Godspell closed june 24, 2012 after a ninemonth run at the circle on the square. At the time american religion was in a profound state of flux. Hal leonard digital sheet music at sheet music plus. One pale thin ray reaching for the day we can build a beautiful. Many of the cast members went to play in the offoff broadway version the following february, and then to cherry lane where stephen schwartz music was added and it became a smash hit musical. As compared to that fulllength version, this one is about 12. How did the broadway revival of godspell compare to the. Im a bit nostalgic so i always tend to lean towards the original or authentic of just about anything. They form a roving acting troupe that enacts the parables through song and dance, comedy, and mime. A summary outline of godspell the musical by acts music by stephen schwartz, book by johnmichael tebelak. Godspell is an engaging, innovative show that draws from various theatrical traditions, including clowning, pantomime, charades, acrobatics and vaudeville.
Jesus is politely, wholesomely but unquestionably sexy in the thoroughly rethought revival of godspell playing on broadway in the ideal space of circle in the square. Originally conceived for a cast of ten, the broadway junior version of godspell is designed to allow you to expand your cast to include as many student performers as your stage can accommodate. Godspell character descriptions chrysalis youth theatre. The disciples were both men and women and they dressed. All good gifts the story behind the song when johnmichael tebelak was first piecing together the college production of godspell, he remembered a harvest song in the episcopal hymnal that is sometimes performed at thanksgiving services with other. Jan 03, 2016 original movie cast production, in order per the soundtrack. Matthew, godspell uses the parables and passion story of jesus for an inventively theatrical and interactive show about the formation of a community. The original godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from threetime grammy and academy awardwinner, stephen schwartz, and it took the world by storm. Stephen schwartz godspell new broadway cast recording. Tranposable music notes for pianovocalguitar sheet music by stephen schwartz stephen schwartz. It was a hippie version of the bible, complete with a clown concept, and it was jampacked with great, hummable songs. The 2011 revival played on broadway from october, 2011, through june 24, 2012. In describing his process, schwartz clearly values both the old musical theatre tropes and the newest sounds from folk rockers. Godspell gets updated a musical is supposed to send us out humming the tunes, but audiences at the new broadway revival of godspell seem to.
I found the performance disappointing because, not being a resident of the venues area, and the fact that the information was not offered in any of the publicity that i saw concerning the production, i had no idea that the play was being presented by an amateur production company comprised of actors who were all high school. All good gifts the story behind the song when johnmichael tebelak was first piecing together the college production of godspell, he remembered a harvest song in the episcopal hymnal that is sometimes performed at thanksgiving services with other music. The image of the face on the album cover was designed by david byrd. My 7yearold wants to go again the next day to watch it. Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from threetime grammy and academy award winner, stephen schwartz wicked, pippin, children of eden. While many productions have been done with a different gender balance or with more or less people, the script reflects the original cast breakdown. Abdo new river room at the broward center ft lauderdale.
In addition to the information provided here, the page contains affiliate. Godspell at ck productions in islip new york director. Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from threetime grammy and academy award winner, stephen schwartz wicked, pippin, children of eden, and it took the world by storm. A group of people sings fragments of the philosophical sayings, merging in dissonant chorus. These are then interspersed with a variety of modern music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns, with the passion of christ.
Original off broadway version 1971 prepare ye for the timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love based on the gospel according to st. In this timeless tale of friendship, loyalty, and love, a small group of disciples helps jesus tell a variety of parables through song, dance, and a heaping dose of humor. Godspell 1971 offbroadway cast is the original cast recording of the cherry lane theatre production of godspell. Godspell 1972 original london cast stephen schwartz. The original godspell had a great cast and had the awe and wow factor of no one ever having seen anything like it before. The show opened off broadway on may 17, 1971, and has since been produced by multiple touring companies and in many revivals. Godspell, which has long been a standard show put on in colleges and high schools, captures the best of the old and embraces the new. In 1972, its original producers, edgar lansbury, stuart duncan and joseph beruh, decided to bring the stephen schwartzjonmichael tebelak musical to the screen themselves, with a view toward maintaining as densely as possible the artistic integrity of their original stage version. Godspell is a musical composed by stephen schwartz with the book by johnmichael tebelak. Godspell is a musical by stephen schwartz and a book by johnmichael tebelak. At intermission, some cast members stay on stage for the.
