San Diego Junior Theatre Presents

Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking
Playguide

This Playguide is prepared for teachers, students, parents and subscribers attending San Diego Junior Theatre's productions. It is our desire to make the artisitic experience of attending live theatre as enriching as possible, for all of San Diego's families.

San Diego Junior Theatre presents Pippi Longstocking at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park from February 25 through March 12, 2000.

Show times are Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm.

School shows are on March 1 and March 7, 2000, at 9:30am and 12pm.

Please call the box office at (619) 239-8355 for ticket purchases and availability.
 

About the Author

Astrid Lindgren, creator of the Pippi Longstocking series, was born in Sweden in 1907. It was at age 38, with a young daughter named Karin very ill with pneumonia, that Astrid came up with the idea for the character of Pippi. Karin asked her mother to tell her a story about a girl named Pippi Longstocking. This funny name confused Astrid, but she made up a story to tell her daughter. Several years later Astrid began to write the story down as a birthday present for her daughter. She tried to get the book published, but it was difficult since Pippi was so different from the children's book heroines of the time. Astrid then won a contest where the prize was the publishing of the book Pippi Longstocking.

SewdenThe first book came out in 1945 and was immediately popular in Sweden. The book didn't make it to the United States until 1950. It took longer to gain popularity in the United States, but at over 6 million Pippi books sold it certainly did catch on. To date, the Pippi books have been translated into 50 languages, and have inspired tv shows and several movies.

Astrid Lindgren has written more than one hundred books, selling more than 40 million copies worldwide. Today, at the age of 93, she resides in Stockholm.

 

The Artistic Staff

The director and choreographer of Pippi Longstocking is JT's own Associate Artistic Director, Mike Anthony. Since coming to JT in August of 1998, Mike has directed Henry and Ramona, and has been the music director for Annie Warbucks, Crazy for You and The Wizard of Oz. The music director for Pippi is Joseph Greinenberger, who works extensively for the San Diego Opera and San Diego Comic Opera. In addition to Mike and Joseph, the cast has worked with a special coach who helped them learn the pronunciation of the Swedish words in the script and songs.
 

Getting Ready to See the Play!

You can prepare yourself for the experience of seeing the play by first reading Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lingren. There are several movies available in your local video store, or here on our website.*

Pippi Longstocking Video Pippi Longstocking (1997)

Starring Melissa Altro, Catherine O'Hara.

Directed by Clive Smith.

VHS. Rated: G

New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking Video The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (1988)

Starring Tami Erin.

Directed by Ken Annakin.

VHS. Rated: G

You Too Can Dress Like Pippi Longstocking!

Do you want to sport that special look that Pippi herself is known for? You can transform yourself into Pippi for Halloween, parties or just for fun by following this recipe:

  • Shoes: They need to be boots, and they need to be two sizes too big. It helps if they are a little beat up looking.

  • Stockings: Long, of course, and one leg should be brown and the other black.

  • Dress: A homemade blue dress with two patches on the the lower part of the dress. Sleeveless is good so that you can wear red over it.

  • Hair: If you don't already have the Pippi orange-red hair, you can either wear a wig or wash in a temporary rinse. You need two braids, and you can make the braids stick out to the sides with flexible or copper wire.

  • Freckles: Pippi's got 'em, so you need 'em! If you haven't got them naturally, then use a brown eyeliner pencil and make small dots on your nose and cheeks.
     

Who is Pippi?

Pippi Longstocking is a young pirate's daughter who turns up in a small Swedish village. Her father is lost in a storm on the Caribbean Sea, and Pippi is on her own with just her monkey, Mr. Nilsson, and her horse. She takes up residence in a house named Villa Villekula and befriends the children next door, Tommy and Annika.
 

Give yourself a Pippi name

Pippi's full name is (take a deep breath) Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Eprhraim's Daughter Longstocking.

That's a lot of name for such a small girl! Now try to give yourself a Pippi name.

__________________
(first name)
__________________
(funny made up word)
__________________
(household object)
____________________
(try a funny plant name)
__________________
(your father's name)
__________________
(daughter or son)
__________________
(a funny last name)

 

Meet the Characters

Along her travels, the ever cheerful Pippi meets up with a host of characters, some nice and some not so nice.

    Mr. Nilsson Pippi's monkey!

