Pippin

Stephen Schwartz’s musical masterpiece about a restless young prince searching for purpose, ambition, and glory is given a thrilling summer staging at Signature Theatre under the direction of Matthew Gardiner. In this sardonic and witty extravaganza, a traveling troupe of performers enacts the story of Pippin, heir to Charlemagne, as he dives into war, passion, and even murder only to find disillusionment at every turn. Flush with spellbinding dance and iconic songs including “Corner of the Sky,” “Magic to Do,” and “Morning Glow,” this coming-of-age parable asks what it truly means to be extraordinary.

When: May 12 through July 26, 2026. Showtimes vary; please consult the Signature Theatre performance calendar for specific dates and times.

Showtimes: Regular performance times are not listed in the source; check the venue’s schedule for matinee and evening performances.

Tickets: Available through Signature Theatre’s box office and website. Pricing was not specified in the provided information.

Lineup: The principal cast features Brayden Bambino as Pippin, Cedric Neal as Leading Player, Naomi Jacobson as Berthe, Awa Sal Secka as Catherine, Eric Hissom as Charles, Maria Rizzo as Fastrada, Ryan Sellers as Lewis, and Ellison Bihm as Theo. The ensemble of Players includes Ben Bogen, Calvin L'mont Cooper, Candice Hatakeyama, Georgia Monroe, Alanna Sibrián, Jacob Taylor Starks, Emily Steinhardt, and Hank von Kolnitz, with swings Veronica Quezada, Ian Rubin, and Jillian Wessel. Understudies include Dylan Arredondo (Charles), Alonso Nicolas Waller (Theo), and Liz Weber (Berthe).

Creative Team: Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz; book by Roger O. Hirson; directed by Matthew Gardiner; choreographed by Rachel Leigh Dolan; music directed by Jon Kalbfleisch. The production is based on the original Broadway production by Stuart Ostrow and directed by Bob Fosse, with the 2013 Broadway revival directed by Diane Paulus; the Theo Ending was originally conceived in 1998 by Mitch Sebastian.

Run time: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

Ages: Recommended for mature teens and up. Signature Theatre does not admit anyone under age 6.

Content Warnings: This show contains adult themes, sexual content, adult language, drug use, representations of violence, war and death, and discussion of suicide.

Effects Warnings: Strobe and lighting effects, loud noises, theatrical haze/smoke, and the use of a torch with live fire (appears in three moments, tested and approved by the Arlington County fire marshal).

Accessibility: Audio-described performances on May 24 at 2:00 PM and July 21 at 7:30 PM; a masks-required performance on May 31 at 2:00 PM; an ASL-interpreted performance on July 11 at 2:00 PM; closed captions via the GalaPro app available at all performances.

Specialty Performances: Discussion Nights on June 3 at 7:30 PM and June 16 at 7:30 PM, featuring post-show discussions. Pride Night on June 12 at 8:00 PM includes a post-show “Knights, Nights, and Theatrical Fantasy: A Pride Vogue Ball” with a vogue ball runway competition, prizes, drinks, food, and entertainment in partnership with Pussy Noir and Deep Cvnt. Dress code is extraordinary: stars, velvet, sequins, armor, cabaret glamour, and commedia dell’arte-inspired outfits.

Venue: Signature Theatre, Arlington, Virginia.

Note: The production is sponsored by Dana A. Hearn & Kevin J. McCloskey, Nancy & Ray McKinley (in memoriam), and David Briggs (orchestra sponsor).