Community. Transformation. Inspiration. These are the three words I kept in the front of my mind for every decision I made during the entire process of creating Godspell on this stage. From the very beginning of this process, which began almost a year ago, Graham, Naomi and I knew this was delicate material to present, especially to a community that holds the reverence of the Lord’s Word so dear. We knew the balance between a text based on Holy Scripture and the theatrical, often light-hearted material in the script was to be continually and carefully crafted. But we also felt determined that a Christian college that encourages thoughtful critique and informed reflection was the perfect place to wrestle with this extraordinary play. So we set out with a tremendously talented cast and group of student leaders to intelligently and carefully engage in this show.
Community. Transformation. Inspiration. Godspell, written by Stephen Schwartz (music/lyrics) John-Michael Tebelak (dialogue), first opened on Broadway in 1971. Schwartz originally created this show with the intention that “above all, Godspell must be about the formation of a community.” Throughout the play each individual follower commits to Jesus and His teachings, which transforms them into a true community. When Jesus is taken from them the followers transcend their own grief through the inspiration of Jesus’s words, and are able to extend their community out into the world by spreading His teachings. Although many of the parables and lessons throughout the show are illustrated through humor and playfulness, the overall dramatic arc of the show is foundationally driven by this process: building community through transformation and inspiration.
This is a tremendously difficult musical to mount. The script is beautifully written in such a way as to promote ultimate creativity for the directors and actors (which, unfortunately, is also why the show is misinterpreted so often, in my humble opinion). The blocking and mood of every scene needs to be specified and created uniquely to each production. The music is hauntingly beautiful, but it is diverse and challenging. The difficulty with both these aspects is that the workload for the directors and actors intensifies greatly. These actors, though young and early in their careers, have taken on this challenge with maturity, enthusiasm, and tremendous creativity. Brandy, Brittany, Tykah, Ashley, Khayla, Marisssa, Teryn, Maya, Brielle, Justin, and Phoenix – thank you for your willingness, your collaboration, your camaraderie, your talent, and your trust in us as directors. A special thank you to Jon, who has taken on the role of Jesus with such care and leadership. Jon – your grace as a person and your strength of character, combined with your innate talent, represents everything we strive for in BAC theatre.
This process has been collaborative in a unique way. The set design, music and character interpretation, costume design, and artwork all developed cohesively and were intertwined from the beginning. In the dozens of shows I’ve directed I have never been a part of a team that overlaps and contributes in such a way that it is difficult to see the exact line between our jobs. The positivity and talent of this group overwhelms me with gratitude. Graham – you are a genius and I am so honored to work alongside you; Naomi – you’ve out done yourself (how is that even possible?); Sonja – you are gifted and mature beyond your years; Ivy – you keep getting better every year and are truly irreplaceable. And the student leaders within this group: Sonja, Marie, Dani, Teryn, Brandy – thank you for all your contributions, dedication, and positivity. Through this process we have created an amazing community that inspires me every day.
I truly hope that this show inspires you. The ‘truth’ of this show, which is the commitment to a stronger and better community through compassion, understanding, and kindness, is something that transcends any one story and is something we desperately need in the world right now. Schwartz used the truth of Jesus’s teachings and journey on this planet to illustrate this in the most simple and beautiful way. We invite you to be a part of this community for the next two hours.
“Out of the ruins and rubble, out of the smoke,
Out of our night of struggle can we see a ray of hope,
One pale thin ray reaching for the day,
We can build a beautiful city.” ~Stephen Schwartz
~Jessica Bostock, Director
