Production Notes

After seeing a run-through of the show on Wednesday, John Paff wrote the following introduction for the performance program. The links below point to "little known facts about Godspell" on the show's official website at Huntington University.

Welcome! The purpose of Godspell is to present the joyful message of the hope of Christ through a musical celebration of the Gospel.

Jesus came to Earth in an era very much like our own – an age of conflicting philosophies and religious perspectives. The opening scene of Godspell captures this Babel of competing worldviews. If you are left a bit confused by all this, then we have done a good job of setting the stage for what is to come.

Onto the scene steps our Jesus. Unlike earlier productions of Godspell , which cast Jesus and his disciples as a traveling band of troubadours, we interpret Christ as the master carpenter of the ultimate world makeover show. Jesus comes to help his followers remodel their lives.

You will immediately recognize Jesus’ stories. The script of Godspell is drawn nearly verbatim from the Gospel according to Matthew. The parables are punctuated with memorable songs by Stephen Schwartz that combine 18th century hymnbook lyrics with 20th Century rock'n'roll.

There is a fair amount of reverent silliness in Godspell , particularly in the first act. Playwright John-Michael Tebelak reminds us that the teachings of Jesus were thought ridiculous and absurd in His own day. Godspell reacts against the dour, ivory-tower intellectualism that robs our faith of joy.

The second act focuses on Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion. In one particularly poignant scene, Jesus helps his disciples pack up the construction tools they have used in vain attempts to rebuild their own lives. Through His death and resurrection, the Master Builder completes construction of the new life. The finale is a joyful celebration of the risen Christ.