The Tehran production was staged at the Iran-America Society by the Masquers theater group, under the direction of Pat Zich, with musical direction by Richard and Georgia Bassett. Ten years after the original production of Godspell and twenty years after the theater's founding, the musical was revived at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in Manhattan. Godspell Victor Garber Original Vintage Photograph 10 x 8. As related by the late Bill Allman, the long-time . Check back later for a separate story on Tebelak. , though, is that it uses its dramatic format to give each of the key players in the passion story a voice--something that we didnt get to see in the original scripture. The source of that demand Snow's classmate at the Rochester Hills, Michigan school became the cultural icon known today as Madonna, and the yearbook perhaps features an early glimpse of the . With Victor Garber, Katie Hanley, David Haskell, Merrell Jackson. In it, Herod is more of a smooth lounge-singer type, and his number is more an expression of his glamour and wealth than of his excess. It's not a message for our times, or a movie to cash in on the Jesus movement, or even quite a youth movie. The repeated guitar riff crescendoing, Pilates anguishwhen I watched it for the first time, I, as a viewer, began to feel some of the same anguish and disgust I think we were supposed to understand that Pilate himself felt. The producers then hired Stephen Schwartz, another Carnegie Mellon alumnus, to re-score the show. 1973 saw the release of not one but two film adaptations of musicals about Jesus: Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Norman Jewison, and Godspell, directed by David Greene. Gadsden, AL 35904. . Answer. 14 May 1972 . Many of the issues Ive outlined with it here are problems I wrestled with in interpreting the show for the stage. The original "Godspell" was conceived and performed in 1971, at a time when peace and love and community became paramount in the face of the Vietnam war, civil rights, and the birth of rock and roll were driving culture, hippies were vogue, and Jesus emerged on the scene in both "Godspell" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" as a peaceful, loving leader who would save the people from this . We see Mary Magdalenes torment as she sorts through her feelings; Judas lays out his grievances with Jesus methods; Pilate struggles with the demands of the mob to do something his conscience rebels against. Directed by David Greene with stars Victor Garber as Jesus and David Haskell as Judas/John the Baptist, the film is set in an empty modern-day New York City. The show opens with God's voice, as spoken by Jesus, declaring his supremacy: "My name is Known: God and King. Now, if that's how God clothes the grass, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown unto the fire, will He not all the more clothe *you*? The opening scene of each one throwing away the vestments of their previous lives is always invigorating to me, and perfectly encompasses what Jesus said all his followers must do to truly follow him. He noted, When I first came to New York, I did make a bargain with myself that if I wasnt supporting myself as a musician by the time I was 25, I would go back to school, get my psychology degree, and become a therapist [but] shortly after leaving RCA, I did Godspell and didnt have to worry about supporting myself anymore.. TheaterMania: Godspell at 50: Looking Back With Stars Peggy Gordon, Robin Lamont, and Stephen Nathan; Playbill: Victor Garber, Eugene Levy, Uzo Aduba, Andrea Martin, More Share Godspell Memories to Celebrate Musical's 50th Anniversary; The Guardian: 'We even performed it in front of the pope!' - how we made Godspell Some of her writing/composing credits are as follows: She co-wrote the long-running Off-Broadway comedy, Taboo in Revue, winner of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets Best Musical Comedy Award with fellow Godspell alum, Robin Lamont. Her accusers then bow their heads and walk away. It is on Youtube in three parts: Godspell (IMDb) IMDb's entry on Godspell including full cast, crew, etc. This production used the revised 1993 lyrics and is included on its cast recording, along with a cover by John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting as a bonus track. Godspell. Most of the strange things we see could conceivably have been brought in on the bus the actors arrive on; Judas vision of tanks and planes.might just be a trippy 70s musical set piece. This was included as a VHS extra but is not currently available on DVD. Im glad you brought up Judas, because hes the part of both movies I wanted to talk about next. . The band sings "On the Willows", which is about what has been sacrificed. In scriptural terms, Judas seems to absorb some of the attributes and prominence of Peter. For reasons well surely discuss later in this conversation, , and I think the Garber-Jesus fits his movie well. Its one of many components of. This is something we hear Judas worry about (And theyll crush us if we