Magic To Do - Pippin - Ben Vereen

[@williampasternak1623]

Things were so different then. It captures the way Broadway was at that time. It was a extraordinary period of time when it was at its high point. Ben Vereen is a national treasure.

[@ClassicalCentral]

There's something so creepily enticing about this version. The bizarre costuming, the almost-snickering attitude of the Leading Player played beautifully by Ben Vereen, and the prevalent darkness of the stage...it's so fascinatingly curious! I'd have loved to see this live!

[@algallego]

"There's something so creepily enticing" While I wouldn't call it enticing, it certainly looks like a creepy circus clown act!

[@boxerrebellion1]

I was in fifth or sixth grade (really think it was fifth)... and it was my first and only Broadway play.... the hands were mesmerizing - magical. The whole show was amazing, and Mr. Vereen fantabulous. And THAT is why I couldn't go see the revival when I heard how they changed the opening number. Sort of like why I'll never see a professional version of King and I - in the 80s I saw Yul do it at Ford's (or maybe National - it's been a while, but knowing the person who bought the tix, it was probably Ford's). Somehow, in the last decade or so my Mom ran across what I can only assume is a bootleg copy of the original Broadway cast - and I treasure it.

[@TheButtons60]

I saw it and it was a wonderful experience!

[@TheButtons60]

It was excellent! Saw it on Broadway, years ago!

[@QueensWino]

Wonderfully put! That was some splendid magic, tinged with darkness and light both!

[@hollishaley-o5u]

I had the privilege of seeing Ben Vereen perform this role in person. He was awesome!

[@ChrisDaino8]

I did too.

[@skirted2000]

I saw this live , the Broadway original company; and it changed my life. "We've got magic to do" became my mantra, and I went into the Theater whole-heartedly, hoping I could spread a least a little of this kind of magic. And now forty-eight years after my first professional show, I'm still trying. God bless you, Bob Fosse!

[@doctortimetv1577]

the glowing hands has always been my favorite part of this intro!!

[@robertkess9907]

I grew up in NY and when I think of Ben Vereen I think of three things, Pippin, Chicken George and a short lived tv show called 10 Speed and Brownshoe. What a talented guy, he should have been a much bigger star.

[@mommyatlast]

Don't forget him in Jesus Christ Superstar! 🤩

[@NickC1966]

With Jeff Goldblum. Remember all the hype and it lasted only a few shows.

[@thekraemer1757]

And Zoobilee Zoo in the early 80s. Versatile and wonderful.

[@surferbeto]

Oh yeah! Ben Vereen was Chicken George in 'Roots'! Thank you for reminding us. It's been a long time and I had forgotten. What a great performer.

[@rifelaw]

And "All That Jazz". Fosse again.

[@zzyyxxo]

The fabulous Ben Vereen. No one comes close to his artistry. Bob Fosse knew what to do.

[@retrothingz]

Yes, Ben Vereen was terrific. I saw "Pippin" in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia (damn good production by the way) . As a fourteen year old who had dreams of going into the entertainment business, this musical blew me away. I've just bought the original cast album. Great to hear it again. A real "feel good" show. Seeing "Pippin" and "Chorus Line" were exhilirating experiences for me.

[@re-huvane5622]

If I make a time machine to go back and those broadway shows, Pippin and a Chorus Line would be on the top of my list. Along with the four broadway productions of Cabaret. I missed one from 2014, but I saw the tour with Jon Peterson (who I like more than Alan Cummings), so I guess technically saw it, but not in NYC. It was at the Kennedy Center.

[@retrothingz]

@@re-huvane5622 Reserve a seat for me in your time machine. I'd love to go back to the ' 70s and start again !

[@suelaib2017]

I saw the original with Ben Vereen on off-Broadway sometime ca. 1975. It's been my favorite musical ever since.

[@jerseygrl5]

I've seen many, many spectacular Broadway plays and legendary performers but "Pippin" is my favorite and it's all because of Ben Vereen! This opening act was spectacular and is etched into my memory.

