NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Godspell

Godspell is a 1970 play by John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off-Broadway on May 17, 1971 and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since. The musical opened only a year after the also religiously themed musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. Several cast albums have been released over the years and one of its songs, Day By Day from the original cast album, reached #13 on the Billboard pop singles chart in the summer of 1972. Image File history File links Godspell. ... Stephen Lawrence Schwartz (born March 6, 1948) is an American musical theater lyricist and composer. ... Stephen Lawrence Schwartz (born March 6, 1948) is an American musical theater lyricist and composer. ... John-Michael Tebelak (November 1, 1949â€”April 2, 1985) was an American playwright and director and graduate of Berea High School in Berea, Ohio. ... The Gospel of Matthew (literally, according to Matthew; Greek, ÎšÎ±Ï„Î¬ ÎœÎ±Î¸Î¸Î±Î¯Î¿Î½ or ÎšÎ±Ï„Î¬ ÎœÎ±Ï„Î¸Î±Î¯Î¿Î½, Kata Maththaion or Kata Matthaion) is a synoptic gospel in the New Testament, one of four canonical gospels. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City in smaller theatres than Broadway, but larger than Off-Off-Broadway, productions. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... John-Michael Tebelak (November 1, 1949â€”April 2, 1985) was an American playwright and director and graduate of Berea High School in Berea, Ohio. ... Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City in smaller theatres than Broadway, but larger than Off-Off-Broadway, productions. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the rock opera. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ...

The show originated in 1970 as Tebelak's master's thesis project, under the direction of Lawrence Carra, 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. Tebelak then directed it, with much of the student cast, for a two-week, ten-performance run at New York's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 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. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Lawrence Carra (1909â€“2006) was an American professor of drama at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ... Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. ... City nickname: The Steel City Location in the state of Pennsylvania Founded 1758 Mayor Tom Murphy (Dem) Area - Total - Water 151. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area Ranked 33rd - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (455 km) - Length 160 miles (255 km) - % water 2. ... This article is about the Episcopal Church in the United States. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... La MaMa Theater La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is an American not-for-profit cultural organization located in the East Village section of lower Manhattan. ... is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Angela Lansbury CBE (born October 16, 1925) is a four-time Tony-winning, six-time Golden Globe-winning, three-time Oscar-nominated, and eighteen-time Emmy-nominated English actress. ... Charles Maurice Haid III (born June 2, 1943 in San Francisco, California) is an American actor and director, who has worked in both movies and television. ... Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City in smaller theatres than Broadway, but larger than Off-Off-Broadway, productions. ...

The producers hired Stephen Schwartz, another alumnus of Carnegie Mellon's theater department, to write a new song score (although By My Side was retained from the original score). Schwartz's songs included a variety of musical styles, from pop to folk rock, gospel, and vaudeville. As with the original score, most of the non-Schwartz lyrics were from the Episcopal Hymnal. See also Godspell (1971 Off-Broadway Cast). Stephen Lawrence Schwartz (born March 6, 1948) is an American musical theater lyricist and composer. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... Bob Dylans folk-rock album, Blonde on Blonde Folk-rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... Gospel music is a musical genre characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) referencing lyrics of a religious nature, particularly Christian. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Godspell (1971 Off-Broadway Cast) is the original cast recording of the Cherry Lane production of Godspell. ...

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. Cherry Lane Theatre entrance The Cherry Lane Theatre, located at 38 Commerce Street in the borough of Manhattan, is New York Citys oldest, continuously running off-Broadway theater. ... Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City in smaller theatres than Broadway, but larger than Off-Off-Broadway, productions. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ...

