Hip 'Pippin' premiers in Palatine tonight

Theatre Nebula opens its 2009-10 season today with its production of the musical comedy "Pippin" at Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center in Palatine.

The story follows Prince Pippin, who longed to discover the secret of true happiness and fulfillment. He sought it in the glories of battle, the temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power. In the end, he found it in the simple pleasures of home and family.

This hip, tongue-in-cheek, anachronistic fairy tale captivated Broadway audiences and continues to appeal to the young at heart everywhere.

The production, which runs through Sept. 13, is being steered by Jeff Award-winning producer-director-designer and Theatre Nebula Artistic Director J. Spencer Greene of Palatine, who also produced the show. Musical direction is by Carletta Fowle of Palatine, with choreography and costumes coordination by Colleen Flick of Chicago.

The show is stage-managed by Therese Dean-Myrda of Palatine.

In addition to Flick, cast members are Adam Brauer, Julie Price, Rachel Rosellini, and Sara Pardo of Palatine; Toni Higgins-Thrash, Carrie Stephens and Jason Stephens of Arlington Heights; Roy Brown of Prospect Heights; Kyle Downs of River Grove; Brendan Foley and Dana Peters of Hoffman Estates; Zach Keller of Lake Zurich; Julie Koerner of Northbrook; Kristyn Kubera of Inverness; Jessica Means of Schaumburg; and Chuck Sisson of Barrington.

Theatre Nebula is a nonprofit, non-equity, professional theater company that promotes and nurtures the appreciation of theater and the fine arts within the community and among high school and college students. By involving them in productions with the interaction of professional theater artists, and by exploring diverse theatrical styles, Theatre Nebula achieves one of its major goals: helping these talented individuals excel in the field of theater.

The plays Theatre Nebula produces are normally chosen to give the students some insight into history or the arts, or to help them explore the human condition. Often, post-performance question-and-answer discussions are held with the attending audience and a panel of educators or experts connected with the play's subject matter.

Among the programs and services offered are involvement in play productions, both on- and offstage; workshops with theater arts professionals; internships that provide paid on-the-job training in the arts; and the awarding of a substantial Talent GrantCollege Scholarship to a student majoring in one of the Theatre Arts or Theatre Education.