CSC producing musical 'Godspell'
The Chadron State College Theatre Department will present “Godspell,” the 1970 musical based on parables from the Gospel of St. Matthew.
Ten students have parts in the production, which will be Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 9-12, in the Memorial Hall Auditorium. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
“Godspell” was written by John Michael Tebelak with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. It began as a student thesis project at Carnegie Mellon University.
The show moved from Carnegie Mellon to Café le Mama in 1971 when Stephen Schwartz was hired to write the music. The show ran for more than 2,000 performances at the Promenade Theatre between 1971-1976. It then moved to Broadway for another 527 performances. Of the songs, perhaps the best known became “Day by Day,” which enjoyed a brief period of popularity on AM radio in 1972.
Based on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, “Godspell” stages the parables and teachings of Jesus using pantomime, story theatre, circus, and song and dance. The songs range from rock, to folk, to vaudeville, to ballads.
“The show’s enormous popularity, even today, is because of its highly entertaining theatrical style, its lasting message of love and hope, and some fabulous music by Stephen Schwartz,” said Roger Mays, the CSC assistant professor of theatre who is the play’s director.
The set design, which was created by CSC faculty member Scott Cavin, features a stylized back alley inhabited by the homeless. Shelby Wilson, a CSC senior from Benkelman, designed the costumes.
“It is to this hopeless place that the ‘good news’ is brought, creating new life and optimism, reflected by the transformation into the colorful and eclectic costume changes,” Mays said.
The play opens with the appearances of the homeless inhabitants who become symbolic manifestations of the great philosophers of history. The multiple viewpoints combine to create the Tower of Babble. John the Baptist appears to consecrate them all. The homeless people, or philosophers, disappear to reappear as the followers of Jesus, who re-enact his teachings and parables.
Reserve tickets for “Godspell” are available at reduced cost by contacting the CSC Box Office in advance at 308-432-6360 or boxoffice@csc.edu. They are free for CSC students and employees, if reserved in advance. The admission price at the door will be $6.
Following is the cast (name, hometown, year, roles): Erika DeBoer, Morrill, senior, Frederic Neitzche and Sonja; Jesse Hamer, Box Elder, S.D., senior, John the Baptist and Judas; Heather Ann Hicks, Brigham City, Utah, freshman, Robin; Angela Isabell, Scottsbluff, sophomore, Leonardo DaVinci and Angela; Shalee Ann Jones, sophomore, Scottsbluff, Socrates and Peggy; Mike Mamula, Box Elder, S.D., junior, Buckminster Fuller and Herb; Jon Marquez, Alliance, sophomore, Jean Paul Sartre and Lamar; Willis Miller, Deer Trail, Colo., sophomore, Jesus; Amanda Pintore, Omaha, sophomore, Edward Gibbon and Amanda; Shannon Smay, Sidney, sophomore, Thomas Aquinas and Jeffrey.
The play will be Oct. 9-12 in Memorial Hall
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Category: Campus News, Theatre