‘Pippin’ production teams Theatre MSU, music department for 60th-year season finale

Mississippi State's Theatre MSU celebration of 60 seasons of theatrical excellence culminates this month with performances of “Pippin” April 25-28 on the McComas Hall main stage.

First debuted at MSU decades ago when the McComas Hall theater was completed, “Pippin” is a songand-dance presentation of a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The 1972 musical is by Stephen Schwartz and based on the book by Roger O. Hirson, with contributions from Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production.

Theatre MSU's performance is a collaboration with the Department of Music, and tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for MSU students, faculty and staff and children under 12. Visit www.events.msstate. edu for more information.

“The Department of Music is thrilled to be collaborating with Theatre MSU,” said Garrett Torbert, an instructor in the music department helping coordinate the pit orchestra, vocal coaching and musical direction. “I believe collaborating makes the process easier and brings a bunch of creatives together for the purpose of creating art.”

A reunion for past and present Theatre MSU alumni will be held in conjunction with “Pippin” April 27, 5-7 p.m., in Mitchell Memorial Library's Grisham Room. The event is hosted by Theatre MSU and the family of Dominic J. Cunetto, founder of MSU's theatre program begun in 1963.

“Theatre MSU continues to thrive because we are open to any and every one participating—we welcome all students regardless of their major, and we strive to be inclusive,” said Tonya Hays, an assistant professor of theatre performance and theatre concentration coordinator. “We value the diverse gifts that each student brings to the program.”

Hays said Theatre MSU continues its legacy of excellence by reaching high school students through its annual High School Drama Festival competition and the annual children's production, open to school children in the region each fall.

In addition to four mainstage productions, MSU's theatre division offers student organizations including The Scene, a film group; Black Friars Drama Society, a student directed theatre group; Alpha Psi Omega, Eta Pi Chapter, the national theatre honor society; and The Lab Rats Improv Troop.

Theatre MSU is a 2021 School of Excellence awardee in Higher Education from the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education. For more about the Theatre MSU season, contact Hays at thays@ comm.msstate.edu.

Part of MSU's College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Communication is online at www.comm.msstate.edu. The Department of Music is part of MSU's College of Education and available online at www.music. msstate.edu.