Film

A film version of the musical was released in 1973, set in modern New York, and featuring Victor Garber as Jesus, David Haskell as John the Baptist/Judas, and Lynne Thigpen in her first film role. John-Michael Tebelak co-wrote the screenplay and served as the creative consultant. The song Beautiful City was written for and first included in the film, while the songs "Prolouge/Tower Of Babble", "Learn Your Lessons Well" and "We Beseech Thee" were left out. Godspell, released in 1973, is the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Godspell. ... Godspell, released in 1973, is the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Godspell. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Victor Joseph Garber (born on March 16, 1949 in London, Ontario, Canada) is a six-time Emmy Award-nominated Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... David Haskell, (June 4, 1948â€“August 30, 2000), was an American actor and singer, best remembered for his dual performance in the stage and film versions of Godspell in the early 1970s as both John the Baptist and Judas. ... St. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Â· Other religions Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Luther Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Catholic Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: For other... Lynne Thigpen (December 22, 1948 â€“ March 12, 2003) was a Tony Award-winning, Image Award-nominated American film and television actress. ...

Toronto production

Although Godspell was produced in many cities throughout the world, the Toronto production in 1972-1973 had a lasting effect on the city's theatrical community and the entertainment world as well.

Before Godspell, Toronto's theatre community was essentially limited to short runs and touring companies of Broadway and West End plays. When Godspell opened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre it was expected to be a run of a few dozen performances for what was largely an audience of subscribers to the theatre's season. However, the Toronto run had a cast drawn entirely from local performers instead of using a touring company. After an enthusiastic response from the audience, the show moved to the Bayview Playhouse after its scheduled run at the Royal Alex ended, and ran until August 1973, setting what was then a record run of 488 performances. This record was not broken until the Toronto production of Cats in 1986. Godspell established Toronto as a major theatre center which could support its own productions with its own talent. For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... The Royal Alexandra theatre The Royal Alexandra Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. ... Cats is an award-winning musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possums Book of Practical Cats and other poems by T. S. Eliot. ...

Moreover, the production provided the first regular acting jobs for several performers who would later go on to bigger things, including Victor Garber (who won the role of Jesus in the film version), Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas, and Martin Short. Radner came to the attention of Lorne Michaels during the production, which also had several performers who had worked with him on his Canadian comedy specials. Three years later, Radner was the first cast member hired for Saturday Night Live. Jayne Eastwood left the cast to become a member of the original Toronto troupe of The Second City which has been in almost continuous production since, and Levy, Martin and Short went on to join that company as well. Paul Shaffer, the show's musical director, would also join Radner on Saturday Night Live as its musical director. Victor Joseph Garber (born on March 16, 1949 in London, Ontario, Canada) is a six-time Emmy Award-nominated Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. ... Eugene Levy (born 17 December 1946) is a Canadian Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actor, television director, producer and writer. ... Andrea Martin (born January 15, 1947) is a Tony Award-winning American actor and comedienne. ... Gilda Susan Radner (28 June 1946 â€“ 20 May 1989) was an American comedienne and actress, best known for her five years as part of the original cast of the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live. ... See the David Thomas disambiguation page for other people with this name. ... Martin Hayter Short, CM (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian/American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. ... Lorne Michaels (born Lorne Michael Lipowitz on November 17, 1944) is an Emmy-winning Canadian-born television producer, writer and comedian best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live and producing the various film and TV projects that spun off from it. ... This article is about the American television series. ... Jayne Eastwood is a Canadian comic actress. ... Second City redirects here. ... Paul Shaffer Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949 in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian-American musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian and composer currently seen as the bandleader on the Late Show with David Letterman. ...

