Mauldin Theatre Company opens milestone season with 'Pippin'

Kristofer Parker believes the upcoming season at the Mauldin Theatre Company marks more than a milestone.

As the company celebrates its 10th anniversary, Parker said it has firmly established its artistic identity, and that confidence is reflected in its season theme, “Guided by the Light,” and in its opening production of “Pippin,” running Aug. 14-30.

“Much like the title character of ‘Pippin,’ we’ve gone through a long journey of discovery,” said Parker, theatre manager for the Mauldin Cultural Center.

Stephen Schwartz’s “Pippin” follows a young prince searching for meaning and purpose, a quest Parker sees as mirroring the theater company’s own evolution over the past decade.

“The musical seemed perfect for the season-opening show,” Parker said. “It’s about identity, purpose and the choices you make. Every choice affects what comes next.”

Under Parker’s leadership, the Mauldin Theatre Company has become known as a community theater troupe that doesn’t shy away from some of the most ambitious and demanding Broadway musicals.

“Pippin,” directed by Clare Shaffer, features an 18-member cast led by Townsend Pass as the charismatic Leading Player. Parker praised Pass, familiar to many local audiences through productions at Greenville Theatre, for bringing the role’s demanding dance style and magnetic presence to life.

“He just embodies everything about that character,” Parker said.

The production also showcases choreography by Fawn Allen, drawing inspiration from the signature Bob Fosse style that has become synonymous with the musical.

While “Pippin” launches the season, Parker said the entire lineup reflects the company’s overarching theme of journeys, transformation and self-discovery.

Larger than life

Following “Pippin,” the season continues with “Our Town” in September, “Little Women: The Musical” in November, and a January collaboration with Greenville Theatre on “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The co-production will be staged first in Mauldin before moving to Greenville Theatre the following weekend, allowing audiences to experience the same production in two very different performance spaces.

“I think it’s an illustration about what happens when our theater community comes together,” Parker said. “It’s an opportunity for audiences to experience the same show in an intimate venue and then on a much larger stage.”

Other offerings include a youth production of “Legally Blonde Jr.,” Frank Wildhorn’s musical “Jekyll & Hyde,” and two immersive concert experiences: “Larger Than Life,” celebrating boy bands, and “When You Believe,” featuring the music of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

The season also includes a free outdoor production of “Rock of Ages” (Oct. 2-4) at the Mauldin amphitheater. Complete with a live band, food trucks, a vintage market and enhanced lighting, the production is intended as a community celebration and a thank-you for the support the company has received over its first decade.

“I want people to experience the full magic of theater,” Parker said. “Accessibility is about giving everyone the chance to experience something special.”

Looking back, Parker said the company has reached an important turning point.

“We’ve found our identity,” he said. “Now we know who we are, and this season celebrates that journey.”