Grosse Pointe Theatre Presents GODSPELL, 9/29-10/2

Grosse Pointe Theatre opens its 63rd Season with the 1971 rock musical, Godspell on Sunday, September 19 with a 2:00 p.m. matinee at the Fries Auditorium of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236. Performances continue September 23-25 at 8:00 p.m., September 26 at 2:00 p.m. and September 29-October 2 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $24. Group rates are available. Call 313-881-4004 for tickets or visit the Grosse Pointe Theatre website at www.gpt.org for more information.
 
Godspell is based primarily on the Gospel according to St. Matthew. As the cast makes its way through the various musical numbers, the audience sees the parables of Jesus Christ come humanly and humorously to life. The show also presents the story of Jesus' last moments, beginning with the Last Supper.
The main story of Godspell is portrayed in the show's subtext, in the way The Players interact with their leader, coming together to create a loving community. The subject matter is unabashedly religious, but the focus is more on the lessons learned and the love which Jesus spread rather than on the man himself.
 
The cast does comic interpretations of the parables and musical numbers that are at times rousing or lyrical. Songs in the show include the popular sing-along song, Day by Day and others that span a number of musical genres including rock, folk and vaudeville. 
The setting for the play is Detroit's Belle Isle, which was chosen both for its beauty and its urban location.
 
Godspell was conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak as a student project at Carnegie Mellon University. The music and new lyrics are by Stephen Schwartz (By My Side, music by Peggy Gordon, lyrics by Jay Hamburger) Godspell was originally Produced on the New York Stage by Edgar Lansbury / Stuart Duncan / Joseph Beruh.  
 
 
The cast and crew for this version of Godspell is made up both adults and children, whose ages range from 9 to 55. Don Bischoff of Macomb Township plays Jesus. His son Kyle Bischoff is also a member of the cast. The rest of the ensemble includes Angelina Bufalini of Grosse Pointe, Sarah Dickinson of Pleasant Ridge, Kevin Fitzhenry of Warren, Frank "Scott" Davis and Eric Swanson of Ferndale, Patrick McKeever of Grosse Pointe Farms, Kate Allam of Clinton Township, Stephanie Elaine Samuel of Windsor, Ontario, Jerry and Quinn Nehr of Grosse Pointe Woods and Brittany Michael, Janine Lozon and Peter Di Sante of St. Clair Shores.
 
Godspell is directed by Donna Di Sante of Grosse Pointe Farms, with music and vocal direction by John Dickinson of Pleasant Ridge and vocal assistance from Eric Swanson. Arlene Marie Schoenherr of St. Clair Shores is the choreographer and stage manager. Gwenn Samuel of St. Clair Shores is producer.  The set design is by Jesse Villegas of Grosse Pointe with technical direction by Bill Tuthill of Grosse Pointe Woods. Eric and Lisa Leszczynski of Grosse Pointe Woods are doing the lighting. Nancy Bashara of Grosse Pointe Woods and Beverly Dickinson of Pleasant Ridge chair properties and set dressing. Mary Kay Sogge of Harrison Township has created the costumes and Judy Allam of Clinton Township is doing the makeup. Sound is by Ed Thomas of Centerline. The scenic photography slide presentation is by Erin Ann Conway Di Sante of St. Clair Shores.
 
 
It is not unusual for family members to participate in the same community theatre productions, but it is interesting to note that this production of Godspell probably holds the record at GPT for the greatest number of family connections in one show. As mentioned above, Don Bischoff (Jesus) performs with his son, Kyle. Cast member Jerry Nehr performs with his son, Quinn. Cast member Stephanie Elaine Samuel is the daughter of producer Gwenn Samuel, who is the sister-in-law of Nancy Bashara (co-chair of properties). Ed Thomas, who is doing sound, is the father of Gwenn Samuel's grandson. Cast member Peter Di Sante is the brother of director Donna Di Sante. Peter Di Sante's wife, Erin Ann Conway, has done scenic photography for the show. Cast member Kate Allam is the daughter of makeup chair Judy Allam. Lighting co-chairs Lisa and Eric Leszczynski are husband and wife. Music director John Dickinson is the father of cast member Sarah and husband of properties co-chair Beverly. Jerry and Quinn Nehr are third cousins of Donna and Peter Di Sante.
 
 
Following Godspell, Grosse Pointe Theatre's main stage season includes: Annie Get Your Gun, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by Herbert Fields, Dorothy Fields, November 7, 11-14, 17-20, 2010; Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn, January 16, 20-23, 26-29, 2011; Dixie Swim Club By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, March 6, 10-13, 16-19, 2011; and The Scarlet Pimpernel, based on the works by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, book and lyrics by Nan Knighton, May 8, 12-15, 18-21, 2011.  In addition to the adult offerings, Grosse Pointe Theatre's Youth on Stage will produce a children's version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, December 11 & 12, 2010.  All shows will be in the Fries Auditorium of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. GPT will also produce The Exonerated, by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, February 18, 19, 20, 2011 through its Purdon Studio Theatre program. The location for The Exonerated is to be announced.
 
For more information about Grosse Pointe Theatre call 313-881-4004 or go to the website at www.gpt.org.