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Godspell presents the gospel of St. Matthew updated to New York City of the late '60s/early '70s, featuring Jesus Christ as a wandering minstrel dressed like a circus clown.
1 Godspell peut-être considéré comme un Top musical
The show originated in 1970 as Tebelak's master's thesis project, under the direction of Lawrence Carra, at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A version was performed at Carnegie Mellon in 1970, with several of the cast members from the CMU Music Department. Tebelak then directed the show, with much of the student cast, for a two-week, ten performance run at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (aka Cafe la Mama), New York City, opening February 24, 1971. It was brought to the attention of producers Edgar Lansbury (brother of Angela Lansbury) and Joseph Beruh by Carnegie alumnus Charles Haid (associate producer), who wanted to open it Off-Broadway.
The producers hired Stephen Schwartz, another alumnus of Carnegie Mellon's theater department, to write a new song score. Schwartz's songs incorporated a variety of musical styles, from pop to folk rock, gospel, and vaudeville. One song, "By My Side", written by CMU students Jay Hamburger and Peggy Gordon, was kept from the original score. As with the original score, most of the non-Schwartz lyrics were from the Episcopal Hymnal (see also the 1971 Off-Broadway run).
Act I
Opening ‡
Prologue:Towers of Babble ‡
Prepare ye The Way of the Lord
Save the People
Day By Day
Learn Your Lessons Well
O Bless the Lord
All for the Best
All Good Gifts
Light of the World
Act II
Learn Your Lessons Well (Reprise) ‡
Turn Back, O Man
Alas for You
By My Side
Beautiful City †
We Beseech Thee
Day By Day (Reprise)
On The Willows
Finale
‡ These songs were not part of the original production, but are sometimes performed in contemporary productions
"Beautiful City" was written in 1972 as part of the movie and re-written in 1993 after the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. Its position in the film is directly after "By My Side," which in turn follows directly on from "Alas for You," omitting the parable in between. This provides a sequence where Jesus upturns the tables at the temple before the pharisees. Then, scared by what he has done, he walks off, followed by the disciples, who ask, "Where are you going? Can you take me with you?" and they are reunited with Jesus, and sing "Beautiful City."
Many theatrical directors choose to use it in place of the "Day by Day" reprise. "Beautiful City" has also been used at the very end of the play in an additional dialogue-free scene that depicts the Resurrection, which was not depicted in the original.
In their Broadway Junior series — popular musicals edited to one act and appropriate for middle school — Music Theater International supplies "Beautiful City" as part of the show. This version contains much of the first act and very little of the second: "By My Side" is omitted entirely. "Beautiful City" is at a point in the beginning of the traditional second act, but followed quickly by the Last Supper, the Betrayal, and the Crucifixion.
The 2011 Broadway revival places "Beautiful City" between "We Beseech Thee" and the Last Supper, sung as a slow ballad by Jesus to his followers.
Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Godspell
Controversy
The hippie garb that the cast wears has caused controversy. In the 1999, "Notes on the Script", Stephen Schwartz wrote, "There are often misconceptions about the concept of the clown analogy in Godspell. For instance, sometimes it is misunderstood as the cast being 'hippies' or 'flower children'. The concept was derived by John-Michael Tebelak from a book by Harvey Cox, a professor at Harvard Divinity School, entitled Feast of Fools.
Another point to note is that Godspell has a particularly Protestant, rather than orthodox or Catholic, take on the public life of Christ, and departs somewhat from the biblical record. For example, St Peter, named in the four gospels more than all other followers of Christ combined, is completely absent in the play; his place as Jesus' "right hand man" is replaced by John the Baptist/Judas, mainly the latter role. Mary the mother of Jesus, present at the opening (Jn 2:1-12)and closing (Jn 19:25-27)of Jesus' public life, and at several points along the way, also disappears and is replaced by the Mary Magdelan role. The departure from the biblical account is an interesting point, if only to students of comparative Christian traditions.
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Version 1
Godspell (1971-05-Cherry Lane Theatre-Off Broadway)
Type de série: OriginalThéâtre: Cherry Lane Theatre (Broadway (Off) - Etats-Unis) Durée : 5 ans 4 semaines Nombre : 2124 représentationsPremière Preview : lundi 17 mai 1971Première : lundi 17 mai 1971Dernière : dimanche 13 juin 1976Mise en scène : Jean-Michel Tebelak • Chorégraphie : Producteur : Avec : Lamar ... Lamar Alford / Peggy ... Peggy Gordon / Judas ... David Haskell / Joanne ... Joanne Jonas / Robin ... Robin Lamont / Sonia ... Sonia Manzano / Gilmer ... Gilmer McCormick / Jeffrey ... Jeffrey Mylett / Jesus ... Stephen Nathan / Herb ... Herb SimonCommentaires : Based on The Gospel According to St. Matthew. Transferred to the Promenade Theatre where it ran 2,124 performances, then to Broadway, where it opened at the Broadhurst theatre June 22, 1976. It then transferred to the Plymouth Theatre (Septemeber 15, 1976) and finally to the Ambassador Theatre (January 12, 1977) where it closed September 4, 1977, after 527 performances on Broadway.
