The Styrous® Viewfinder: Godspell ~ Part 1

May 19, 2021

Godspell ~ Part 1

A couple of days ago marked fifty years since the musical, Godspell opened Off Broadway on May 17, 1971. Fifty years ago! I can't believe it's been that long!

Godspell is a musical composed by Stephen Schwartz with the book by John-Michael Tebelak. The musical is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew. The parables are interspersed with music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns, with the passion of Christ appearing briefly near the end of the show.

There has been controversy over the years about the lack of an apparent Resurrection in the show. Some choose to view the curtain call, in which Jesus appears, as symbolic of the resurrection; others point to the moment when the cast raise him above their heads. While either view is valid, both miss the point. Godspell is about the formation of a community which carries on the teachings of Jesus after he has gone. In other words, it is the effect he has on the OTHERS which is the story of the show, not whether or not he himself is resurrected. Therefore, it is very important at the end of the show that it be clear that the OTHERS have come through the violence and pain of the crucifixion sequence and leave with a joyful determination to carry on the ideas and feelings they have learned during the course of the show.

The graphic design for the poster for the show was by David Edward Byrd who also worked for Bill Graham for venues in the new Fillmore East Ballroom in Manhattan's East Village.

In 1977 Godspell won the Tony Award for Best Original Score, written by Stephen Schwartz.

Godspell began as a project by drama students at Carnegie Mellon University and then moved to the off-off-Broadway theater La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in the East Village of Manhattan. The show was then rescored for an off-Broadway production, which became a long-running success.