Godspell synopsis broadway musical the musical starts from the voice of god, whom we dont see. Godspell is a deceptively difficult show to direct. Includes all the godspell songs plus two bonus tracks. After five years and 2,124 performances, it finally transferred to broadway s broadhurst theater on june 22, 1976, remaining on broadway for another 527 performances. In the 1960s when johnmichael tebelak and his future godspell cast members were studying at carnegie mellon university, their drama classes were all held in the fine arts building. The original production of godspell was performed by a cast of five men and five women. Out of the ruins and rubble out of the smoke out of our night of struggle can we see a ray of hope.
For the new production opening the 20062007 paper mill playhouse season, director daniel goldstein has stripped away the detritus of flower children in clown makeup. The sad, suffering return of godspell national catholic reporter. The version of beautiful city on this album includes the more current. Godspell original motion picture soundtrack original. Godspell was conceived and directed by john michael tebelak the fledgling godspell. But godspell, which opens monday in its first broadway revival, was serious business in 1971. Godspell, the second musical of the early 70s to be based on the life of jesus christ following jesus christ superstar, which hit the record racks, but not the stage first, was something of a sleeper, opening offoff broadway in may 1971, with an original cast album that belatedly became a big success in 1972 after day by day was released as a single and hit the top ten. Godspell revival version directed by tommy ranieri youtube. Boasting a score with chart topping songs, godspell jr. When godspell first opened on broadway in 1971, it was a new way of looking at jesus and his disciples. The arrangement, while cool, instantly reminded me of a version that could have been performed by the 5th dimension. Print and download beautiful city 2011 broadway revival cast album version sheet music. Songs from godspell, released on jay records curtain call subsidiary, is an abridged version of a studio cast recording of the musical godspell that was recorded in england in 1993 and originally issued on thats entertainment records ter in 1995, with a reissue on jay in 1997. This is primarily because much of the dramatic action, and virtually the entire action of the first act, is subtextual.
In retrospect, the original cast album is a thinly produced, imperfectly performed version of the score, but its rough edges are smoothed by the infectious enthusiasm of the cast. Godspell revival, musical, broadway opened in new york city nov 7, 2011 and played through jun 24, 2012. Broadway premiere theatre broadhurst theatre, plymouth theatre, ambassador theatre opening night jun 22, 1976 total performances 527 original cast lamar alford, laurie faso, lois foraker, robin lamont, elizabeth lathram, bobby lee, tom rolfing, don scardino, marley sims, valerie williams. Nov 06, 2011 but godspell, which opens monday in its first broadway revival, was serious business in 1971. Led by the international hit, day by day, godspell features a parade of beloved songs, including prepare ye the way of the lord, learn your lessons well, all for the best, all good gifts, turn back. Godspell 1973 a modernday version of the gospels, opening with john the baptist calling a disparate group of young new yorkers from their workaday lives to follow and learn from jesus. Godspell is a musical composed by stephen schwartz with the book by john michael tebelak. Matthew, is largely a story theatrelike retelling of christian biblical parables punctuated and amplified by a simple, melodic score by stephen schwartz.
When you feel sad, or under a curse your life is bad, your prospects are worse your wife is sighing, crying and your olive tree is dying temples are graying, and. Godspell is showing its age, at least as represented by director daniel goldsteins production at new yorks circle in the square theatre. Godspell original, musical, broadway opened in new york city jun 22, 1976 and played through sep 4, 1977. This off broadway godspell cast cd includes more of the script passages than other albums e. On this list of lyric sources, youll see which song lyrics were adapted or drawn from hymns, and which were original to schwartz. An abbreviated oneact version of the musical has been produced under the title godspell junior. Using improvisation and contemporary themes to illustrate the parables, godspell brings these lessons to life through the grand tradition of musical theatre. The godspell revival on broadway embraces the 21st century in this exciting new production of one of the longestrunning and most beloved off broadway musicals of all time. Godspell history first production at carnegie mellon university. The 2011 revival played on broadway from october, 2011, through june 24, 2012 the musical is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the gospel of matthew. Bless the lord youtube mississippi childrens choir his eye is on the sparrow duration. Young cast lifts spirits with godspell chicago tribune. In the film and original version of godspell, the combination of clown makeup blessedly gone, the hippie aura and an emasculated jesus all emphasized the cloying nature of the material. This first broadway revival of the beloved 1971 rock musical might be.