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Version 2
Godspell (1971-11-Roundhouse Theatre-London)
Type de série: Original LondonThéâtre: Roundhouse (Londres - Angleterre) Durée : Nombre : 1128 représentationsPremière Preview : mercredi 17 novembre 1971Première : mercredi 17 novembre 1971Dernière : InconnuMise en scène : Jean-Michel Tebelak • Chorégraphie : Producteur : Avec : David Essex (Jesus), Jeremy Irons (Judas), Verity-Anne Meldrum, Marti Webb, Tony Jackson, Mandy More, Derek Parkyn, Tom Saffery, Gay SoperCommentaires : With exactly the same theme as the contemporary “Jesus Christ Superstar”, this show aimed at absolute simplicity and a “Hippie”-feel as opposed to the heavy rock of JCS. Both achieved great success, but surprisingly “Godspell” attracted very little religious opposition whereas JCS received howls of protest.
Le spectacle sera transféré au Wyndham's Theatre le 26 janvier 1972.
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Version 3
Godspell (1972-01-Wyndham's Theatre-London)
Type de série: Original LondonThéâtre: Wyndham s Theatre (Londres - Angleterre) Durée : Nombre : Première Preview : mercredi 26 janvier 1972Première : mercredi 26 janvier 1972Dernière : InconnuMise en scène : Jean-Michel Tebelak • Chorégraphie : Producteur : Avec : David Essex (Jesus), Jeremy Irons (Judas), Verity-Anne Meldrum, Marti Webb, Tony Jackson, Mandy More, Derek Parkyn, Tom Saffery, Gay SoperCommentaires : With exactly the same theme as the contemporary “Jesus Christ Superstar”, this show aimed at absolute simplicity and a “Hippie”-feel as opposed to the heavy rock of JCS. Both achieved great success, but surprisingly “Godspell” attracted very little religious opposition whereas JCS received howls of protest. The show had transferred from the Roundhouse.
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Godspell (1976-06-Broadway Run)
Type de série: Original BroadwayThéâtre: Broadway Run (Broadway - Etats-Unis)Durée : 1 an 2 mois 2 semaines Nombre : 5 previews - 527 représentationsPremière Preview : jeudi 17 juin 1976Première : mardi 22 juin 1976Dernière : dimanche 04 septembre 1977Mise en scène : Jean-Michel Tebelak • Chorégraphie : Producteur :
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Version 6
Godspell (1977-05-Her Majesty's Theatre-London)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: Her Majesty's Theatre (Londres - Angleterre) Durée : Nombre : 98 représentationsPremière Preview : mardi 10 mai 1977Première : mardi 10 mai 1977Dernière : InconnuMise en scène : Robert Cheeseman • Chorégraphie : Rowan Stuart • Producteur : Avec : Allan Love (Jesus), Susan Beagley, Paul Burton, Anna Daventry, Paul Kerryson, Edward Newborn, Valerie Minifie, Janet Shaw, Andrew Secombe.Commentaires : This was a short “fill-in” following the collapse of “Fire Angel - it was already on a UK tour.
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Version 7
Godspell (1978-07-Shaftesbury Theatre-London)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: Shaftesbury Theatre (Londres - Angleterre) Durée : Nombre : 50 représentationsPremière Preview : vendredi 14 juillet 1978Première : vendredi 14 juillet 1978Dernière : InconnuMise en scène : Robert Cheeseman • Chorégraphie : Rowan Stuart • Producteur : Commentaires : This was the same production as in May 1977, but with a largely different cast. It was used as a “filler” after the sudden end of “Kismet” at the Shaftesbury. During this period Cameron Mackintosh’s production of “Godspell” would
occasionally pop in and out of the West End every time a short gap appeared.
