PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Does Your Mother Know?" A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Mamma Mia! With Jacob PinionJacob Pinion, serving up "Pepper" nightly in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia!, shares a recent two-show day with Playbill.com readers. He documents the early part of his day, offers a look at some of his secret backstage duties and shows how the tight-knit ensemble spends offstage time together. Storytime? You bet!
By
Matthew Blank
June 26, 2013
"My name is Jacob and I recently celebrated my second year in the show," says Pinion. "By my calculations, that's more than 800 performances, dancing and singing to the hits of ABBA!"
"Mamma Mia! is the greatest, most rewarding job I have ever had, but some days it can be hard to get excited. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and wonder: Can I keep it up or will my performance anxiety get the best of me? Is this the day I shrivel and shrink or will I rise to the challenge?"
"Then I think of the smiling faces of all those fans and the blood starts to pump through me. I can't and I shan't disappoint them. Soon I'm standing tall, firm, peaking through the curtain in anticipation. Every day at the Winter Garden we are having a ball, and twice a week, we have 2 balls. This is one of those days."
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Does Your Mother Know?" A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Mamma Mia! With Jacob Pinion
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Does Your Mother Know?" A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Mamma Mia! With Jacob Pinion
Jacob Pinion, serving up "Pepper" nightly in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia!, shares a recent two-show day with Playbill.com readers. He documents the early part of his day, offers a look at some of his secret backstage duties and shows how the tight-knit ensemble spends offstage time together. Read the Playbill.com story.
63 PHOTOS
End of the week encouragement from our Captain of Dance, Tony.
Jacob Pinion
Olivia wanted to go to the dog park so I came along.
Jacob Pinion
On the way we apparently pass a Guatamalan bazaar.
Jacob Pinion
A breakfast I ate once.
Jacob Pinion
My actual breakfast on this particular day.
Jacob Pinion
My weekly berating from David Beach.
Jacob Pinion
He gets mad when I don't call him Khaleesi.
Jacob Pinion
Khaleesi will have extensive, y'know, hour, two-hour sessions of notes with me - and it's so helpful.
Jacob Pinion
I like to stand in front of my picture and wait to get noticed.
Jacob Pinion
I tend to wait a lot.
Jacob Pinion
Empty chairs. (And empty stables, true story: The Winter Garden used to be a horse show ring)
Jacob Pinion
Paella head.
Jacob Pinion
Judy McLane makes us all pick "Angel" cards before every show. Curiously watery for a Virgo.
Jacob Pinion
Albert takes 20 minutes each day to draw on those abs. Trade secret: He uses Judy's eye make-up.
Jacob Pinion
Things can get pretty unsanitary backstage.
Jacob Pinion
Judy McLane shoves tissues in her ears when I sing.
Jacob Pinion
Tonya and Albert love to watch "Broadway Talks."
Jacob Pinion
Jon-Erik and Corinne are best friends.
Jacob Pinion
Somebody that I used to know...
Jacob Pinion
Sometimes the swings lack focus.
Jacob Pinion
Yeah but have you tried the salsa?
Jacob Pinion
It hadn't occurred to Jon-Erik that the mood swings might be related to the hot flashes.
Jacob Pinion
John Hemphill makes extra money cleaning the booths during Act 1.
Jacob Pinion
Blake does some casual cartography.
Jacob Pinion
Aaron Lazar didn't know I still worked here.
Jacob Pinion
Dean the Manager of Stage and Tony the Captain of Dance like to watch "Broadway Talks" together.
The tenth longest-running show on Broadway, Mamma Mia! has been seen by over 50 million people worldwide and has grossed more than $2 billion at the box office.
With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. The production has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.
As previously reported, Mamma Mia!, which is currently celebrating 12 years on Broadway, will transfer from the Winter Garden Theatre to the Broadhurst Theatre, presently the home of the limited engagement of the late Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy, in late 2013.
For more information visit www.mammamianorthamerica.com.
