Producer Adam Epstein (Cry-Baby,
Hairspray) announced today that the
landmark rock musical Godspell is
scheduled to begin performances on Broadway in the summer of 2008 at a Shubert
Theatre to be announced. This new
production marks the first Broadway revival of the seminal American musical
since its acclaimed run ended thirty years ago. With music and lyrics by
Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, The Magic Show) and book by John-Michael Tebelak, Godspell will reunite the creative team
of the critically-acclaimed 2006 Paper Mill Playhouse conception in a
completely new production, marking the Broadway debut of director Daniel
Goldstein.
The new production of Godspell,
helmed by Daniel Goldstein in his Broadway debut will feature choreography by
Christopher Gattelli (Martin Short: Fame
Becomes Me) scenic design by David Korins (Passing Strange, Bridge and
Tunnel), costumes by Miranda Hoffman (Well),
lighting by Ben Stanton (Altar Boyz)
and sound by Randy Hanson.
"Godspell embraces
the 21st century in this exciting new production of one of the longest-running
and most beloved Off-Broadway musicals of all time. Using improvisation and
contemporary themes to illustrate the parables, Godspell brings these lessons to life through the grand tradition
of musical theatre," explain press notes, "The score, by Academy and Grammy
Award winner and six time Tony Award nominee Stephen Schwartz features
recognizable songs that have become staples of both the American musical theatre
and popular culture alike. With a book
by John-Michael Tebelak, Godspell
uniquely and joyfully exclaims a message of tolerance, kindness and hope that
resonates just as deeply as the music."
Based on The Gospel according to St. Matthew, Godspell was originally a senior thesis
directing project for Carnegie Mellon University Master of Fine Arts candidate
John-Michael Tebelak. Using a profound
experience at an Easter Sunday church service for inspiration, Tebelak wrote
the first version of Godspell in
1970. This first version included a
score comprised mostly of lyrics from the Episcopal Hymnal set to music by the
student cast. After a chance meeting
with Ellen Stewart of Café La MaMa in New York, Godspell transferred to La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club for a
two-week, ten performance run where it was brought to the attention of
producers Edgar Landsbury (brother of Angela Landsbury) and Joseph Beruh. Excited by what they saw, the duo approached
Tebelak with the opportunity of an off-Broadway run if he would agree to a new
score. Tebelak agreed and the producers
hired Stephen Schwartz, another alumnus of the Carnegie Mellon theatre
department, to write new songs for the show.
Schwartz's score featured a variety of styles including pop, folk rock,
gospel and vaudeville. "By My Side" was
the only song kept from the original production. The new Schwartz / Tebelak musical Godspell opened off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane
Theatre on May 13, 1971
and its success was immediately evident.
The critics raved unanimously and in August of 1971, Godspell moved to the larger Promenade
Theatre where it ran for 2,124 performances making it one of the longest
running Off-Broadway musicals in history.
After five years of sold-out audiences Off-Broadway, Godspell made its Broadway debut on June
22, 1976 at the Broadhurst Theatre.
Critics found the show to be just as fresh and exciting as it was when
it first opened at the Cherry Lane. The show would move to the Plymouth and the Ambassador before closing on
September 4, 1977 after 527 performances.
In all, the musical achieved more than 2,600 performances both on
Broadway and off.
Godspell has
entertained audiences the world over for decades. Major sit-down productions of the smash hit
musical were produced in most all major cities including Boston,
Washington, Los Angeles,
San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago and Toronto.
During much of 1972, these seven companies performed simultaneously.
Productions also opened abroad in Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Melbourne. A London
production, which opened in 1971, ran for nearly three years. In the last four years of its New York run, there were
25 companies performing Godspell
around the world with eight resident companies and three touring
companies. Godspell has been credited for establishing Toronto as a major theatre center that could
support its own productions with its own actors. The legendary 1972-73 Toronto production cast local actors for the
record-breaking production providing the first paying jobs for actors Victor
Garber, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas and Martin
Short. Paul Schaffer served as musical
director.