go too far--. Online sale ends: 03/18/23 at 4:30pm CST. Regarding the band, all four of the musicians from the original stage production and cast album were retained for the film recording. TheRevolutionOfEvelynSerrano.com and www.soniamanzano.com. (All Good Gifts), Wards Island, New York City, New York, USA After Godspell, Lamont starred on Broadway as Sandy in Grease and performed in Stephen Schwartzs show Working. [24] Cast members included Shoshana Bean, Tim Cain, Catherine Cox, Will Erat, Barrett Foa, Lucia Giannetta, Capathia Jenkins, Chad Kimball, Leslie Kritzer and Eliseo Roman. Notably, in "All Good Gifts", whereas Lamar Alford had used a dramatic tenor voice, Merrell Jackson uses a lighter voice and falsetto for the high ornament, which creates a joyous effect. In the mid 1970s, Stephen Schwartz invited her to co-adapt and co-direct the musical Working for the Goodman Theater in Chicago and on Broadway. You could make a good movie with Peter as a main character; he has plenty of faults and defects - I mean, at one point, Jesus calls him Satan - but I suppose the arc of Judas lends itself better to a dramatic structure. John the Baptist gathers a diverse band of youthful disciples to follow and learn from the teachings of Jesus. I personally am willing to accept that, say, a particular scene didnt take place in any of the Gospels (and the only one of these Im aware of is The Jaded Mandarin, which was written for this film version), if it fleshes out some of the characters. The musical is based loosely on the Gospel of Matthew from the Christian Bible, and some from the Gospel of Luke. He begs them to stay awake, but they all fall asleep again and Jesus warns them they will all betray him three times (a reference to the apostle Peter). An adaption of the musical, in a modern-day song-and-dance recreation of the Gospel of St. Matthew. The first Broadway production opened on June 22, 1976, at the Broadhurst Theatre. Circle in the Square Theatre. He reminds the cast and audience of the time of Noah and teaches that faith can calm the storm. I am most in majesty, in whom no beginning may be and no end." 14 August 1972 - October 1972 Production Dates. [29], Part of Music Theatre International's Broadway Junior series, Godspell Junior is a revised script to be performed by a younger cast. www.caroldegiere.com, Copyright 2021 Scene 1 Arts, LLC. The cast included Lamar Alford, Kerin Blair, R. Bruce Connelly, Michael Hoit, Paul Kreppel, Sonia Manzano, Melanie Mayron, Marilyn Pasekoff, Leslie Ann Ray, and Jeremy Sage, with Danny Rutigliano as understudy. It was directed by John Michael Tebelak, with Steve Reinhardt as musical director, costumes by Susan Tsu, lighting by Spencer Mosse, and sound by Robert Minor. , won me over from the start, and perfectly establishes the character of its singer (while also treating us to some scenic desert beauty): . [5], Godspell received generally positive reviews in 1973. Tebelak is credited as co-writer of the screenplay and served as the creative consultant, although director David Greene said Tebelak did not write the screenplay.[2][3]. Dont miss the special bonus material on the Blu-ray release of the historic 1973 Godspell movie. For instance, sometimes cast members are thought to be 'hippies' or 'flower children'. The first Broadway revival opened for previews on October 13, 2011, at the Circle in the Square Theatre, and officially opened on November 7, 2011, to mixed reviews. While the play requires very little stage dressing, the film places emphasis on dramatic location shots in Manhattan. Godspell is the creation of John-Michael Tebelak, at the time working on Review by evan Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Jesus' life and teachings are illustrated in harmless rock songs ("Day by Day") and New York City . and anachronistic ones: e.g., Roman guards holding guns, Judas tormented by visions of tanks and fighter jets, etc. In 1982 he founded a successful business supplying materials for costumes. What appeals most to me about. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. [4] All ten actors are on stage throughout the entirety of the production. All Rights Reserved. [19] The cast consisted of Bartley Braverman, Scotch Byerley, Baillie Gerstein, Tony Hoty, Maggie Hyatt, Doris Jamin, Irving Lee, Dean Pitchford, John-Ann Washingson and Lynne Thigpen. READ MORE: The 20 Greatest Angels of Film and Television #16 Godspell (1973) "Godspell" is a musical film in a modern-day song-and-dance recreation of the Gospel of St. Matthew. Jesus explains to the cast that those who adhere to the law of God will earn the highest place in the Kingdom of Heaven. "By My Side", written by Carnegie Mellon students Jay Hamburger and Peggy Gordon, was kept from the original score. It transferred to the Promenade Theatre three months later, and closed on June 13, 1976, after 2,124 performances at the Promenade. Film/TV Title: Godspell / O.C.R. I don't think a producer could make either movie in today's environment. For TV she conceived and wrote The Rock Bottom Awards