Godspell
Godspell
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by John-Micheal Tebelak
Directed by Rick Hodder
Musical Direction by Thomas J. Cuffari
Choreography by Craig David Rosen
Synopsis:
Godspell begins with Jesus declaring himself as God and King in whom there is no beginning and no end. The company takes on the roles of different philosophers who debate the existence of the God.
John the Baptist enters and brings order as he sings "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord". John the Baptist baptizes the company who quickly exit. When Jesus wishes to be baptized, John kneels and wishes to be baptized by him instead. Jesus brings John back to his feet and tells him that he is here to save mankind in the song, "Save The People".
Jesus preaches the law of offering gifts at the altar before God as the company acts making offerings. Then, as they all clap in rhythm, they all act out the story of a Master who had a servant who owed him debt. The servant asked for the Master's pity, and the Master remitted the debt. However, the servant had a fellow servant who owed him a debt. When the servant did not show the same pity that the Master had shown, the Master condemns the servant to prison until the debt is paid. Jesus tells the company that the moral of the story is that one must forgive as God forgives.
The company performs the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus is a poor man who goes to heaven, and the rich man goes to hell. The rich man begs God to let Lazarus rise from the dead in order to warn his rich brothers of their eventual fate. One of the company members sings "Learn Your Lesson Well" in which he warns of eternal doom if one does not learn the laws of God.
Jesus tells the company that no one can be devoted to two masters, and that no man can serve God and money. One of the company members tells a story of a man, who spends his life accumulating things and then dies before he can enjoy it. She then sings "Oh Bless the Lord, My Soul" in which she praises a patient and wise God. Jesus bids the company to put away thoughts of material things and anxieties about tomorrow.
The company recites the beatitudes and Jesus answers them in a call-and-response manner. However, Judas recites the final beatitude about persecution and directs it at Jesus. The company freezes with fear about what events to come. However, Jesus quickly changes the subject and sings "All for the Best" through which he assures everyone that even if life is bad, their reward will be in heaven.
The company pretends to be soldiers in the military, and Jesus pretends to be their drill sergeant. The company then acts out the story of the prodigal son. They sing "Light of the World", a song which encourages everyone to be shining beacons in the world. Jesus announces that they are taking a ten minute break and thanks the audience for coming.
ACT TWO
While one of the company members sings a reprise of "Learn Your Lessons Well", the company sets up the stage for Act II. When the song is over, another company comes up through the audience and sings "Turn Back O Man" in which she encourages mankind to give up its foolish ways and turn to God. Jesus joins her in the singing of the song, and they dance.
Company members become Pharisees who question Jesus's authority. Jesus questions their questions with a stories and tells them that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart and to love thy neighbor as theyself. At the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Jesus predicts that he will not be seen again until a future time. He remembers the time of Noah when the flood swept over the land and drowned mankind. He predicts that when he comes again, only one man and one woman will be taken with him. The rest will be left wailing outside the kingdom of God.
One of the women company members is thrown down onto the stage and called an adulteress. Jesus tells the company that the one who is faultless can throw the first stone at her. When no one condemns her, Jesus tells her that he will not condemn her but that she must not sin again. The woman sings "By My Side" in which she asks Jesus to travel with her.
As Judas betrays Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, Jesus tells of a time when he will sit in glory and divide men into two groups like a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. His righteous sheep will enter heaven while the cursed goats will face eternal fire. The goats beg for mercy and sing "We Beseech Thee". When the song is over, the company sings a reprise of "Day By Day" as they remove their clown make-up. Jesus announces that one of the company will betray him and tells Judas to do what he has to do quickly. Judas runs off. Then, in a recreation of the last supper, Jesus gives the company bread and wine and announces that it is his body and blood. They will all eat and drink together again in the kingdom of God. Jesus bids farewell to his followers and prays in the garden. In a moment of uncertainty, he begs for the burden to be lifted from him and is tempted by the devil, but he orders the devil to be gone.
Judas returns and embraces Jesus who is crucified on the fence upstage while the company climbs the fence and wails. In the "Finale", Jesus sings as he dies. Then there is no movement. The company removes Jesus from the fence and carry it off as they sing "Long Live God" in harmony with "Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord".