[@jameslickms]

Ben Vereen is an angel hovering over the madness and making poetry of it all. Wow....

[@nycubanpete]

One of the great opening numbers of all time....

[@captaintalon4485]

Schmigadoon season 2 brought me here and honestly that was an incredible number

[@SM-BSW]

Schmigedy doo!

[@cheyg06]

dude same

[@Mulbert]

I have Schmicago to thank for discovering Pippin! Tituss Burgess would make a phenomenonal lead player, he was so sinister in that show!

[@liamosburn9824]

2:35 is my favorite part of the choreography. The open palm sidestep cross while everyone is saying something different. So cool.

[@firestarhk3875]

I've "Ben" watching this version over and over :D

[@MarvinParksAmericanJazzSinger]

+Firestarhk well played hahaha

[@firestarhk3875]

Yes that's how it's normally spelled, but here it was a pun, as Ben Vereen is the lead player here. :)

[@oatmealboy6]

I've "vereen" what you've done there.

[@KBAFourthtime]

What's the gag in that one?

[@buttchicken22]

you're funny

[@Rcity2332]

I can’t get over how cool the dance break is. The orchestra, the choreography. Great music was once heard on the Broadway.

[@markleneker9923]

I had forgotten how much more overtly sinister the original opening of this song was...sort of like the "Commedia dell'arte troupe from Hell" ... which is appropriate since The Leading Player is essentially the embodiment of temptation (almost a devil character).

[@ericmiller9688]

He's loki essentially hence the black as theater uses white and dark themes. Or drama and comedy

[@ariannakhrystynakahnn9873]

I saw this version with the original cast. The whole show was amazing. I later saw Ben Vereen perform in the Philadelphia area a few years later. What an amazing dancer.

[@pmcorwin]

I saw Pippin in Washington, DC as it prepared to go to Broadway. This opening was completely mesmerizing and set the stage, so to speak, for the entire show. Outstanding cast!

[@stephencoopet7860]

I saw this cast on Broadway and will never forget this number with Ben he was spectacular .

[@nycoptimist]

I saw this with original cast around '76 the score and the production was amazing even in its simplicity. I'm taking my kids to the revival next month, I can see already via KZbin it's a much bigger production. In the 70's you could have a musical with just soul (i.e. like Chorus Line) you didn't need so many whistles and bells. This had the great Fosse moves and all the songs are memorable.

[@gurl6]

Loooove Ben Vereen! This is so great!! I saw him at the Vegas Trek convention last month and he was bright, funny, gracious and just all around wonderful. Live long and prosper, Mr. Vereen.

[@sylvandelacruz]

I LOVE this song so much! Beautiful. Great job writing great contemporary songs for a 70s musical.

[@JohnDarme]

This is great! Bob Fosse's staging is brilliant, and I think this is one of the most electrifying opening numbers in Broadway history!! (OK...at least in the top ten).

[@donnalynnscillieri6407]

I saw at 11 on Broadway in NY with Ben Vereen - I can still sing it. It had to be 1972...Bob Fosse was amazing!!!

[@TheAnnaFisher]

The best! Saw it live on Broadway, wore out the grooves on the LP!

[@brwneyesaz]

If grew up around this time in the 1970's. One of the first broadway musical I ever seen and it brings back great memories. Love all the actors, dancers and the music. Live singing and dancing is hard to do. People should appreciate raw talent.

[@isaiahwilliams2642]

If a Pippin movie ever gets made, I hope it takes more inspiration from this version than the revival. Not that the revival is bad, but the Fosse style would be so much more outstanding!

[@DointimeonEarth]

Agree! I saw THIS on Broadway in the early '70s & the revival album doesn't sound as good (imo)

[@elliottbronstein1214]

I've just watched this version. My first exposure to the show. I honestly wonder if a good screen adaptation is even possible without fundamentally altering things.

[@PianoDisneygal10]

@@DointimeonEarth funny how people can have different perspectives. I was mesmerized by the revival performance when I saw it live. And I prefer its soundtrack over this one’s.

