Totem Pole Playhouse Rounds Out 2014 with GODSPELL, Now thru 8/31

Totem Pole Playhouse, America's beloved summer theatre located between Chambersburg and Gettysburg, PA in Caledonia State Park, will close-out the 2014 summer season with Godspell, the Broadway musical based on the gospel of Matthew, to be staged as a celebration of the local community. In addition to a cast of ten professional actors from New York City, the production will utilize the musical talents of local children and area churchgoers and choir members.

"This entire season at Totem Pole has been all about thanking the local community for 64 years of financial support and loyal patronage." said the playhouse's new Producing Artistic Director, Rowan Joseph. "Stephen Schwartz who created Godspell, has described the show as being about strangers coming together to form a community and committing to Jesus. I thought it was a great way for me to personally thank the community for welcoming me as a new member and for the playhouse to celebrate our local faith community." Joseph, who took over the business and creative management of the historic playhouse this past September, is directing the production.

Totem Pole is also offering a "special family discount" to encourage parents to bring their children to the show; groups of 6 or more will receive 25% off with the code "Hallelujah!" over the phone, at the box office or on-line at www.totempoleplayhouse.org.

The show stars Michael Jayne Walker as 'Jesus' and Nathan Meyer in the dual roles of 'John the Baptist' and 'Judas' and Alyson Bloom, Kara Boyer, Em Grosland, Tiffany Mann, Andrew McMath, Cheeyang Ng, Jp Qualters, and Megan Yelaney. Boyer played 'Patsy Cline' in A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline and Grosland portrayed 'Tom Thumb' in Barnum last year at the playhouse and Meyer was the lead in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat last summer at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster.

Darren Server, who has appeared in and musical directed many shows over the last eight seasons at Totem Pole returns as the Musical Director for Godspell. Christine O'Grady, who was the Associate Director/Choreographer for the recent Broadway and National Tour productions of Hair will serve as choreographer for the production.

The casting of the finale in Totem Pole's production of Godspell will include area children, members of various churches and church choirs from the communities surrounding the playhouse, a choir from the Cumberland Valley School of Music, members of the Gettysburg Community Theatre, and various other groups. Each group will have to opportunity to appear in at least one performance.

Sue McMurtray, Totem Pole's long-serving Managing Director said that the playhouse is looking for members of local churches who can sing (even if they are not in the choir) who would be willing to appear in a single performance of the show. The churches whose members appear in the show will receive a small donation out of the box office proceeds from that performance. Local children who have performed with Chambersburg Community Theatre and Gettysburg Community Theatre and children who attended Totem Pole's Children's Theatre Camp will have an opportunity to appear on-stage at the end of the show.

Jamie Trotty, Adult Choir Director for St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chambersburg said her members were very excited about being able to participate in the musical which is based on the Gospel of Matthew. "Our choir members were very excited to see the article in the paper looking for choirs to help out at Totem Pole this summer."

Choirs or members of area churches who sing and are interested in being part of the production should contact McMurtray at smcmurtray@totempoleplayhouse.org for more information.

The show will run through August 31st. Opening night, August 8th will be a Meet & Greet gala benefit for Gettysburg C. A. R. E. S. Attendees will have a chance to meet the cast following the play with a post show party under the tent. A portion of the opening night ticket proceeds will benefit Gettysburg C.A.R.E.S.

Pictured: The cast of Totem Pole Playhouse's final production of the season, Godspell, which will run from August 8th through August 31st. (photo credit: Christopher Shatzer) - Front row: Cheeyang NG, Tiffany Mann; Middle Row: Alyson Bloom, Kara Boyer, Em Grosland, Andrew McMath; and Back Row: Nathan Meyer, Michael Jayne Walker, Megan Yelaney, Jp Qualters.