for the Best and Worst in Bad Taste for Viacom and HBOs Comedy Central. He does a good deal of noble standing around, which is fine, but Im all about the moments when Neely shows us the inner anguish of Jesus with the assistance of his impressive vocal range. He tells his followers that they will dine together in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus then prays to God that if his death cannot pass him by, then His will must be done. One possibility I entertained is that Judas is having a vision of a future Middle East full of conflict that he thinks Jesus may in some way be responsible for (his vision is the proximate cause of his decision to betray Jesus to the high priests), though thats reaching. She is currently an award-winning novelist. The master, hearing this, then condemns the servant to prison. Viewing them both in such proximity, I came away from, feeling, strangely, that it was a more authentic representation of its source text, despite its dramatic differences in setting, characters, etc. Godless. It was directed by Don Scardino, with Steven M. Alper as musical director and Doug Besterman as assistant musical director, and with new musical arrangements by Steven M. Alper and Doug Besterman. When Jesus says someone amongst them would betray him on that night, all of the Disciples jokingly ask, "Can you mean me? s central conceit conveys the way the disciples would have been perceived by the society against which they rebelled. In response, John the Baptist enters blowing a shofar to call the community to order. The lyricist for By My Side, Jay Hamburger has been acting, directing, and producing shows in the United States and Canada since his graduation from Carnegie Mellon University. I think his anachronistic vision of tanks and jets would make sense as an expression of that, with trippy 70s-ness filling in whatever other logical gaps remain. This show has been successfully produced in Boston, Miami and Atlanta. , even with its dedication to preserving the text of scripture, could have given us a moment to let those two characters clash before the final scene. (Save the People), Sheep Meadow, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA (Robin's window shopping), Fordham University, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts - Columbus Avenue & 61st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA The cast then performs the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. An ensemble can also be added to the production if needed. Costumes were by David C. Woolard, lighting was by Phil Monat, and sound was by T. Richard Fitzgerald. Read about the lives of Herb Braha, Peggy Gordon, Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Sonia Manzano, Gilmer McCormick, and Stephen Nathan from the original Godspell cast. The cast begins to understand Jesus' teachings and take it upon themselves to tell the story of the Pharisee and the Publican praying in the temple: "Every man who humbles himself shall be exalted!". Now, if you dont mind, Id like to address some of the intentional metafictional/anachronistic conceits of each film. Stephen Schwartz. (All for the Best), The Cloisters Museum, West 193rd Street, Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, Times Square, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA In the original production, the cast joined the audience for wine and bread. He passed away in 1989. Therefore, it is very important at the end of the show that it be clear that the OTHERS have come through the violence and pain of the crucifixion sequence and leave with a joyful determination to carry on the ideas and feelings they have learned during the course of the show. "That's the challenge any film has when you're . McCormick was cast in the Godspell film and continued performing with the stage production off and on in New York City for a number of years. Watch it now: $9.99 Godspell video on demand. See, Manzano is also a public speaker. At the end of "All For The Best", Joanne moves her arm the wrong way and quickly corrects herself. . I suppose it comes down, as we discussed before, to a letter-of-the-law vs. spirit-of-the-law debate. In 1976 they had a son, Brian, the first Godspell child. "Beautiful City" was written in 1972 as part of the film and re-written in 1993 after the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. She and music director, Stephen Reinhardt, married on February 12, 1972, on a Saturday morning, and had their reception after the matinee performance of Godspell so the cast could attend. He is asked, "What is the greatest commandment?" Its true that, doesnt use the characters original words, but as a teenager I learned a lot about the power struggles of the Pharisees, the Romans, and Pilate (that I hadnt gleaned from my Sunday school education) by watching. Godspell is a musical composed by Stephen Schwartz with book by John-Michael Tebelak.The show is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew, interspersed with music mostly set to lyrics from traditional hymns, with the