Ten years, four musical folktales and two albums later, the seven-member troupe — now in the form of PigPen Theatre Co. — is returning home to perform its acclaimed show “The Old Man and The Old Moon” at City Theatre, a production The New Yorker said was like watching “child geniuses at play.”
The boys have become men, but they’re still playing with puppets.
3 comments:
This is a inspiring testimony that makes you feel it it is actually possible to make it big after leaving.That collaboration experience, that bond between classmates is to be envied. I can only hop that I will. Find my group of friends here at CMU that will have to potential to group in to a successful company. I think this just goes to show you that CMU has a reputation of fostering the greatest collaborators of our time. Now the goal is to be one of them. This example of success proves how much we each need to get out of our comfort zone and meet people from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. I myself am finding this to be very challenging, but am not a little more motivated to make sure I open myself up to the possibility to meet new people.
This article was so fun to read and relate to in many ways. It is hard to understand what truly goes on around the purnel halls or between the artists that you call friends unless you are a student living amongst it all. I am constantly amazed by what happens when the students of CMU come together to mess around or to be serious with creativity. Somehow, they always end up creating something that is completely unique, but something that you couldn't imagine the world without once you've seen it. I remember when I was visiting I went to an open mic event in which a student rapped about his love of math. It was amazing and full of passion. I think that is what makes this article so fun to read. These seven performers were just creating art that made them happy and as a result, they created theater that was completely their own and something that everyone can find joy in.
It is always so exciting to read about CMU alumni who are still working together to this day, and PigPen Theatre Co. is a great example of this. I just saw the Old Man and the Old Moon this week and I am not exaggerating when I say it is one of the best shows that I have ever seen. I was completely engrossed in the world that they had created from start to finish, and I thought the the music and the design were both beautiful. It just goes to show that you don't need revolutionary technology to tell a good story, as PigPen depends largely on fabric sheets, flashlights, shadow puppets, and re-purposed cast-off items as props. This is going to sound super cheesy but this show reminded me why I do theatre. So many times I go see shows and I'm annoyed or frustrated or don't understand why they were put on, but PigPen brought me back to the feeling of wonder I had when I saw my first Broadway show at 8. I sincerely hope I can see the show again at some point, and I can't wait to see what they do next.
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