Albuquerque Academy senior starring in Landmark’s ‘Pippin’
Albuquerque Academy senior starring in ‘Pippin’
Trey Caperton is always up for a challenge.
The Albuquerque Academy senior is deep in rehearsals for the title role in “Pippin,” being produced by Landmark Musicals.
It opens on Saturday, March 16, at Rodey Theatre on University of New Mexico’s campus.
“Being part of this production, what first struck me is the pure talent all around,” he says. “It’s a very talented cast, and the sheer desire that everyone has to make the show as great as it can be. The professionalism is amazing, and I’m grateful to be a part of this production.”
Caperton is playing Pippin in the Tony Award-winning musical.
The story follows Pippin, a young prince who longs to find passion and adventure in his life.
To prove his loyalty to his distracted father, King Charlemagne the Great, Pippin goes to war. But when the Leading Player persuades the prince to fight tyranny, Pippin kills his father and takes over the throne.
In the end, he finds his passion in the simple pleasures of home and family.
Caperton can tie in Pippin’s quest to his own journey as he transitions from high school to college.
“I’m looking for a place where I can center myself and a place where I can find my corner,” Caperton says. “I can go on my quest a little bit more. Pippin also has a desire to love and to be loved. It’s an incredible journey.”
Caperton grew up in the Albuquerque theater community and is grateful to be closing out his Albuquerque career with a starring role. He will attend Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania.
He started performing about eight years ago with Cardboard Playhouse Theatre.
“I’m grateful to have the support of the community,” he says. “I’m one of the youngest in the musical, and I get to see how to create and make new ideas. It’s an amazing tool for me as a young performer to be surrounded by the professional actors that are in this community.”
For his role as Pippin, he had to get his voice ready.
“My last role I was in a baritone role, and Pippin is a tenor role,” he says. “I had to make my voice get used to an entirely new sound. I also have to keep my aerobic shape up. Pippin is constantly moving and dancing, and I have to keep the same energy throughout the performance.”
The cast is made up of 20 performers, and directing is Gary Bearly. The music director is Darby Fegan, and the production design is by Dahl Delu.