Threaded Order Chronological Order
| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 08:47 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 08:44 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: Godspell and the Tonys - bobby2 04:24 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| Probably. The off-Broadway production had received 4 Drama Desk awards 5 years earlier. The reviews for the Broadway version were mostly mixed to negative and rather dismissive. Nevertheless, audiences liked it well enough to give it a 15-month run on Broadway, and it recouped its investment. |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: lordofspeech 08:57 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - BroadwayTonyJ 08:44 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| That original Off-Broadway production seemed to have been sourced from improvisation and community. I think it came from Carnegie Tech, right? I can imagine the Broadway production may have suffered in comparison. But the show itself is terrific. |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 09:17 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - lordofspeech 08:57 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| Carnegie Mellon University per Wikipedia. It was a time when off-Broadway was commercially viable. Long-running shows like The Fantasticks, Little Mary Sunshine, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!", Your Own Thing, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors, and others were the result. I agree that Godspell is a terrific musical. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: andyboy 11:39 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - BroadwayTonyJ 09:17 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| It is indeed a terrific musical, except for that murder at the end. Yes, I know that to people of faith, that murder is meant somehow to bring redemption to mankind. But to us non-believers and atheists, it's just very bizarre to watch a murder followed by a great celebration. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 01:07 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - andyboy 11:39 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| You would have really been confused by a summerstock production I did back in the 80's, which we nicknamed "Beach Blanket Godspell." I think, in the original production, the starkness of Jesus being "crucified" to the very plain, perhaps slightly forbidding chain link fence was still dramatic. But in this version, having a "Frankie Avalon" Jesus dying upon a surfboard (yup) was just unintentionally comic. To me it took all the potential drama out of the scene. And I'm Jewish, btw. And btw, I think the "murder followed by a great celebration" is still done very respectfully. The music (in the original version, somewhat reworked in the recent revival) gradually shifts from the tragedy of the death and the mourning ("Long live god" etc) to a very beautiful, prayerful layering of "Prepare Ye" - even for someone who doesn't believe in the resurrection, there's something very profound in that moment. (I ALWAYS get chills hearing that part.) Then yes, the music does finally move to the joyous uptempo beat of the originally sung "Prepare Ye." But maybe you've never seen a New Orleans-style funeral either? :-) |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: pecansforall 07:40 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - Chromolume 01:07 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| having a "Frankie Avalon" Jesus dying upon a surfboard (yup) was just unintentionally comic. In the recent tour of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Jesus died as the result of a glitter overdose. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: That ending.... | |
| Last Edit: bway1430 11:15 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| Posted by: bway1430 11:15 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - Chromolume 01:07 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| There was a great article in the Washington Post about the legendary Toronto cast of Godspell and a funny story re the ending (which may not be detailed but based on memory): One night Gilda Radner and a cast mate (I think Martin Short) went to see pal George Carlin perform after their show had ended. Carlin assumed GODSPELL show was a long show,so was really surprised to see them in the audience when he took the stage. When he asked them how they made it over to his show so quickly, Gilda quipped "Tonight, we shot him." |
|
| Link | They all starred in GODSPELL then went on to become comedy legends |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 09:08 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - lordofspeech 08:57 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| I was at CMU when Godspell was a graduate directing project. It has a completely different score (except for the one song that remained, by Peggy Gordon). When Lansbury and Beruh came to CMU to see the show, they loved the whole idea, but lew it needed a new score. Stephen Schwartz was at CMY at the time, but had nothing to do with the original GODSPELL- which was actually called THE GODSPELL The show had an initial run at LaMama with the CMU score. Beruh and Lansbury had hrard some songs from Schwartz's PIPPIN, then a work in progress, and thought he'd be right for Godspell. The show that opened at Cherry Lane was a page one rewrite. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: The Godspell at CMU - Image of the handbill from Dec 14, 1970 | |
