|
Pharisees Rob Navarre (’08) and Seth Masterson (’07) stand behind a praying Jesus Christ, played by Chris Felts (’08). |
Godspell, a rock musical based loosely on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, is a blend of mime, charades, vaudeville routines and impersonations. It opened off-Broadway in New York City in 1971, went on to play Broadway, and also became a successful Hollywood film. The original off-Broadway production was so successful that permanent acting companies opened across North America, including a legendary Toronto company that included Gilda Radner and Martin Short, who both went on to enjoy national success with the Second City comedy troupe and Saturday Night Live.
Well-known regional director Edward Morgan is guest director for the Wittenberg production, which takes a fresh look at the musical, adding a story and some new arrangements from the 2002 revival as well as giving a new look to the setting and costumes. Morgan has worked at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the Kennedy Center and the Shakespeare Theatre of Washington, D.C., among others. He is also a past recipient of Washington D.C.’s Helen Hayes Award, and he earned a directing fellowship from the Drama League of New York.
The cast includes Chris Felts, class of 2008 from Bloomington, Ind., as Jesus; David Herzog, senior from Springfield, Ohio, as John the Baptist; and Daniel Portice, class of 2007 from Rochester Hills, Mich., as Judas. Other members of the company are Blaire Butler, Cincinnati, Ohio; Megan Coleman, Waconia, Minn.; Jordan Davis, Maineville, Ohio; Andrea Migliozzi, Gahanna, Ohio; Brien Sewell, Greenville, Ohio; Evan Lewis Smith, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., all class of 2009; Eric Brookins, Hilliard, Ohio; Kat Kalinoski, Granville, Ohio; Sarah Kennedy, Cincinnati, Ohio; Kaleigh Lockhart, Florence, S.C.; Robert Navarre, Bellefontaine, Ohio; Amanda Rollins, La Crescenta, Calif., all class of 2008; and Kristina Tannenbaum, Lake Jackson, Texas, class of 2007.
Godspell tickets are $4 and are available at the Service Center Desk in the Benham-Pence Student Center on Wittenberg’s campus. Phone reservations may be made by calling (937) 327-7443 during business hours.
- Marj Newman
021-06
|
Related Links: • |