Background:
The show originated in 1970 as Tebelak's master's thesis project, under the direction of Lawrence Cars, at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most of the score's lyrics were from the Episcopal Hymnal, set to music by the cast members. Several of those cast members were from the CMU music department. Tebelak then directed the show, with much of the student cast, for a two-week, ten-performance run at New York City's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (aka Cafe la Mama), opening February 24, 1971. It was brought to the attention of producers Edgar Lansbury (brother of Angela Lansbury) and Joseph Beruh by Carnegie alumnus Charles Haid (associate producer), who wanted to open it off-Broadway. The producers hired Stephen Schwartz, another alumnus of Carnegie Mellon's theater department, to write a new song score. Schwartz's songs included a variety of musical styles, from pop to folk rock, gospel, and vaudeville. One song, "By My Side", was kept from the original score. As with the original score, most of the non-Schwartz lyrics were from the Episcopal Hymnal.
Godspell moved from the Cherry Lane Theatre to the larger Promenade Theatre on August 10, 1971, where it became one of the longest-running off-Broadway musicals, before moving to Broadway in June 1976, where it ended its run in September 1977 after an additional 527 performances, for a total of more than 2,600.
As the cast of actors makes it way through "Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord," "Save The People," "Learn Your Lessons Well," "Bless The Lord,""All For The Best," "All Good Gifts," "Turn Back, O Man" and "By My Side," we, as audience members get to see the parables of Jesus Christ come humanly and hearteningly to life. The show also touchingly presents the story of Jesus' last moments beginning with the Last Supper. The main story of Godspell is portrayed in the show's subtext--in the way the players interact with their leader, coming together to create a loving community.
Godspell has remained such an important part of the modern musical theater vocabulary because of its versatility. The original production made the company a troupe of clowns who follow Jesus in an abandoned playground; subsequent productions have been set in museums, classrooms, on top of buildings, an apocalyptic world or in an abandoned theater. Since the setting is never explicitly stated in the text, directors love using this show as a chance to show off their creative abilities. This show can occur, literally, anywhere. The setting can be advanced enough for the biggest Broadway producers, and small enough for any high school production. In one such production, the setting was simply three construction scaffolds. In another, it was done with a wall, some steps, and a treasure chest. The setting has even been in a McDonald's restaurant. Godspell is also a very low-budget musical. A church production in Grand Rapids, MI had a total cost of less than $500 for running two shows-the only thing that was purchased was the music and libretto.
Godspell was revived off-Broadway at the York Theatre from August 2, 2000 to October 7, 2000. The production was directed by Shawn Rozsa, musically directed by Dan Schachner, and choreographed by Ovi Vargas. Cast members were Barrett Foa as Jesus, Will Erat as John the Baptist/Judas, Shoshana Bean, (who went on to star in another Stephen Schwatrz hit, Wicked) Tim Cain, Catherine Carpenter, Lucia Giannetta, Capathia Jenkins, Chad Kimball, Leslie Kritzer, and Eliseo Roman.
The 2000 national tour mounted by Stephen Schwartz's son Scott Schwartz set the action in a technologically created universe. In addition to an updated score, several of the philosophers during Tower of Babel were re-characterized. Cast members were Joseph J. Carney as Jesus, Michael Yuen as John the Baptist/Judas, Todd Buonopane, Jessica Carter, Sharon Francis, Esteban Giron, Sarah Hubbard, Natalie Joy Johnson, Lauren Lebowitz, and Sal Sabella.
In September 2007, Paul Kerryson directed an all new cast for a Revival UK Tour of Godspell that opened at the Peterborough Key Theatre, and is set to run throughout early 2008. The Show currently stars Tom Bradley as Jesus and Ryan Molloy as John The Baptist/Judas. The cast also includes Christopher Bartlett, Yildiz Hussein, Paul Ayres, and Tiffany Graves to name but a few. In May 2008, The Stephen Sondheim Center had a short revival of the show. It was directed my Randal K. West. It featured all new arrangements by musical director Justin Hill and starred Ryan Gaffney as Jesus, Mason Davis as Judas. The show also featured Stephen Mark Crisp singing "All Good Gifts" &"Beautiful City"
Awards and Nominations:
- 1977 Tony Award® Best Original Score Music by Stephen Schwartz; New lyrics by Stephen Schwartz [nominee]
- 1971 Drama Desk Award Most Promising Composer Music by Stephen Schwartz [winner]
- 1971 Drama Desk Award Most Promising Lyricist New lyrics by Stephen Schwartz [winner]
- 1971 Drama Desk Award Most Promising Costume Design Costume Design by Susan Tsu [winner]
- 1971 Drama Desk Award Most Promising Director Directed by John-Michael Tebelak [winner]
