Pippin: A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Live Musical Spectacular!

Pippin: A Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Live Musical Spectacular! is an American musical television special that will air on NBC on December 2023. It was a performance of the 1972 Broadway musical Pippin, which is based on the fictitious life of Pippin the Hunchback, son of Charlemagne.

Act 1
The show begins with the Leading Player of a traveling circus troupe and his accompanying "Players" welcoming the audience to their show, ending their greeting with their opening trademark, "Feld Entertainment is proud to present Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey welcome the Greatest Show on Earth!" ("Magic to Do"). They begin telling the story of Pippin, (who they say is being portrayed by a new actor making his stage debut), the first son of King Charlemagne. Pippin tells the Players of his wish for satisfaction, believing he must find his purpose in life ("Corner of the Sky"). Pippin then returns home to the castle and estate of his father. Charlemagne and Pippin don't get a chance to communicate often, as they are constantly interrupted by nobles, soldiers, and courtiers vying for Charlemagne's attention ("Welcome Home"). Pippin also meets with his stepmother Fastrada, and her dim-witted son Lewis. Charles and Lewis are planning on going into battle against the Visigoths soon, and Pippin begs Charlemagne to take him along as a soldier to prove himself. He reluctantly agrees and proceeds to explain the battle plan to his men ("War is a Science").

The Players express the battle through song and dance, with the Leading Player and two lead dancers in the middle (performing Bob Fosse's famous "Manson Trio") whilst depictions of violence and dismemberment occur behind them ("Glory"). Pippin believed that combat would give him satisfaction, but he is instead horrified and decides to flee to the countryside ("Simple Joys"). There, Berthe, his paternal grandmother, exiled by Fastrada, tells Pippin to stop worrying about his future, and rather to enjoy the pleasures and comforts of the present ("No Time at All"). Pippin takes this advice to heart and searches for more lighthearted pastimes. He begins to enjoy many meaningless sexual encounters, but it soon becomes overwhelming, and Pippin forces all the women away ("With You"), discovering that relationships without love leave you feeling "empty and vacant".

The Leading Player enters and talks with the now exhausted Pippin, suggesting that fulfillment can be found in fighting against his father's tyrannical ways. He agrees and becomes the leader of a revolution against his father. Upon Fastrada's realization of Pippin's plan, she takes advantage of it by devising a plan of her own— If Pippin either successfully kills Charlemagne, or if Pippin is arrested for treason, Lewis will be next in line for the throne either way. She gets Charlemagne to go to his annual prayer early, and she tells Pippin that he will be at the chapel unarmed ("Spread a Little Sunshine"). At the royal chapel in Arles, Pippin murders Charlemagne with a gun against his head, and the people bow to their new king, rejoicing that the tyranny has come to an end ("Morning Glow"). The Leading Player mentions to the audience that they will break for now, but to expect a thoroughly thrilling finale.

Act 2
As king, Pippin brings peace to the land by giving to the poor, eradicating taxes, ending the military, and peacefully settling foreign disputes. However, this soon falls through, as Pippin is forced to go back on many of his promises, reverting to the tyrannical ways of his father. At Pippin's request, the Leading Player revives Charlemagne, who takes the throne back, and Pippin is left discouraged, as his life is still unfulfilled. Although Pippin is grounded for conspiracy, Charlemagne announces a twist to his laws to describe his system of justice "to let the punishment fit the crime—and make each prisoner pent unwillingly represent a source of innocent merriment" ("A More Humane Ole Ruler"). The Leading Player inspires him to keep going down his life's path ("On the Right Track"), but after experimenting with art and religion, Pippin falls into monumental despair and collapses on the floor.

Widowed farm-owner Catherine finds him on the street and is attracted by the arch of his foot ("And There He Was"), and when Pippin comes to, she introduces herself ("Kind of Woman"). From the start, it is clear that the Leading Player is concerned with Catherine's acting ability and actual attraction to Pippin — after all, she is but a player playing a part in the Leading Player's yet-to-be-unfolded plan. Catherine has Pippin help as a farmhand on her estate. At first, Pippin thinks himself above such things ("Extraordinary"), but after comforting her son, Theo, on the sickness and eventual death of his pet duck ("Prayer for a Duck"), he warms up to Catherine and finds himself attracted to her ("Love Song"). However, as time goes by, Pippin realizes he's grown too comfortable in monotony, and leaves the estate to continue searching for his true purpose. Catherine is heartbroken and reflects on him, spontaneously beginning a song that was not initially in the script, much to the Leading Player's anger and surprise ("I Guess I'll Miss the Man").

All alone on a stage, Pippin is surrounded by the Leading Player and the various Players. They tell him that the only fulfilling thing is their one perfect act, the Finale, in which Pippin will light himself on fire and "become one with the flame", implying that he will die in the process. Just when he is about to do it, he realizes that there has to be something other than death and chooses not to follow through. Catherine and Theo enter, defying the script, and stand beside Pippin. He sings to her and that his purpose was never in magic, but rather to live an ordinary life ("Finale"/"Magic Shows and Miracles"). Pippin also accuses the whole troupe of choosing him as a sacrifice to Satan, in which the furious Leading Player uses as a pretense to ultimately fire him along with Catherine and Theo because of their lack of progress, calling off the show and telling the rest of the Players and the orchestra to pack up and leave Pippin, Catherine, and Theo alone on the empty stage.