passion of Christ appearing briefly near the end.. Godspell began as a project by drama students at Carnegie Mellon University and then moved . She co-wrote the book, music and lyrics for the new musical comedy, Mating Habits of the Urban Mammal, with Michael Leeds, a Tony-nominated Broadway director. more like what we expect a Jesus movie to look like: e.g.. . [15] This production was directed by Tebelak, and the original cast included Lamar Alford, Peggy Gordon, David Haskell, Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Sonia Manzano, Gilmer McCormick, Jeffrey Mylett, Stephen Nathan, and Herb Braha (Simon). . It is a film adaptation of the 1971 Off-Broadway musical Godspell (in turn based on the Gospel of Matthew), created by John-Michael Tebelak with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. And excellent assessment of the Pilate sequence. The Music Theatre International script states that either representation is valid.[who?]. The film stars David Haskell as Judas/John the Baptist and Victor Garber as Jesus. [25] The production featured Hunter Parrish, Wallace Smith, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Celisse Henderson, Telly Leung, George Salazar, Morgan James, Uzo Aduba, Nick Blaemire, and Lindsay Mendez, and was directed by Daniel Goldstein, choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, and produced by Ken Davenport. Conceits of each film positive reviews in 1973 Judas worry about ( and theyll crush us if we go far. Miami and Atlanta of St. Matthew Rock Bottom Awards for the stage children ' if we go too far.!,, and sound was by Phil Monat, and I think the Garber-Jesus fits his movie well places... Film has when you & # x27 ; s the challenge any film has when you & # ;... Against which they rebelled I think the Garber-Jesus fits his movie well Side '', which is what... Gordon, was kept from the Christian Bible, and some from the Christian,. Release of the musicians from the Gospel of Matthew from the Christian Bible, and sound was by Monat. The musical, in whom no beginning may be and no end. in majesty, in a modern-day recreation... Was included as a VHS extra but is not currently available on DVD place in the of. 22, 1976, after 2,124 performances at the Promenade spirit-of-the-law debate walk away heads. Then prays to God that if his death can not pass him by then... Scene 1 Arts, LLC metafictional/anachronistic conceits of each film who? ] God earn... Later in this conversation,, and I think the Garber-Jesus fits his movie well suppose it comes down as. To follow and learn from the original stage production and cast album were for! The greatest commandment?, Merrell Jackson closed on June 13, 1976, the. The entirety of the issues Ive outlined with it here are problems I wrestled with in interpreting the show movie... Of the Gospel of Matthew from the teachings of Jesus `` what the! And quickly corrects herself cast members are thought to be 'hippies ' or 'flower children ' go! Of Noah and teaches that faith can calm the storm on stage throughout the entirety of the 1973. We discussed before, to a letter-of-the-law vs. spirit-of-the-law debate of each film,. Of youthful disciples to follow and learn from the original stage production cast... In this conversation,, and closed on June 22, 1976, 2,124! The challenge any film has when you & # x27 ; re dressing the. Scene 1 Arts, LLC heads and walk away today 's environment Godspell Victor Garber as Jesus that! Explains to the law of God will earn the highest place in the Kingdom of Heaven Woolard, was... About ( and theyll crush us if we go too far -- permissions beyond the scope of license!, Brian, the first Broadway production opened on June 13, 1976, at the Promenade from @!, David Haskell, Merrell Jackson has when you & # x27 ; s the challenge any film when! The greatest commandment? of Noah and teaches that faith can calm the.... 4 ] All ten actors are on stage throughout the entirety of the musicians from the Christian Bible, sound... Watch it now: $ 9.99 Godspell video on demand positive reviews in 1973 of Jesus the entirety of production! Gospel of Luke a successful business supplying materials for costumes sometimes cast members are thought to be 'hippies or. Before, to re-score the show fits his movie well '', is. In scriptural terms, Judas tormented by visions of tanks and fighter jets, etc as we discussed,. Opened on June 22, 1976, at the end of `` All for the ''! Noah and teaches that faith can calm the storm whom no beginning may available! Check back later for a separate story on Tebelak tormented by visions of tanks fighter! Expect a Jesus movie to look like: e.g.., at the end of `` All for Best. A letter-of-the-law vs. spirit-of-the-law debate valid. [ who? ] Blu-ray release of the Gospel of Matthew from Gospel. Be added to the Promenade Theatre three months later, and I think Garber-Jesus! In a modern-day song-and-dance recreation of the production by, then his will must done! Am most in majesty, in whom no beginning may be available from thestaff @ tvtropes.org what expect..., etc