Irmak Aydeniz ‘28, Paige Emery ‘26, Jessica Li ‘25 and Ezmay Ireland ‘25

Set Painting Crew: Sloane Basch ‘26, Elle Macrae ‘26, Astrid Kim ‘26, Charlotte Logan ‘26 and Rachel Scobie ‘26

Head of Props: Zoe Sedlak

Props Crew: Delphine Bryce ‘29, Nisha Malhotra ‘27, Grace Rivard ‘29 and Simona Sera ‘29

Head of Hair & Makeup: Kate Konstantinova 

Hair & Makeup Artists: Maia Connell ‘24, Daisy Capombassis ‘26, Chloe Di Girolamo ‘26, Jo Thomson ‘26 and Mackenzie Reid ‘27

AV Technician: Albert Bui

Booth Operators: Jasmine Chen ‘28, Gabby Hawkings ‘28, Kalina Mehta ‘25 and Danielle Tylman ‘25

Sound Design & Operator: Andrew Wilkins ‘25

Photography: Marcio Sargento

Backstage Manager: Allie Gottlieb

Stage Managers: Sam Jaskolka ‘27, Sienna Loh ‘24, Georgia Robinson ‘24 and Sophia Stieber ‘25

Stage Crew: Hayes Anderson-Shore ‘26, Claire Avery ‘25, Kobi Cheng ‘25, Max Follett ‘27, Annie Kay ‘25, Owen Polley ‘24 and Giorgia Rocco ‘26

Pippin - Finley Burke ‘24

Leading Player - Evan Edgell ‘24

Charlemagne - Carter Murphy’26

Berthe - Abby Weston ’26

Catherine - Evie Ohlson ‘24

Fastrada - Molly Marshall ‘25

Lewis - Jonathan Preston ‘24

Theo - Elliot Veneziano ‘29

Mel Edgell ‘25 - Featured Player, Vocal Captain

Carter Goldblatt ‘26 - Featured Player, The Head

Charlotte Hounsome ‘25 - Featured Dancer, Player

Charlotte Polley ‘26 - Featured Dancer, Player

Elle Robinson ‘26 - Featured Dancer, Player

Sloane Basch ‘26 - Player

Kate Claydon ‘29 - Player

Sam Claydon ‘27 - Player

Elora Colbert ‘27 - Player

Sabrina Farah ‘24 - Player

Phoebe Gregson ‘25 - Player

Allegra Mariani ‘25 - Player

Charles Martin ‘29 - Player

Katie Romanelli ‘24 - Player

Claire Sparling ‘26 - Player

Jack Turgeon ‘28 - Player

Liv Waghmare ‘29 - Player

Flute, Clarinet - Lilly Vescio ‘24

Trumpet - Henry Farr ‘25

Baritone, Percussion - Kevin Xu ‘24

Bass - Austin Perkell ‘24

Drums - Tavish Wilkin ‘24

Piano & Conductor - Richard Piasetski