Bob Fosse directed and choreographed the original Broadway production of Pippin.
Pippin opened on Broadway in 1972, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. The musical has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Its story follows the young title prince as he searches for an extraordinary purpose while being guided by a charismatic Leading Player.
Fosse’s staging gave Pippin a distinctive visual identity, combining stylized movement, vaudeville influence, and theatrical self-awareness. The production’s choreography became especially famous for its precise, angular gestures and use of props such as chairs and hats.
Ben Vereen played the original Leading Player and won a Tony Award for the role. Pippin is sometimes described simply as a Stephen Schwartz musical, but Schwartz wrote the score; Fosse was responsible for the original production’s direction and choreography.