Synopsis

Act one

The show begins with the Voice of God declaring his supremacy: "My name is known: God and King. I am most in majesty, in whom no beginning may be and no end." The company enters and takes the role of various philosophers throughout the ages: Socrates, Thomas Aquinas, Leonardo da Vinci, Edward Gibbon, Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Luther, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Buckminster Fuller. They sing fragments of their respective philosophies — first as solos and then in cacophonous counterpoint — in "Tower of Babble (Prologue)". This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... This page is about the ancient Greek philosopher. ... Saint Thomas Aquinas, O.P.(also Thomas of Aquin, or Aquino; c. ... â€œDa Vinciâ€ redirects here. ... Edward Gibbon (1737â€“1794). ... Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (June 21, 1905 â€“ April 15, 1980), normally known simply as Jean-Paul Sartre (pronounced: ), was a French existentialist philosopher and pioneer, dramatist and screenwriter, novelist and critic. ... Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 â€“ February 18, 1546) was a German monk,[1] priest, professor, theologian, and church reformer. ... Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 â€“ August 25, 1900) (IPA: ) was a nineteenth-century German philosopher. ... Richard Buckminster â€œBuckyâ€ Fuller (July 12, 1895 â€“ July 1, 1983)[1] was an American visionary, designer, architect, poet, author, and inventor. ... For other uses, see Counterpoint (disambiguation). ...

In response to this, John the Baptist blows three notes on the shofar, to call the community to order. He then beckons them to "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord", and baptizes the company. Jesus comes, also, to be baptized, to which John responds by, instead, asking to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus explains that it is not his place to baptize; that he has come to "Save the People". St. ... A shofar made from the horn of a kudu, in the Yemenite Jewish style. ...

In his first parable, Jesus explains to the company that he has come "not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to complete." In the original production, it was at this point that the company donned their clown makeup, and subsequent productions may use some object — be it a pin, a scarf, or a badge — to denote that the company has become followers of Jesus. He explains to the company that those who adhere to the law of God will earn the highest place in the Kingdom of Heaven. He tells them the story of the widow and the Judge: God is a just jurist who will support those who cry out to him. // For a comparison of parable with other kinds of stories, see Myth, legend, fairy tale, and fable. ... The Kingdom of Heaven (or the Kingdom of God, Hebrew ×ž×œ×›×•×ª ×”×©×ž×™×, malkhut hashamayim, Greek basileia tou theou) is a key concept detailed in all the three major monotheistic religions of the world â€” Islam, Judaism and Christianity. ...

The company is just beginning to understand Jesus and his teachings, and take it upon themselves to tell the story of the Pharisee and the tax gatherer praying in the temple. "Every man who humbles himself shall be exalted!" The Pharisees (from the Hebrew perushim, from parash, meaning to separate) were, depending on the time, a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flourished during the Second Temple Era (536 BCEâ€“70 CE). ...

As Jesus teaches of the law regarding the offering of gifts at the altar, the company makes offerings, themselves. They are taught that to approach the altar of God, they must be pure of heart and soul.

Then, they act out the story of a master and a servant who owed him a debt. The servant asks his master for pity in repaying the debt, and the master absolves it. The servant then turns to a fellow servant who "owed him a few dollars" and demands that it be paid in full. The master, hearing this, condemns the servant to prison. Jesus explains the moral: "Forgive your brothers from your heart." The member of the company telling the parable sings "Day by Day", and the company joins in. After the song, Jesus teaches that if one part of you offends God, it is better to lose it than to have the whole of the body thrown into hell.

The company then plays charades to finish several statements posed by Jesus, including "If a man sues you for your shirt...." and "If a man asks you to go a mile with him...."

"Do you want to see a show?" The company relays the story of the Good Samaritan in the form of a play-within-a-play. Jesus explains the need to "love your enemies" and not make a show of religion before men. God will reward a good deed done in secret. ("Shhh! It's a secret!") The Good Samaritan The Good Samaritan is a famous New Testament parable, that appears only in the Gospel of Luke (10:25-37). ...

The parable of Lazarus and the rich man is next tackled by the company, who are quickly learning how to work together. The rich man feasts, and Lazarus begs and is ignored. Lazarus is rewarded with Heaven, while the rich man is in hell. We are told to "Learn Your Lessons Well", or be faced with eternal damnation. Resurrection of Lazarus by Juan de Flandes, around 1500 For other uses, see Lazarus (disambiguation). ...

