Flashback: GODSPELL Plays Final Broadway Show, June 24

Godspell will play its final performance on Broadway today, June 24th, 2012, at Circle in the Square Theatre. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a multimedia flashback chronicling Godspell's beginning and journey to its final show on the Great White Way.

Directed by Daniel Goldstein and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific), GODSPELL stars Corbin Blue as Jesus (formerly played by Hunter Parrish) and Wallace Smith as Judas, and co-starring Uzo Aduba, Nick Blaemire, Celisse Henderson, Morgan James, Telly Leung, Hannah Elless (previously played by Lindsay Mendez), George Salazar and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.

Conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, GODSPELL originally ran for more than 2,600 performances in New York and spawned successful touring productions in major U.S. cities, a 1973 motion picture adaptation and countless international engagements for the past 40 years.

GODSPELL features scenic design by David Korins (Passing Strange), costume design by Miranda Hoffman (Well), lighting design by David Weiner (The Normal Heart), sound design by Andrew Keister (Company), orchestrations by Michael Holland (Hurricane) and musical direction by Charlie Alterman (Next to Normal).

Just before beginning Godspell's revival run in November 2011, composer Stephen Schwartz spoke about his excitement for the show and how much it meant to him to bring Godspell back to Broadway. Watch the video below!

The company of Godspell met the press in September 2011, and BroadwayWorld captured a first look at the musical with footage and photos from the rehearsal, featuring original lead Hunter Parrish and more, as well as video interviews with the cast and creative them.

The 40th Anniversary production and first-ever Broadway revival of Godspell began preview performances October 13, 2011. In the photos and video below, check out the cast in its first performances at the Circle in the Square Theatre.















Godspell officially opened on Broadway on November 7, 2011, starring Hunter Parrish as Jesus and Wallace Smith as Judas, and rounded out by a talented young company. What follows are images and video from opening night at Circle in the Square, including the curtain call, interviews with the cast by Broadway Beat's Richard Ridge at the opening night party, and more.

The Godspell revival cast album was released everywhere January 31, 2012, on Ghostlight Records. To celebrate the release, the cast gathered at Barnes & Noble to perform selections from the musical.

Corbin Bleu replaced Hunter Parrish as Jesus in April 2012, so Parrish could begin filming Showtime's Weeds, Season 8. Below are photos and video from Bleu's first performance and curtain call in Godspell on Broadway!

Then, in May of this year, just before this month's closing, Hannah Elless also joined the cast, replacing Lindsay Mendez.

"I've never been more proud of a show than I am of GODSPELL," said lead producer Ken Davenport in a statement. "For nine months this incredible company of performers brought joy into the hearts of more than 153,000 people (and blasted them with over 1,000 pounds of confetti) ... forever changing their lives, and mine as well. And while this production of GODSPELL may not be at Circle in the Square past the 24th of June, it will be in our hearts and the hearts of everyone who saw it forever."

Godspell will launch its National Tour in 2013. To send off the company, take a last look at the original Broadway revival cast performing "Prepare Ye (The Way of the Lord)" and "Bless The Lord"!

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