DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Godspell is one of those shows I’ve been obsessing about for a few years now, ever since I heard the recording of the 2012 original Broadway cast. I had some very clear visions on staging many of the parables and musical numbers. Flash forward a few years, I meet some folks who say, “We need basses!” and so in2016 I join the TUMC Chancel Choir (and Chamber Singers AND Sacred Pops AND the handbell choir…).
Shortly thereafter, Kendall Carter is brought in as the new Director of Music and Worship. Turns out he had a vision, too, of restarting the long-dormant theater program at the church, but this time using it as a way to further the church’s mission of bringing new folks into Trinity and showing them what it is that goes on in these walls. We make the decision to open up the auditions to not only the church, but the community at large. And then Kendall decides to do Godspell as the inaugural production for the newly-branded Trinity Summer Musicals. Awesome! Here’s my chance!
As I did more research into the show, I began to discover that I had many misconceptions about what the show is about. I can assure you, it’s not “a bunch of hippies sitting around singing about Jesus”. Not that I thought that, but that’s another story. So what is Godspell about? It’s a group of strangers coming together to form a community under the teachings of both Jesus and Biblical parables. There’s no real plot, and there’s no real sense of a through-line. It’s goofy and silly and serious and moving, but somehow it works. The authors of the show encourage those who get to direct it to put their own stamp on it, giving it a distinct look and feel, and to involve the cast in the creation of the final product.
And so that’s what you’re about to see unfold before you. From the often-cut “Prologue/Tower of Babble” (where different philosophers throughout the ages hurl their axioms for living the best life at an unsuspecting modern world, until shut down by John the Baptist, saying, “Hey! Check out THIS philosophy!”), to the often-told story of Jesus’ crucifixion (demonstrating that the Community can continue without their teacher being there physically in their midst). You’ll witness our newly-formed community comprised of members of TUMC and theater folks from as far away as Denton sharing their gifts to the best of their ability and telling the stories in their own way with some nudges from me and Kendall (and many, many nudges from Nathan).
Oh! One last thought – feel free to get up and dance in the aisles with the cast, clap along, sing with “Prepare Ye” and ”Day By Day”. You’re part of the community, too, and I’d hate to think that you’d miss out on any magic…
Mike Hathaway
Director