Jesus teaches us that no man can serve two masters: God and money. A member of the company tells a story of a man who spent a lifetime acquiring the good things in life, then dies before he has the time to enjoy them. She sings "Oh Bless the Lord, My Soul", then Jesus tells them not to worry about tomorrow: "tomorrow will take care of itself. Today has problems of its own."

In a call-and-response type of method, the company recites the beatitudes. Judas, however, directs the final beatitude regarding persecution at Jesus, and he seemingly changes the subject. ("Did I ever tell you that I used to read feet?") However, with this Jesus persuades the company that it's "All For the Best": heaven contains the ultimate reward. Judas sings a verse, and the two do a soft shoe and a vaudevillian joke. The company joins in the final verse (sung in counterpoint) to bring the song to conclusion. The Beatitudes (from Latin, beatitudo, happiness) is the name given to a well-known, and to some, such as Henri Nouwen, definitive and central, portion of the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. ...

This is followed by the parable of the sower and the seeds, which Jesus tells them represents the Word of God. "All Good Gifts" is sung to further illustrate the point.

The action to this point, while amusing and entertaining, has been to do one thing: create from this rag-tag company a community of love and caring. At this point in the musical, they have formed this community and now march as soldiers in the military, symbolic of their ability to think as one unit. With Jesus as a drill sergeant, they segue into the most famous parable of them all: the Prodigal Son. They sing "Light of the World" about Christ's Light and how it should shine in each of us. Jesus thanks the audience for coming, and announces a ten-minute intermission. The Return of the Prodigal Son (1773) by Pompeo Batoni The Prodigal Son, also known as The Lost Son is one of the best known parables of Jesus. ...

Act Two

The second act opens with one or more cast members singing "Learn Your Lessons Well", to call the audience back into the hall. Another member of the community sings "Turn Back, O Man", in which she implores mankind to give up its temporal pursuits and to turn to God.

At this point, several members of the community begin to question Jesus's authority, and he responds with yet another parable. He is asked, "What is the greatest commandment?" and responds, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.... And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The Pharisees continue to question him, and he laments Alas For You, and calls them hypocrites. Members of the community gather and join in his song, and throw garbage at the Pharisees.

Jesus predicts that he will not be seen for quite awhile, while standing at the "Wailing Wall", and predicts great wars and famines. He reminds us of the time of Noah, and teaches that faith can calm the storm. The community is told to "keep awake, then. For the Son of Man will come at a time when you least expect it." Western Wall by night The Western Wall, known as the Kotel HaMaaravi (or simply Kotel)הכותל המערבי in Hebrew , also called the Wailing Wall (or Al-Buraq Wall, in a mix of English and Arabic) is a retaining wall from... This article is about the biblical Noah. ... For other uses, see Son of man (disambiguation). ...

One woman is cast out as an adulteress. Jesus says, "Let the one of you who is faultless cast the first stone." He explains that he will not condemn her, either, but she must not sin again. She watches Jesus walk from her, and entreats him to remain "By My Side". During this song, we see Judas say, "What will you give me to deliver him to you?" and he receives his thirty pieces of silver. This article is about the act of adultery. ...

In one of the lighter moments in the second act, Jesus tells how he will separate men as a shepherd separates his flock into sheep and goats. The sheep will enter heaven while the goats must suffer eternal damnation. "We Beseech Thee" cry the goats, begging for mercy. Species See text. ... Species See Species and subspecies The goat is a mammal in the genus Capra, which consists of nine species: the Ibex, the West Caucasian Tur, the East Caucasian Tur, the Markhor, and the Wild Goat. ...

After the song, the community reminds each other to take things "Day By Day", as they remove their clown makeup (or other accoutrement). They assemble for the Last Supper, and Jesus tells them that one will betray him. Each member of the community asks, "Is it I?" ending with Judas. Jesus tells him to do quickly what he must do, and he runs off. He breaks the bread and shares the wine and tells his followers that they will dine together in the Kingdom of Heaven. He asks that they wait for him as he goes into the garden to pray. The band sings "On the Willows", reminding us all just what's been sacrificed. The Last Supper in Milan (1498), by Leonardo da Vinci. ... The Garden of Gethsemane. ...