Once the stage is cleared out, the Leading Player approaches Pippin one last time to express his disappointment at his lack of progress and for ruining a perfect show like this one. After the Leading Player storms out to join his troupe, Catherine asks Pippin how it felt to lose his job as star of the show, in which Pippin answers, "Trapped...but happy—which isn't too bad for a start of a new life. Well, not just for me—but for all three of us, together." After examining the drum kit and keyboard the troupe left behind in the process of abandoning them, Pippin, Catherine, and Theo agree to do their own finale, in the form of Queen's #1 hit song, "Bohemian Rhapsody", which explains the consequences of all of Pippin's actions. While Pippin does the vocals of their own finale, Catherine plays keyboards and Theo plays the drums respectively. Additionally, an onstage guitarist and onstage bassist (who often appear randomly throughout the show with the troupe), decide to play along with the outcasted trio as well despite the Leading Player's orders to retrieve the keyboard and drum kit for him. Miraculously, the appearances of all five individuals transform into bizarre, Kabuki-like makeup, studded black leather costumes, thus they become Kiss—the hottest band in the world, with Pippin as Starchild, Catherine as Celestial, Theo as Beast King, the onstage bassist as the Demon, and the onstage guitarist as the Pharaoh ("Bohemian Rhapsody").

Encore
During the curtain call, the Players are so surprised to see Kiss and how they changed their ways since they abandoned them that the Leading Player offers the newly formed band a handshake which shows the sign of good luck on their new journey. After that, Kiss performs one last song before the broadcast comes to a close, performing their signature song, "Rock and Roll All Nite" ("Rock and Roll All Nite").

Cast & Characters
Source: "Pippin Fan Casting on myCast"
 * Jonathan Lee Iverson as Leading Player - the ringmaster of his circus. Masterfully charming and manipulative, the Leading Player is a chameleon of sorts. Guides Pippin through his own story and tries to intervene at the end. Obsessed with putting on a great show for the audience, he, in fact, tricks male victims be the star of the show, choosing them as sacrifices to Satan in the process.
 * Finn Wolfhard as Pippin - our story's young and confused protagonist. He is longing to find his purpose in life. Naive, innocent, and discontent. Eventually finds love, and meaning in life, with Catherine and Theo. He then becomes Starchild from Kiss at the end of the show.
 * Idris Elba as Charlemagne - Pippin's demanding father. As the King of the Holy Roman Empire, Charlemagne is more comfortable wielding a sword than breaking bread. He wears his years with great pride.
 * Ethan Slater as Lewis - Pippin's half-brother.
 * Taylor Swift as Fastrada - Pippin's conniving stepmother. A seductress, who is no stranger to deceit and betrayal, she is both sexy and smart. Skilled at using her sexual appeal to benefit her and her son.
 * Mary Jo Catlett as Berthe - Pippin's saucy grandmother. A brassy broad full of wisdom, grace, and sass. She tries to help Pippin and encourages him to live his life to the fullest.
 * Emily Bear as Catherine - a widow and mother. She is a beautiful and a hopeless romantic, who possesses graceful elegance. Encounters Pippin at his lowest point and eventually falls in love with him. She is skilled in keyboard playing, and she then becomes Celestial from Kiss at the end of the show.
 * Malcolm Craig as Theo - Catherine's son. He is skilled in playing the drums, and he then becomes Beast King from Kiss at the end of the show.
 * Brandon Niederauer as the Onstage Guitarist - one of the two onstage musicians who often appear throughout the show. He then becomes the Pharaoh from Kiss at the end of the show.
 * Ethan Trembath as the Onstage Bassist - one of the two onstage musicians who often appear throughout the show. He then becomes the Demon from Kiss at the end of the show.

Act 1

 * "Magic to Do" – Leading Player and The Players
 * "Corner of the Sky" – Pippin
 * "Welcome Home" – Charlemagne and Pippin
 * "War Is a Science" – Charlemagne, Pippin, and Soldiers
 * "Glory" – Leading Player and Soldiers
 * "Simple Joys" – Leading Player
 * "No Time at All" – Berthe and The Gang
 * "With You" – Pippin
 * "Spread a Little Sunshine" – Fastrada
 * "Morning Glow" – Pippin, Leading Player, Players

Act 2

 * "Entr'acte" – Players
 * "On the Right Track" – Leading Player, Pippin
 * "And There He Was" – Catherine
 * "Kind of Woman" – Catherine, Ensemble
 * "Extraordinary" – Pippin
 * "Prayer for a Duck" – Pippin, Theo
 * "Love Song" – Pippin, Catherine
 * "I Guess I'll Miss the Man" – Catherine
 * "Finale/Magic Shows and Miracles" – Leading Player, Pippin, and Players
 * "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Pippin, Catherine, Theo and Offstage Company

Encore

 * "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Pippin (as "Starchild") and Company

Developed
The project will be announced on the spring of 2023. ￼

Filming
The broadcast will be filmed at the Madison Square Garden.

Release
The special will premiere in December 2023. ￼