    Mr. Horse Pippi's horse who lives in the kitchen.

    Tommy and Annika Pippi's young neighbors who become her friends.

    Mrs. Prysselius The chairperson of the Child Welfare Board.

    Klang and Larsson Two "Keystone Cop" style policemen.

    Thunder and Bloom Two pickpockets.

    Captain Longstocking Pippi's father.

After you see the play, underline the names of the characters that are kind and helpful to Pippi, and circle the names of the characters who are trying to do harm to Pippi.

From the Bookshelf

The following books by Astrid Lindgren are published by Viking Press,and available at your local library, bookstore, or here on our website.*

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren Pippi Longstocking

School and Library Binding,
158 pp.

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Pippi Goes On Board by Astrid Lindgren Pippi Goes
On Board

Hardcover, 144 pp.

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Pippi Goes On Board by Astrid Lindgren Pippi in the
South Seas

Paperback, 158 pp.

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Pippi Longstocking's After-Christmas Party by Astrid Lindgren Pippi Longstocking's After-Christmas Party

Picture Puffins edition.

Paperback, 32 pp.

Reading level: Ages 4-8

The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking

Includes Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Goes On Board, and Pippi in the South Seas.

Hardcover, 304 pp.

Reading level: Ages 9-12

STORYBOOK SERIES (for children ages 4-8)

Pippi Goes to School by Astrid Lindgren Pippi Goes
to School

A Pippi Longstocking Storybook.

School and Library Binding, 32 pp.

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Pippi Goes to the Circus by Astrid Lindgren Pippi Goes
to the Circus

A Pippi Longstocking Storybook.

School and Library Binding, 3

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Pippi's Extraordinary ordinary Day by Astrid Lindgren Pippi's Extraordinary Ordinary Day

A Pippi Longstocking Storybook.

School and Library Binding, 32 pp.

Reading level: Ages 4-8

The Carnival

In the play, Pippi attends a carnival. Since she is a pirate's daughter, she has lots of gold pieces and trunks full of treasures. When she attends an event she does not have to count her pennies. Make a list of all the things that Pippi can spend money on at a carnival in column one. Then in column two, write down what you think that item would cost. Total them up and see how much Pippi spent at the carnival!

1. Spend money on? 2. Cost of item?
cotton candy $2.00
   
   
   
   
   
Total: ________________

Activities to Try

  • Put yourself in Pippi's boots. She is an adventurous girl, and strong enough to lift her horse! Create a Pippi adventure and tell the story to one of your friends. Maybe you decided to take Tommy and Annika along on the journey, too.

  • Now, pretend that you are Tommy or Annika. Write a letter to your new friend and neighbor, Pippi Longstocking. Tell her how you feel about her moving in next door. Maybe talk about an adventure with her that you particularly liked.

  • Pretend you are the teacher after Pippi's first day of school. As the teacher, write a letter to Pippi's father and tell him how the day went.

One-Word Story

You too can make up a story like Astrid Lindgren made up Pippi Longstocking. To get you started, you'll need a group of people (like your family, your classmates, or a scout troupe). Sit in a circle and decide who will start the story. Each player in the circle contributes one word to the story. The story should make sense, and should have a beginning, a middle and an ending. If you like, you can decide on a topic before you begin (for instance: this story will be about space aliens).

Another way to play this game is to sit in a circle and have each storyteller tell a portion of the story. They continue as long as they wish, then signal the next player by saying "and then..."


* Proceeds from sales through this website benefit the San Diego Junior Theatre Auxilary.

Don't forget!

All roles in Pippi Longstocking are played by San Diego Junior Theatre students ages 8-18. Junior Theatre students (ages 3-18) take classes in all areas of performing arts from highly-qualified teaching artists. Click here for more information about our classes or performing opportunities, or call (619) 239-1311.

Educators!

Did you know that San Diego Junior Theatre offers many programs designed specifically for you? We have Artist-in-Residence programs for Kindergarten through 8th-grade classrooms, as well as Theatre-in-the-Park workshops that link directly to our productions. Call our office at (619) 239-1311 to request a brochure, or ask for ext. 29 for booking information.

Pippi LongstockingFor tickets, call (619) 239-8355!

Information: 619-239-1311. Box Office: 619-239-8355.

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