by Carol de Giere When the new musical Godspell opened officially on May 17, 1971, no one knew what might happen. Audiences had been loving it during previews, but the critics who would release their reports later that night might deter new audiences from attending....
Don’t miss the special bonus material on the Blu-ray release of the historic 1973 Godspell movie. Listen to recent interviews with composer Stephen Schwartz, producer Edgar Lansbury, and cast members Robin Lamont, Katie Hanley, and Jerry Sroka. Film historian Lee...
When John-Michael Tebelak developed the idea for Godspell, he focused on Jesus as a teacher and didn’t include Bible stories about miraculous healing. But Tebelak and the other show creators did want to enhance the production with stage magic, such as the appearance...
Stephen Schwartz’s credit for Godspell is “music and new lyrics.” On this list of lyric sources, you’ll see which song lyrics were adapted or drawn from hymns, and which were original to Schwartz. “Prologue”: various philosophical...
Godspell is one of the few musicals that its first cast members helped to create. The new book The Godspell Experience: Inside a Transformative Musical reveals the full behind-the-scenes story. Actors who originate roles in new musicals may help shape the character,...
Stephen Schwartz and Godspell History In 1971, twenty three year old Stephen Schwartz launched his legendary songwriter career with Godspell—a show that quickly became a box office hit in productions around the world. The original cast album went on to win two Grammy...
When John-Michael Tebelak was first piecing together the college production of Godspell, he remembered a harvest song in the Episcopal hymnal that is sometimes performed at Thanksgiving services with other music: Hymn 138, “We Plow the Fields, and Scatter.” Tebelak...