[@griffin1837]

@@DointimeonEarththe revival vocals are so much stronger and clearer

[@johnfreitas1014]

I hadn’t seen the original version of “Magic to Do” until I decided to look it up on KZbin after watching the first episode of season 2 of “Schmigadoon” (aka “Schmicago”). They basically recreated the original “Magic to Do” choreography and used it for an homage number to Bob Fosse musicals. Anyway, wow. Nothing beats a Bob Fosse version of a Bob Fosse musical.

[@Go1US1Marines]

RIP Roger Hirson. And eternal gratitude to Steven Schwartz and Bob Fosse. Pippin remains the Pinnacle of the best of Broadway musicals. Comprehendable lyrics, a cohesive narrative, creative choreography, lovable characters, and music that implants itself in your brain. Compare all that to the tripe they're selling these days.

[@sonicmuse]

💯!!! Broadway is totally “Disneyfied” these days, designed purely to dazzle the eye with elaborate set pieces while avoiding offending or elevating the uneducated, uncultured sensibilities of upper-middle-class Midwestern tourists. Broadway is in a MAJOR Dark Age!!!

[@jlasf]

This and the opening of "Lion King" are the two best opening numbers of any Broadway show. Over 40 years later and the "floating hands" still stay in my memory.

[@lightbox617]

This was the 2nd Broadway production I ever saw. I'll never forget and will ever be shaped by it.

[@anneelizabethcook]

I saw this on Broadway when I was 13, with Ben Vereen. I grew up in the Phila suburbs and it was a Girl Scouts bus trip. It was my first ever introduction to NYC theater and it was amazing.

[@larespo1]

The original Broadway version that you see here ran on Broadway for quite some time -- I would have to say at the very least 7 to 8 years. That in itself is saying something about the work of Mr. Bob Fosse. Check your Broadway history. I saw it four times because it was dazzling to the eyes. The staging was out of this world. The DVD does not do it justice. Seeing it live was what counted. Especially when it was all under the sure hand of Mr. Fosse. This musical exemplified his style to a T. I would go see it today if the production were still running!

[@SynergyCeleste]

Well, I loved the Broadway album when I was in H.S.! Ben Vereen has fantastic vocal control, his dancing is so fluid and beautiful! However this DVD was poorly made, in my opinion. The staging and camerawork looks cheap and even Ben doesn't sound like he's giving it 100% in this particular presentation. The woman who did the latest 2013 revival was disappointing...not that she wasn't talented and did a good job, but it was too over the top, for me. They need to get someone who's like Ben Vereen.

[@peterzubiago4772]

+Daniel Otti I do agree that usually simple is better, but given the whole point of the show, that simple is better, doesn't it make sense that pippin is surrounded by tricks and scenery that is complex and full of extraneous energy? It makes his characters journey much more obvious, and to me that's a good thing.

[@carlakelton2139]

Fisse is a great King on Broadway. Miss him tremendously!

[@Go1US1Marines]

I saw it 4 times as well. We may have been at the same performances. I remember seeing the original cast, including Irene Ryan, aka Granny Clampett. Can't tell you enough how much it resonated with me and my times.

[@richardmayora1289]

It ran for less than five years.

[@freaktab11]

Fosse is all over this version - like this but love the revival.

[@windstorm1000]

I adore this show! Who would have thought that the unlikely subject of Charlemagne's son in 9th century France would make for such a hip, funky, tender Broadway evening?? Stephen Schwartz and Bob Fosse thought it would---pure genius.

[@JAKECOT_CENTER]

Weird ass show but back in drama club I used to hear this song before every performance so this song has a special place in my heart

[@jabroa]

1974, University School, Shaker Hgts, OH. I was in 1st grade & we did this number for our class play. Thx Mr. Vereen. Dr. Brian Martin

[@stormsinger20]

IM PLAYING THE ROLE OF LEADING IN MY COLLEGE'S PRODUCTION I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

[@astarteswillum5259]

If I had a time machine, I'd go back to see the first production of this.

