‘Pippin’ unites two worlds
Anthony Natale, left, Aleks Pevec, Rodrick Covington and Alexandria Wailes rehearse for a production of “Pippin” that combines deaf and hearing actors, voice and American Sign Language. Deaf West Theatre is back at the Mark Taper Forum with a revival of Stephen Schwartz’s sly and sensual musical. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times)
This production offers two Pippins for the price of one: Michael Arden, near the top in a sweat shirt, and Tyrone Giordano, center, play the role simultaneously. The approach represents a tweak on the formula used by Deaf West, which has also included more dancing than in its past shows. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times)
Sara Gettelfinger, who portrays Fastrada -- stepmother of Pippin -- works with Arden, left, and Giordano, who simultaneously fill the musical’s title role. In “Pippin,” a medieval-pop parable, the son of Charlemagne searches for the meaning of life, learning about sex, war and domestic bliss along the way. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times)
Harriet Harris, who plays Berthe, wears an animated expression at rehearsal. For this “Pippin,” every word has been reimagined and the smallest gesture considered. Actors learn to work closely together: Often one provides a characters face while the other provides his voice. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times)
Troy Kotsur, center, hones his portrayal of Charlemagne with help from the two Pippins, Tyrone Giordano, left, and Michael Arden. They’re alumni of Deaf West’s version of “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” which progressed some years ago from a small North Hollywood theater to the Mark Taper Forum to Broadway and back to L.A. at the Ahmanson. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times)
Troy Kotsur, left, uses sign language in his role as Charlemagne; Dan Callaway provides the king’s voice. Exploring the role in the run-up to the show’s opening, Kotsur and Callaway would trade ideas about how Charlemagne should act and sound. (Christina House/For The Times)
Rocker Ty Taylor is in the spotlight as the Leading Player, who cajoles Pippin toward his destiny. The rest of the cast includes Broadway and regional performers, Deaf West regulars and a pair of schoolboys. (Christina House/For The Times)
Nicolas Conway focuses on instructions being given in sign language. “Pippin” is scheduled to run through March 15 at downtown’s Mark Taper Forum. (Christina House/For The Times)
Actress and sign language master Linda Bove with interpreter Alan Champion, whom she enlisted for “Pippin.” Bove also is the wife of Deaf West Theatre artistic director Ed Waterstreet, (Christina House/For The Times)
