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Original "Pippin" Back In Chicago For Musical Revival

CHICAGO (CBS) -- For 50 years, John Rubenstein has been a familiar face on stage, in movies and on television but he's also known for creating the original role of Pippin in 1972.

"That was a huge time in my life doing Pippin," he said.

Now, more than four decades later, Bob Fosse's landmark Broadway production is back and on tour in Chicago. Rubenstein plays Pippin's father, King Charlemagne.

"Well, it's wonderful because I don't have to hit all those high notes. I love playing Charlemagne," he laughed.

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Rubenstein says the message of the revival is the same, but the tone is lighter.

"We were in the middle of the Vietnam War back then and so when we jumped on stage in Pippin and made fun of war, it was very deep and dark. We strut on stage today and make fun of war, and a mass murderer, you don't get it. It's fun."

The Pippin revival is now surrounded by a chorus of circus performers which Rubenstein says offers a visual cornucopia.

"It's beautiful. It's beautiful to look at. It's a circus tent and it has a weird shade of blue but the lights keep changing. The way they've designed it both the physical production, it's so exciting from the very beginning, the audience is just swept away. It just pops."

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Rubenstein says the message of the revival is the same, but the tone is lighter. (Credit: Lisa Fielding)

The Tony Award winner, actor, composer says he sees the show from both sides now and never could've imagined he'd be back 43 years later, but he says he's enjoying every minute.

"It's very much like going back to your house where you lived as a young person, and different people live there, the others have gone away, yet it's your home, your place, and it still smells the same somewhere, that's what it's like that. Part of it is like, 'wow, I get to be here again?' But part of it is it's brand new and different and it functions and it's great and I miss some of the stuff that's gone," said Rubenstein.

Pippin runs at the Cadillac Palace until August 9. For tickets, visit broadwayinchicago.com.

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