| Last Edit: theaterluvr 12:01 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| Posted by: theaterluvr (theaterluvr@optonline.net) 11:54 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - NewtonUK 09:08 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| Conceived and Directed by John-Michael Tebelak Music Composed by Duane Bolick I was a student at CMU in 1970. I attended what I believe was the single public performance of THE GODSPELL. NewtonUK, please correct me if I'm wrong I still have the 2-sided show program. Many on this board will recognize several of the names in the cast list. I emailed 2 images to Ann. I hope she will post them here. Or email me. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: The Godspell at CMU - Image of the handbill from Dec 14, 1970 | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 10:50 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: The Godspell at CMU - Image of the handbill from Dec 14, 1970 - theaterluvr 11:54 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| Hi. I was a student at CMU in 1970, as well. I believe Masters Thesis shows had only one performance - though it may have been 2. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| Images | |
| Posted by: T.B._Admin. 07:50 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: The Godspell at CMU - Image of the handbill from Dec 14, 1970 - theaterluvr 11:54 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
  |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: Theatergoer1978 06:40 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - NewtonUK 09:08 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| I never heard that backstory - didn't know the idea for the show didn't originate with Stephen Schwartz. Interesting. Whatever you may think of the show, score, etc., the movie is one of the great New York movies. It shows off a lot locations, including (the top of) the Twin Towers. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| Is Godspell A Great Show? | |
| Posted by: Glamourboy 12:16 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - NewtonUK 09:08 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| I've only seen the movie (when I was a kid)....and the songs are amazing, but the story itself felt so draggy to me. Is the play better? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| No. | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 04:04 am EDT 09/04/22 | |
| In reply to: Is Godspell A Great Show? - Glamourboy 12:16 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| I have rarely sat through a more insufferable show... except for the songs. I listen to/sing along to the original cast album *often*... I don't know if you could pay me to sit through the full musical again. Christian bible lessons done by actors encouraged to be at their most "musical theater kid" levels while being encouraged to attempt improv... it's honestly hard for me to understand how the show became SO popular with the entire script, rather than as a concert. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Is Godspell A Great Show? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 12:57 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: Is Godspell A Great Show? - Glamourboy 12:16 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| To me, it's as "immersive" a show can be without perhaps literally being that. In other words, I think it needs an audience, and doesn't translate well to film. It's a show about community, and the audience is part of that. Plus the film replaced the Prologue with that odd series of people "seeing Jesus" in sometimes very gimmicky ways - like through the light of an old Xerox machine. I haven't seen the film in years, but remember it not being nearly as satisfying as the stage show. The film, however, did introduce "Beautiful City" (in a very 1970's style uptempo version) - which has since become a part of the stage show. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Is Godspell A Great Show? | |
| Posted by: Glamourboy 03:17 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Is Godspell A Great Show? - Chromolume 12:57 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| Again, I've only seen the film version....but this was my confusion about the story.... It takes place in modern times (in the film, in a 1970s New York)....and the disciples are found from different walks of life. So right off, I'm wondering....is this a retelling of the Jesus story, or is this group of strangers getting together to retell the Jesus story. Haven't they heard it before? They put on somewhat goofy clothing...for...well...I'm not sure why. They play out some of the Jesus stories, but with a more slapstick style. It's all fun and games for Jesus and his friends...until it is not. Then, of course, Jesus is crucified in a moment that sucks all of the wacky joy out of the story. The story ends with another catchy song. Was the story something MORE than this in the stage version? |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Is Godspell A Great Show? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 12:12 am EDT 08/30/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Is Godspell A Great Show? - Glamourboy 03:17 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| I would suggest seeing the stage version. It's not the film. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Is Godspell A Great Show? | |
| Posted by: tandelor 01:32 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Is Godspell A Great Show? - Chromolume 12:57 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
|
|
|
| I drove up from Buffalo with friends to see it in Toronto. Little did I, or anyone, know it would become legendary for its unknown cast: Victor Garber as Jesus, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas, and Martin Short. The show’s musical director was also a young unknown: Paul Shaffer. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.053544 seconds.