As their annual musical, the Starr’s Mill drama department has chosen to perform “Pippin” in its true form.

Essentially the musical of Pippin is a frame story. The story centers around players in a circus and their leading player. Each actor plays a character, or even multiple characters, in the play of “Pippin.” The only players who stay in character are the leading player, and the actor who plays Pippin.

Overtime, the actor playing Pippin falls in love with his co-star who is playing Pippin’s love interest, Catherine. He begins to deviate from the leading player’s plan for a perfect show. The original plot of “Pippin” is that Pippin must discover his true meaning in life, ending the show in a big act of bravery by jumping into a pot of fire. Pippin survives and, through courage and bravery, learns his true purpose in life.

The leading player begins to resent the actor playing Pippin and ultimately plans for his death. The actor slowly realizes that acting is not his true purpose in life and, closely mirroring the actual plot of “Pippin,” eventually feels fulfilled because he has found true love with the woman who plays Catherine.

Since the story follows players in a circus, it is only fitting that the drama department has included aerial aerobics on silk ribbons and other acrobatic circus acts.

Performances will take place on February 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. and February 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults and can be purchased on the Starr’s Mill GoFan page.