Godspell Director Takes Storyline Back To The Beginning

Release Date: 3/1/2001. Expired: 4/8/2001

One of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time, Godspell will be presented to audiences at The Renaissance Center Performance Hall March 30-31, April 6-7 at 7 p.m. and on April 1 and 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets to this community theatre production are $10 adults, $8 seniors and $5 for children under 13.

The story of Godspell speaks to the teachings of Jesus Christ during the three days prior to and including Judas’ betrayal and the Crucifixion. To that end, Leavitt wanted this production to stay true to the original story and to tell it as it appears in the Bible.

“Godspell has been one of the most widely produced shows,” stated Kim Leavitt Godspell Director and director of drama at the center. “The original version used a cast of ten dressed as clowns to reach the 60s generation, up to the most recent Broadway tour which was very high tech using cell phones and beepers. I wanted to adapt it more as a passion play so our version sets it in Biblical times.

“A celebration of the life and teachings of Christ, Godspell can be performed virtually anywhere with the simplest of sets, costumes, lights and music,” continued Leavitt. “It is a show about community and what happens when a group of people unite for a common cause. The fact that this is a community theatre production reflects that ideal . The cast of 38 contains some professionals, some amateurs and some novices – all working together to bring this remarkable story to life.

“Audience members will get to see the parables of Jesus Christ come hearteningly to life through improvisation, movement and an extraordinary musical score that runs the gamut of human emotions and embodies an astonishing variety of styles. The actors must depend on each other and function as a unit so that the audience clearly understands the underlying message of the parables.”

Godspell is a 1971 Stephen Schwartz musical version of the gospel according to St. Matthew. Springing from the youth culture of the swinging sixties, this early 70s rock musical offered its first audiences a contemporary and untraditional approach to the world’s most famous story. Breaking new ground in its stage treatment of Jesus Christ, it is a joyous celebration of music, mime, comedy and slapstick. The score of Godspell calls on all modern musical influences, including rock, gospel, ragtime, tap and soft shoe dancing, ballad, and pop including such hits as “Day by Day,” “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” “By My Side” and others.

Leavitt’s cast of 38 range in age from 14 to 75. It is a mixture of community and members of the center’s Repertory Company. With a diverse cast almost four times what the script calls for, it promises to be an exciting challenge to bring the kaleidoscope of storytelling, song and movement, set and costume design to fruition.

The crew consists of Damon Stevens, director of piano instruction at the center, as Music Director. Pacer Harp is the Choreographer. Harp just directed Last of the Red Hot Lovers, February’s Dinner Theatre offering. Hal Partlow, member of The Renaissance Repertory Company, is Stage Manager. Tom Stanziano is Lighting Director.

Tickets may be purchased at The Renaissance Center located at 855 Hwy. 46, S. in Dickson. For more information on this and other events, please call (615)740-5600.

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