[@carlakelton2139]

Bob Fossee at His Best! Exceptional and Superb! This is a wonderful musical!

[@hpgirl25]

i love this play!!! i saw it at the local highschool 2 years ago and ive loved it since. wish i could see it every day!

[@NoodlesSF]

Pippin needs a revival.

[@astarteswillum5259]

Wish granted.

[@NoodlesSF]

​@@astarteswillum5259 and it was a wonderful revival 🎪

[@NorthcoastLady]

I saw it on Broadway with John Rubinstein as Pippin and saw the touring revival with John Rubinstein as Charlemagne!

[@mauigirl3932]

Ben Vereeniging was amazing. I saw him in Pippin twice. Amazing Magical

[@dplomin1954]

I'm happy and sad at the same time watching this. I saw this on Broadway my first trip in 1976, along with the original cast of Chicago. So much has changed, so many friends gone now..

[@ravenrandom]

Ben Vereen is magic. :)

[@Jewcygrl]

I haven't heard this in 15 years. Feels gooood to hear it again...

[@martylegray1575]

My first Broadway musical seen in NYC. Magical in so many ways.

[@sharonfeliciano4894]

Mine, too!!

[@re-huvane5622]

Surreal, sinister, sublime, and spectacular! The revival is nothing more than a dull circus, this however is highly original/innovative from the disembodied hands, to the players, the costumes and makeup they wear, to the score, and of course Ben himself, just so fresh and so good! Thank god we have this recorded because until Stephen Schwartz has a change of heart, we'll never see the show as brilliant as it was under Fosse's direction. If you want to see the show in it's full glory, than look for the 1981 Fosse Cut which is the full performance, as opposed to commercially available truncated version.

[@Bessie1906]

I love this! Since EP last Sunday, I've played it non-stop. Wish I could go to NYC in March.

[@jinghengc.8984]

Hello from Schmicago!

[@whatidontthinkso]

just did this a while ago!!! still cant believe a dude did Berthe's part in this song.!!! :( oh well!! AWESOME AS ALWAYS BEN VEREEN!!

[@robinvespa152]

First show I ever saw on Broadway back in the 70s. Cant wait to see this new one!!!

[@lekocafe]

Ben Vereen rules!

[@bowtiemouse]

My school is doing this! I saw the first half of it, and I loved it! The guy that's doing the lead player is AWESOME! Our costume scheme is different, but I like it a lot!

[@elphielover247]

Im actually the Leading Player. The show is tonight at our community theatre and Im sooo nervous bcuz i will never do it as well as Ben vereen.

[@bloop1834]

I'm sure you will be/ were AMAZING ❤️😘

[@ericmiller9688]

As ben does with the role, bring a bit of your personality to the character

[@eleidal]

You make the role your own. Theater doesn’t thrive due to competition, but rather from inner energy. Let it shine and you’ll be fine…

[@FreedomKat]

LOVED THIS! GREAT ENERGY!!!!

[@MasterJoeyKeo]

Congratz, That's awesome. it's my dream to one day play the Leading Player on stage (outside of a school production)

[@musicwritersince1980]

Along with The Jet Song from West Side Story and Summer Days from Grease, this is one of Broadway's best opening numbers ever. Superb.

[@Micha0009]

Ben Vereen is the man.

[@zelmanzelman]

This is so f***ing great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[@Munchausen45]

Schmigadoon season 2 (Schmicago ) brought me here.

[@hpgirl25]

I loved this play! i saw it like 2-3 years ago at the local highschool and they did an amazing job on it! wish i could see it again :(

[@isaisabobisa]

this is the ultimate musical. if i could live in a musical... the choice is obvious

[@dougrhon]

This is my all time favorite musical. Rhonda and I saw Ben Vereen's road show of this at the Prospect Theater in Schenectedy in 1988.