In the garden, Jesus implores God, if there is another way, to let the burden be lifted from his shoulders. He is tempted by Satan, but orders him out. Jesus returns to his followers to find them all asleep. This article is about the concept of Satan. ...

Judas returns and kisses Jesus on the cheek, and turns him to bring him to be crucified. The community starts to attack Judas, while Jesus reminds them, "He who lives by the sword, will die by the sword.... This has all happened to fulfill what the Prophets have written." Crucifixion is an ancient method of execution, where the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead. ...

The "Finale" begins, loud and in B-minor, with Jesus being put upon an electric fence, representative of the cross described in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus wails, "Oh God, I'm dying," and the community answers, "Oh God, You're dying." Jesus expires and the music comes to a rest. One woman sings "Long Live God," joined on each phrase by another female voice. The men join in with "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord" in counterpoint, as they remove Jesus from the fence and carry him out. They sing one final verse of "Prepare Ye" in full harmony, in joyful expectation of the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is an event in the New Testament in which God raised him from the dead[1] after his death by crucifixion. ...

"Beautiful City"

"Beautiful City" was written in 1971 as part of the movie, and re-written in 1994 after the Los Angeles earthquake. While not part of the show proper, it can be included in any production without having to secure additional rights, so long as the new lyrics are used. It can be placed anywhere in the show the director desires, though it makes more sense as part of the second act. The Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17, 1994 at 4:31 AM Pacific Standard Time in the city of Los Angeles, California. ...

Its position in the film is directly after "By My Side", which in turn follows directly on from "Alas For You", omitting the parable in between. This provides a sequence where Jesus upturns the tables at the temple before the pharisees. Then, scared by what he has done, he walks off, followed by the disciples, who ask "Where are you going? Can you take me with you?", and they are reunited with Jesus, and sing "Beautiful City". The narrative of Jesus and the Money Changers occurs in both the Synoptic Gospels and in the Gospel of John, although it occurs close to the end of the Synoptic Gospels (at Mark 11:15-19, 11:27-33, Matthew 21:12-17, 21:23-27 and Luke 19:45...

Many theatrical directors choose to use it in place of the "Day by Day" reprise, and it is also effective in place of the "Long Live God"'s and "Prepare Ye..." of the "Finale". It can be shortened or re-arranged as needed. "Beautiful City" has also been used at the very end of the play in an additional dialogue-free scene that depicts the Resurrection, which was not depicted in the original.

In their Broadway Junior series — several best-loved musicals edited down to one act and appropriate for middle school — Music Theater International supplies "Beautiful City" as part of the show. This version contains much of the first act and very little of the second: "By My Side" is omitted entirely. "Beautiful City" is at a point in the beginning of the traditional second act, but followed quickly by the Last Supper, the Betrayal, and the Crucifixion.

Modern Productions

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 as 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.

The 2000 tour mounted by Stephen Schwartz's son, Scott, set the action in a technologically-created universe. In addition to an updated score, several of the philosophers during Tower of Babble were re-characterized.

In May of 2007, John-Michael Tebelak's alma mater, Berea High School, performed "Godspell" for the first time since its creation. His sister was present for one of the performances.

Trivia

Gospel, from the Old English good tidings is a calque of Greek () used in the New Testament (see Etymology below). ... Meet the Parents is a 2000 comedy film starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. ... Benjamin Edward Stiller (born November 30, 1965 ) is an Emmy-winning American comedian, actor, film producer and director. ... Look up Grace, grace in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Wet Hot American Summer is a 2001 feature film. ... Jesus Freak is the fourth album released by dc Talk. ... dc Talk (also DC Talk and dc talk) is a Christian rock band formed in the late 1980s in Lynchburg, Virginia by Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max, and Michael Tait. ...

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