Godspell: first Broadway revival arrives in Oct


The 40th Anniversary production and first-ever Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, produced by Ken Davenport, will arrive on Broadway in the fall, opening at the Circle in the Square on 7 Nov 2011, following previews from 13 Oct 2011.

 

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on 11 Jul 2011.

The Broadway revival will reunite director Daniel Goldstein (Boradway debut) and choreographer Christopher Gattelli (Tony Award-winner: South Pacific), the creative team of the critically-acclaimed 2006 Paper Mill Playhouse production of Godspell.

Goldstein and Gattelli are the same team that were to have helmed the 2008 Broadway revival of Godspell by producer Adam Epstein that was set to open at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on 23 Oct 2008. In Aug 2008 Epstein announced that his production had been indefinately postponed. That revival was to have starred Gavin Creel in the title role of 'Jesus,' alongside 'American Idol' finalist Diana DeGarmo as 'Mary.'

The revival features scenic design by David Korins (Passing Strange, Bridge and Tunnel), costume design by Miranda Hoffman (Well), lighting design by Ben Stanton (Angels in America) and orchestrations by Michael Holland (Hurricane).

Godspell is a modern-day version of the gospel of Matthew. John the Baptist calls a group of young disciples to leave their daily lives and follow Jesus the Christ. Jesus explains the gospel to his followers, leading them in acting out the parables using song, mime and comedy.

Conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelakwith, Godspell features music and new lyricss by Academy and Grammy Award winner and six time Tony Award nominee Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), which includes recognizable songs, such as "Day by Day", that have become staples of both the American musical theatre and popular culture alike.

The original production of Godspell opened off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre on 13 May 1971 and in August of 1971 moved to the larger Promenade Theatre where it ran for 2,124 performances making it one of the longest running Off-Broadway musicals in history.

After five years of sold-out audiences Off-Broadway, Godspell made its Broadway debut on 22 Jun 1976 at the Broadhurst Theatre. The show moved to the Plymouth and the Ambassador before closing on 4 Sep 1977 after 527 performances. In all, the musical achieved more than 2,600 performances both on Broadway and off.

Conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelakwith music and new lyrics by Academy and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), Godspell has continued to electrify audiences throughout the country since its original New York premiere in May 1971.

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