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Version 8
Godspell (1981-06-Young Vic-London)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: Young Vic Theatre (Londres - Angleterre) Salle : Main StageDurée : 2 semaines Nombre : Première Preview : lundi 22 juin 1981Première : lundi 22 juin 1981Dernière : samedi 11 juillet 1981Mise en scène : Chorégraphie : Producteur :
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Version 9
Godspell (1988-06-Lamb's Theatre-Off Broadway)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: Lamb's Theatre (Broadway (Off) - Etats-Unis) Durée : 6 mois 3 semaines Nombre : 225 représentationsPremière Preview : dimanche 12 juin 1988Première : dimanche 12 juin 1988Dernière : samedi 31 décembre 1988Mise en scène : Chorégraphie : Producteur :
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Version 10
Godspell (1993-08-Barbican Theatre-London)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: Barbican (Londres - Angleterre) Salle : HallDurée : 3 semaines Nombre : Première Preview : mercredi 04 août 1993Première : mercredi 04 août 1993Dernière : lundi 30 août 1993Mise en scène : Lindsay Dolan • Chorégraphie : Producteur : Avec : Andy Crane (Jesus), Gemma Craven,, James Gaddas, Mark Greenstreet, Andrew Bradley, Richard Brightiff, Lisa Hull, Robert Irons, Barbara King, Shona Lindsay, David Rubin, Amanda Symonds.Commentaires : The show had been updated with topical references and turned into a kind of rock concert. It was almost universally condemned by the critics. The version was not helped by the fact that ‘Andy Crane, the blond and denimed children’s television personality signed up to play Jesus, is strikingly uncharismatic and bland - this resurrection is not good news’.
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Version 11
Godspell (1997-02-Victoria Theatre-Off Broadway)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: Victoria Theatre (Broadway (Off) - Etats-Unis) Durée : Nombre : Première Preview : vendredi 22 novembre 1996Première : jeudi 06 février 1997Dernière : InconnuMise en scène : Richard Haase • Chorégraphie : Gene Compson • Producteur : Avec : Jesus ... Michael Leonard James / Judas ... Ray Champion / Marla ... Marla Neal / NaTasha ... NaTasha Yvette Williams / Randi ... Randi Harmon / Warrick ... Warrick Harmon / Erik ... Erik Dumesane / Bishop ... Bishop Willie Gholson / Walter ... Walter Coppage / Adrienne ... Adrienne UnaeCommentaires : The first (and to date, only) all-African American production of the show.
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Version 12
Godspell (2000-08-York Theatre-Off Broadway)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: York Theatre (Broadway (Off) - Etats-Unis) Durée : 2 mois Nombre : Première Preview : mercredi 02 août 2000Première : mercredi 02 août 2000Dernière : samedi 07 octobre 2000Mise en scène : Shawn Rozsa • Chorégraphie : Ovi Vargas • Producteur : Avec : Shoshana Bean, Tim Cain, Catherine Carpenter, Will Erat John (the Baptist/Judas), Barrett Foa (Jesus), Lucia Giannetta, Capathia Jenkins,
Chad Kimball, Leslie Kritzer, Eliseo Roman
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Version 13
Godspell (2000-08-York Theatre-Off Broadway)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: York Theatre (Broadway (Off) - Etats-Unis) Durée : 2 mois Nombre : Première Preview : mercredi 02 août 2000Première : mercredi 02 août 2000Dernière : samedi 07 octobre 2000Mise en scène : Chorégraphie : Producteur :
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Godspell (2011-04-Union Theatre-London)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: Union Theatre (Londres - Angleterre) Durée : 3 semaines Nombre : Première Preview : mercredi 13 avril 2011Première : vendredi 15 avril 2011Dernière : samedi 07 mai 2011Mise en scène : Michael Strassen • Chorégraphie : Producteur : Avec : Madalena Alberto (Sonia) / Jill Armour (Gilmer) / Daryl Armstrong (Herb) / Jeremy Batt (Jeffrey) / Davis Brooks (Judas) / Billy Cullum (Jesus) / Natalie Green (Robin) / Sophie Isaacs (Joanne) / Caroline Hubbard (Peggy) / Iwan Lewis (Lamar)Commentaires : Regan De Wynter revive the legendary pop musical Godspell at The Union Theatre to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary. The show reunites Michael Strassen (Director) and Michael Bradley (Musical Director) whose previous production at The Union, Assassins, recently won Best Production at the Off-West End Awards.
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Version 16
Godspell (2011-11-Circle in the Square Theatre-Broadway Theatre)
Type de série: RevivalThéâtre: Circle in the Square Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis) Durée : 7 mois 2 semaines Nombre : 30 previews - 264 représentationsPremière Preview : jeudi 13 octobre 2011Première : lundi 07 novembre 2011Dernière : dimanche 24 juin 2012Mise en scène : Daniel Goldstein • Chorégraphie : Christopher Gattelli • Producteur : Avec : Jesus ... Hunter Parrish / John, Judas ... Wallace Smith
Uzo Aduba / Nick Blaemire / Celisse Henderson / Morgan James / Telly Leung / Lindsay Mendez / Anna Maria Perez de TagleCommentaires : Originally planned for 2007, but was postponed when the financial backing fell through.
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