Olney Theatre Center Kicks Off 77th Season With GODSPELL Tonight

Olney Theatre Center, a Mid-Atlantic destination for extraordinary theater performance and education, launches its 77th Anniversary season with Steven Schwartz's Tony-nominated classic Godspell running tonight, February 4 - March 1, 2015 on the Mainstage.

Come sing about love, enjoy all good gifts, and raise your spirits with the Stephen Schwartz's (Wicked, Pippin) first major work, Godspell. Told through an exciting array of music and dance, the parables of Jesus Christ come to life in this modern take on a timeless tale of friendship, loyalty, and love. This family-friendly musical features songs like "All Good Gifts", "Day By Day", and "Turn Back, O Man".

Jason King Jones, Associate Artistic Director and Director of Education/National Players at Olney Theatre Center, directs this production ofGodspell. He is joined by Helen Hayes Award-winning Music Director Christopher Youstra as well as Helen Hayes Award-nominated Choreographer Bryan Knowlton.

"For fans of Godspell this is going to be a really special treat," says Jones. "Because Schwartz crafted new orchestrations for the recent Broadway revival, it feels like a new musical. Now, with this excellent team we've assembled, we can re-examine the classic story of Jesus and his disciplines for a whole new generation."

The cast is led by Jordan Coughtry, who makes his Olney Theatre Center debut as Jesus. Mr. Coughtry has recently been seen at the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre as Hamlet in Hamlet and at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey as Young Hamlet in Wittenberg. Rachel Zampelli will return to Olney Theatre Center this season as Judas/John. Ms. Zampelli was most recently seen at Olney Theatre Center as Kate Monster/Lucy in Avenue Q.

The ensemble is made up of Olney Theatre Center veterans Kurt Boehm, Maggie Donnelly, Christopher Mueller, and Allie Parris, as well as Michael Mainwaring, Calvin McCullough, Nova Y. Payton, and Emily Zickler making their Olney Theatre Center debuts.

The award-winning design team includes Scenic Designer Paige Hathaway, Lighting Designer Sonya Dowhaluk, Costume Designer Ivania Stack, and Sound Designer Will Pickens.

Godspell, with Book by John-Michael Teblek and Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Conceived and Originally Directed by John-Michael Teblak, and based on The Gospel According to St. Matthew, is directed by Jason King Jones with musical direction by Christopher Youstra and choreography by Bryan Knowlton.

The production runs February 4 to March 1, 2015. Press Night: Saturday, February 7, 2015. Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm; matinees on Sunday at 2pm; Saturday matinees at 2pm on February 14, 21, and 28. Wednesday matinees at 2pm on February 11, 18, and 25. Tickets are $38-$75. Discounts available for groups, seniors, military, and students.

About Olney Theatre Center - Olney Theatre Center is an award-winning, nonprofit, Equity theatre. Located just north of Washington, D.C. in arts-rich Montgomery County, Maryland, Olney Theatre Center offers a diverse array of professional productions year-round. Olney Theatre Center is situated on 14 acres in the heart of the beautiful Washington-Baltimore-Frederick "triangle," within easy access of all three cities. Olney Theatre Center is home to the National Players, America's longest-running touring company and led by Artistic Director Jason Loewith and Managing Director Debbie Ellinghaus. For more information visit www.olneytheatre.org.

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