[@decalcomanya_]

love this song! sang and performed it in high school 2 years ago... :)

[@varrock12440]

i saw it last night, it made it to my top 5 shows (movies etc.) just from this first number! XD

[@ollie21271]

i go to a performing arts school and our homework this week for musical theatre was to look at this song and learn it this is a great song

[@Lurker1979]

So want to do this play.

[@firestarhk3875]

I wanna see it.

[@iselljamsfor3dollars367]

Lurker1979 musical not play

[@adelaide2510]

Totally late but my musical theater class is doing this song for our performance and it’s so much fun honestly

[@sirusbones]

I'm doing this at my school in April. First rehershal is on Monday, and I can't wait!

[@Jay-qh6uv]

Anyone love both? But you gotta admit, the revival fucking cranks it up to 11. It has the benefit of hindsight, higher budgets, better effects, etc. We’ve learned more about how to perform theater since the 70s, productions have increased in quality and polish, and the revival vs original Pippin is a great example of that.

[@LDFunk8055]

He's over emphasising the syllables because diction, when speaking normally, is lost when performing on stage. Otherwise, the ends of words would disappear in the acoustic and the audience wouldn't fully understand the lyrics. NOT, however, because he's black or that because of this he speaks with more diction in order to appeal to a white audience. A white leading man/woman would be speaking/singing in EXACTLY the same way. It's an idiom of musical theatre. Peace out x

[@ganjgundam1]

Love this. It's important to over emphasize on stage, they didn't really use mics back then, they had to rely on acoustics

[@Kari166]

We had to watch this in theater class. o__O

[@rebenjam]

Happy Birthday, Ben Vereen!

[@Sydride98]

It's interesting to see a male Head Player after listening to the revival cast for so long :-/ I like him, don't get me wrong, it's just interesting to see a different take on it and what the director thinks for the show, including genders of characters.

[@boxerrebellion1]

This and Joseph, I don't get the recast with a female. The men I saw in the originals were so perfect! Maybe they knew man could replace Vereen, so they went 'a different direction'.

[@ns2110theonly]

This isn’t a different take, this is the original take. The revival is the “different take”.

[@scottgranell6191]

@@boxerrebellion1 it is not a matter of a male or female, but just sheer talent. If Vereen did not get cast back in the day, Chita Rivera would have knocked it out of the park. The only problem I see with the new version is that they are so influenced by Cirque Du Soliel, that they forgot how charisma like Fosse's can make up for less special effects. It is the difference between Star Wars and the Phantom menace; yes one had a bigger budget, but the original will last long after the Phantom menace becomes a trivia question

[@boxerrebellion1]

@@scottgranell6191 Kind of my point. No one, male or female could best Vereen. In the original the role is not 'Narrator' or anything else.... it is 'Ben Vereen'.

[@Capcoor]

I just saw this musical.OUTSTANDING!(Wouldn't take a little kid though.)

[@katherinegotschall9842]

So awesome! My troupe performed this number to open Shakespeare's Tempest last year! @

[@benjaminbackbite]

There is nothing bizarre about this costuming. It’s all based on commedia dell’arte and it’s brilliant.

[@MrMrMrprofessor]

Ben Vereen is the Jesus of Musical Theater, enough said

[@Autostade67]

I know many people would disagree but 'Pippin' IS Fosse...from the opening moments its clear why he won the Tony for Best Direction. I've seen a few productions since and, yes, they lack both Fosse's cyncism and sense of stagecraft, of what is truly theatrical. The property itself is not a strong favourite, though many of Schawartz's songs are outstanding and the idea intriguing...but Fosse gave us integrated theatre, as if he had been there (and maybe he was) for every millisecond of the show's creation. It worked because Fosse worked (and because his cast was workable and talented). We could do with a remount of this show with a similar reach: Fosse and Vereen were aware - at the height of the zetigeist in the 70s - of the piece's existential crux: what are you if all you are doing is basing yourself on what you want to be? It would almost be apt to to the show where parts of it were Tik Tok videos.

[@bellebeauty67]

Enchantment!!!! WEEEEEEE!!!!!

