‘Pippin’ production teams Theatre ̫ӳ, music department for 60th-year season finale
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s Theatre ̫ӳ 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 ̫ӳ decades ago when the McComas Hall theater was fully furnished, “Pippin” is a song-and-dance presentation of a young prince on his search for and significance. The 1972 is by and based on the book by , with contributions from , who directed the original Broadway production.
Theatre ̫ӳ’s performance is a collaboration with the Department of Music, and tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for ̫ӳ students, faculty and staff and children under 12. Visit for more information.
“The Department of Music is thrilled to be collaborating with Theatre ̫ӳ,” 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 ̫ӳ 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 ̫ӳ and the family of Dominic J. Cunetto, founder of ̫ӳ’s theatre program begun in 1963.
“Theatre ̫ӳ 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 ̫ӳ 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, ̫ӳ’s theatre division offers student organizations including The Scene, a film group; Blackfriars 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 ̫ӳ is a 2021 School of Excellence awardee in Higher Education from the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education. For more about the Theatre ̫ӳ season, contact Hays at thays@comm.msstate.edu.
Part of ̫ӳ’s College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Communication is online at . The Department of Music is part of ̫ӳ’s College of Education and available online at .
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