On the weekends of March 8 and March 15, the Coffee County theater department performed a production of the musical Pippin, the story of an ambitious young prince searching for purpose in his life, a desire eventually fulfilled when he escapes the manipulation of the Leading Player.

Pippin, who rose and fell from power, was played by Alex Baldwin. True to the play’s circus setting, Baldwin performed acrobatics, walked tightropes, and executed magic tricks captivating the audience, while the leading player (Sarah Thomas) pulled strings in her attempts to lead the characters to their fates.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Noah Watkins who would have played King Charlemagne contracted appendicitis leading to an emergency appendectomy. As a result, the theater instructor, Mr. Higdon, replaced him until closing night when Noah was well enough to fill the role and the audience’s response indicated that he did an amazing job.

Other roles were played by the following students:

Louis Fastrada’s son – Drew Harner

Bertha – Emma Holmes

Theo – Matthew Miller

A Bearded Lady – Andie Clutter

Mr. Higdon calls it the most fun production they have worked on. From Charlemagne’s death and resurrection and Pippin’s rise and fall from power, each performance of the story of destiny orchestrated by the cast of Pippin left its audience amazed.