[@dclark6357]

I am 53 now and we sung this in an elementary school assembly 3rd grade.

[@teresaohara9416]

Ben Vereen. ❤️

[@OofusTwillip]

This was shot at Hamilton Place theatre, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

[@emilynelson9174]

*stefon from snl* This musical has EVERYTHIng: nihilism, patricide, self-aware theatre actors, catchy songs, roman war, sex presented pastoraly, ducks, coreography by bill fosse, realization of the fullfillment of family life, oedipussy-" "Oedipussy?" "It's, like, that thing of where you sleep with your mom, so she'll sabotage your step family so she can be queen and you can be king..???👑✌️"

[@JeffxMichaelxSmith]

now this is broadway....awesome.

[@deshondaniel]

While I appreciate your analysis, I will have to disagree. Some of us also just speak and sing like this. Ben Vereen is one of the greatest performers ever in Musical Theater and that is just how he sounds on and of stage. I've been accused of this in my career. It has nothing to do with appealing to anyone other that the character you are performing. Also the stage is very different from film.

[@crystalfajman3732]

I remember Ben Vereen playing the mayor (a leopard I think) in Zoobilee Zoo. A show i watched all the time in kindergarten.

[@SM-BSW]

Pippin: Come for the hero's journey, stay for the fourth wall breaking musical death cult!

[@rmtmiller]

Let loose, it's summertime! There's magic to do!

[@ADRHYN]

i played this part in college as a freshmen and i loved it Lp songs are kind of hard. Any who Miramax needs to make pippin and get it over with

[@zerodegreesbelow]

I'm in this Show!!!

[@donaldfrazier3894]

Can't believe how lucky I am to have seen so many of the major Broadway shows of this era. In NY, a spare 'student rush' ticket was something like $7, and nobody cared if you took a front and center unoccupied seat. Pacific Overtures. Wow. And the road shows that came to my hometown were exactly that -- the original production, original cast on the road. Pippin/Ben Vereen, Mousetrap /Anthony Quayle, Equus/Colin Firth, and so on. Now they're all corporate touring companies, often censored.

[@Muttonchop_USA]

Donald Frazier Student rush tickets were $2.50. A great reason to cut classes!

[@texasflashcoveinstaller4317]

A moment of silence for a first American Sicilian that grew up in Hell’s Kitchen and would one day as my step father take me to Broadway to experience Pippin and Cats .

[@pokeyinla]

Fosse and Vereen were golden. Add the Greatest American Hero, Martha Raye and Chita Rivera you've got a guaranteed good show.

[@agentringo1746]

RIP Chita Rivera. Thank You, my lady. Stranger And Still... HCCringo

[@KcAr151]

My high school is doing Pippin this year (I'm Lewis). I really only like Magic to Do and Glory. But it's an alright musical(: Anyway, it's amazing how Schwartz went from boringish Pippin songs to the ginormous, masterly orchestrated belting songs in Wicked.

[@99musicismylife41]

LOL--we're singing this at my school and the words "sex presented pastorly" is "love presented pastorly" and i didn't realize that til just now lol

[@TikiKrissy]

Our school said "Ro-maaaaaa-aaance presented pastorally" (Draw out the word Romance long enough for "Romance, sex" to have been sung 😂)

[@NoahLindquist96]

So rumor has it that PIPPIN will be revived on Broadway sometime in 2012-2013! Idk if this is true but it is also rumored that Tracie Thoms(Joanne from 'RENT') will play the LEADING PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ShayBerry]

haha our scholl's doing it too! auditions are tommorrwow and im trying out for this part! :D

[@NoodlesSF]

@italianwolf77 Awesome! I didn't know that, thanks. I know a Godspell revival has been on the "Schedule of upcoming Broadway shows" on the Playbill page for a while, but I am glad to hear about Pippin in the works.

[@miaka03]

my oh my, our professor assigned a homework on relating this musical to ARCHITECTURE, wahhhh now i'm going crazy just to find any connection...anyway i liked this play, you can relate it very much in real life :)