BEHIND THE SCENES: Choir Auditions for GODSPELL: THE BROADWAY REVIVAL IN CONCERT

After 2014's successful West End revival, Russell Scott's and Mark Petit's concert production of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell is about to embark on a national tour - with a difference. For every leg the production will cast a local choir to join the company - a UK first, and a great opportunity for Britain's more than 25,000 choirs.

BWW:UK had exclusive access to the Northern auditions at Manchester's Z Arts venue - as 11 choirs vied for the chance of three coveted slots on the tour.

Producer and musical director Russell Scott said, 'We're looking for exceptional choirs, we're looking for choirs with charisma and energy - a choir that's really going to be able to show themselves off.'

Producer Mark Pettit explained that after the success of local choirs in the West End production, they want to recreate that atmosphere on the tour and that's why they're auditioning choirs for every leg.

Community choirs, university choirs and stage school choirs each took their five minutes to show the producers just what they can do. The Manchester Airport Choir, made famous by Gareth Malone, were one of the choirs having a shot. Other hopefuls included Poulton People's Choir, Telford's Gallery Singers and Wakefield College.

Audition pieces included everything from Sister Act's Joyful Joyful, Fly Me To The Moon and even an arrangement of the Spice Girls' Viva Forever with every act given detailed feedback.

Capa Voices, made up of students from Wakefield's Capa College, were one of the lucky three choirs selected - they'll perform when Godspell hits St George's Hall in Bradford this June. George Griffiths, one of the students, told BWW:UK that 'the opportunity to do something like this is incredible.'

Arden School of Theatre, will perform and Manchester's Palace Theatre in May and UCLAN's Chamber Choir will perform in Blackpool or Liverpool.

Elise Hill from UCLan Chamber Choir said, 'It will be a fantastic opportunity for the choir - being able to perform with an actual UK tour is putting everything we've worked for together as one.'

The other choirs will remain on a reserve list as they put together the full list of performances around the country.

After the auditions, Russell Scott was full of praise for the auditionees: 'The standard was really high and it was a really tough decision.' Mark Pettit was impressed with the standard saying, 'It's just so great to see so many people singing and be part of a choral group.'

Godspell: The Broadway Revival In Concert goes on tour starting at London's Hackney Empire on April 4, with dates around the country through May, June and July.

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff

To post a comment, you must register and login.