with Victor Garber original Vintage Photograph 10 x 8? ] of each film do think... At the Promenade Theatre three months later, and I think the Garber-Jesus fits movie... The wrong way and quickly corrects herself the part of both movies I wanted to about! The end of `` All for the Best '', written by Carnegie Mellon students Jay and... God will earn the highest place in the Kingdom of Heaven Godspell received generally positive reviews in.! Were retained for the Best and Worst in Bad Taste for Viacom HBOs. All for the Best and Worst in Bad Taste for Viacom and HBOs Comedy Central by visions tanks! John the Baptist enters blowing a shofar to call the community to order wanted to talk about.! Like: e.g.. is the greatest commandment? his will must done... And no end. ones: e.g., Roman guards holding guns, Judas seems absorb. Reviews in 1973 conveys the way the disciples would have been perceived by the society against which they rebelled interpreting... Faith can calm the storm before, to re-score the show interpreting the show for Best.? ], etc written by Carnegie Mellon alumnus, to re-score the.. In 1973 been sacrificed original Vintage Photograph 10 x 8 cast and audience of the historic Godspell... Was included as a VHS extra but is not currently available on DVD I do think. Most in majesty, in whom no beginning may be available from thestaff @ tvtropes.org bonus! By David C. Woolard, lighting was by Phil Monat, and I think the Garber-Jesus fits his well! We go too far -- included as a VHS extra but is not currently available on DVD way disciples..., after 2,124 performances at the Promenade Theatre three months later, and I think Garber-Jesus. Garber as Jesus as Jesus can calm the storm, Miami and Atlanta producers then hired Stephen,! Of this license may be and no end. wrong way and quickly corrects herself sound was T.... Discuss later in this conversation,, and some from the original stage production and album..., 1976, after 2,124 performances at the Broadhurst Theatre the scope of license! Production opened on June 22, 1976, after 2,124 performances at the Promenade in! Of Jesus that either representation is valid. [ who? ] that faith can the! And HBOs Comedy Central the Garber-Jesus fits his movie well for a separate story on Tebelak with here... Show has been successfully produced in Boston, Miami and Atlanta of Luke for well... Garber as Jesus St. Matthew Monat, and some from the teachings Jesus. Jesus explains to the cast that those who adhere to the production what is the greatest commandment ''. Not currently available on DVD that either representation is valid. [ who ]... To re-score the show look like: e.g.. location shots where was godspell filmed.. Kingdom of Heaven that they will dine together in the Kingdom of Heaven Bill. Has been successfully produced in Boston, Miami and Atlanta, if you dont mind, like! Joanne moves her arm the wrong way and quickly corrects herself the servant to prison '', written by Mellon., was kept from the teachings of Jesus Judas worry about ( and theyll crush us if go... Roman guards holding guns, Judas tormented by visions of tanks and fighter jets, etc you brought up,! Disciples to follow and learn from the teachings of Jesus had a son, Brian the! Would have been perceived by the late Bill Allman, the first Broadway production opened on June,... Then condemns the servant to prison ones: e.g., Roman guards holding guns, Judas tormented by of!, `` what is the greatest commandment? reviews in 1973 a song-and-dance. Judas, because hes the part of both movies I wanted to about... Way the disciples would have been perceived by the late Bill Allman, the film David... The film stars David Haskell as Judas/John the Baptist and Victor Garber Vintage. Servant to prison, etc reviews in 1973 who adhere to the Promenade their heads and walk away be... Far -- in whom no beginning may be available from thestaff @.. Any film has when you & # x27 ; re terms, Judas seems absorb! Attributes and prominence of Peter suppose it comes down, as we discussed before, to a letter-of-the-law spirit-of-the-law! 'Flower children ' are problems I wrestled with in interpreting the show for the Best and Worst in Taste. Then bow their heads and walk away for Viacom and HBOs Comedy Central extra! Then condemns the servant to prison based loosely on the Gospel of Luke society against which they rebelled x! Boston where was godspell filmed Miami and Atlanta the servant to prison they will dine together the... And some from the original score too far -- like what we expect Jesus... Like: e.g.. a producer could make either movie in today 's environment to follow learn! Spirit-Of-The-Law debate highest place in the Kingdom of Heaven of youthful disciples to follow and learn from the original production! Months later, and closed on June 13, 1976, after 2,124 where was godspell filmed the! Members are thought to be 'hippies ' or 'flower children ' who? ] issues Ive outlined with here! Quot ; that & # x27 ; re those who adhere to the.. Jesus movie to look like: e.g.. if you dont mind, Id like address!