Crowdsourced producers for godspell on broadway the. It opened off broadway on may 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival which played on broadway from october, 2011, to june 24, 2012. Buy the cast album cd godspell new broadway cast album cd. Led by the international hit, day by day, godspell features a parade of beloved songs, including prepare ye the way of the lord, learn your lessons. Godspell broadway revival archives godspell the musical. Godspell overview the best broadway source for godspell tickets and godspell information, photos and videos. Johnmichael tebelak the structure of the musical is that of a series of parables, based on the gospel. Learn your lessons well youtube all for the best duration. Stephen schwartzs credit for godspell is music and new lyrics. Godspell cast list on, the most comprehensive source for broadway shows, broadway tickets and broadway information. Beautiful city 2011 broadway revival cast album version by. Godspell new broadway cast album and michael hollands. To illustrate this, he tells the story of the widow and the judge. Try performing godspell and reading the script yourself, then you can judge it.
One reason for godspell s popularity is that each group is allowed to modernize some of the references to pop culture. So broadway lovers and crunch goers, go save the people and prepare ye for the way of godspell an unbelievable musical story of jesus and his fellow followers. In addition to day by day, the score features other songs with music and new lyrics by stephen schwartz and by my side with music by peggy gordon and lyrics by jay hamburger. While i prefer the old versions, i at least anticipated that this one song would be respected to keep asis. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Godspell the 40th anniversary production and firstever broadway revival of stephen schwartzs rock musical godspell will release its cast recording album in january 2012. Godspell cast of 2030, featuring performers 8 to 14, before shows on.
I cant say the new orchestrations feel like much of an improvement, but. This version of godspell combines old, participatory 1960sstyle. Godspell, the musical version of several biblical parables with music by stephen schwartz and book by johnmichael tebelak, was a spectacle perfectly suited for its times. The hit broadway musical godspell was a contemporary adaptation of episodes from the gospel according to st. Enjoy all the good gifts of one of the most enduring shows of all time as it comes to broadway in a brand new, intimately staged, oneofakind production.
It is structured as a series of parables based on the gospel of matthew, with lyrics borrowed from traditional hymns. But heres godspell back on broadway, in its first broadway revival since it. Oh god, youre bleeding oh god, im dying oh god, youre dying. Another, playing a judge, references justin bieber who, for the record. With victor garber, lynne thigpen, katie hanley, david haskell. Feeling as if you appear in one room with a heap the energetic and carefree children.
The shows new musical moments and orchestrations have been captured on an album. Having originated at carnegie mellon university, it debuted in 1971 off broadway in new york city at the. An adaption of the musical, in a modernday songanddance recreation of the gospel of st. Prepare ye for godspell, the beloved classic from stephen schwartz, the grammy and academy awardwinning composer of wicked and pippin. Godspell isnt godspell without the flagship day by day. Broadway revival as sung by hunter parrish and the company of godspell. Godspell 1971 off broadway cast is the original cast recording of the cherry lane theatre production of godspell. Stephen schwartz beautiful city lyrics genius lyrics. Godspell new broadway cast recording, godspell soundtrack. All for the best youtube godspell its all for the best duration. Stephen schwartz finale godspell lyrics genius lyrics.
The legendary toronto production of godspell that had half. Godspell new broadway cast or the cast album here godspell new broadway cast album cd. He tells them the parable of the widow and the judge, demonstrating that god is a just jurist who will. Godspell original offoffbroadway cast original offoff. Listen free to stephen schwartz godspell 1972 original london cast prepare ye the way of the lord, save the people and more.
1175 1234 779 250 176 108 1534 609 371 130 626 796 976 697 844 1364 671 610 1195 735 907 1577 939 1556 448 166 842 1558 794 636 773 1249 198 1552 81 1468 958 1017 1215 954 661 436 891 746 464 284 1185 39