Broadway Revival of GODSPELL to be 'Micro-Financed'

Theatrical producer and Tony-Nominee Ken Davenport today announced the first-ever crowd-funded Broadway show.

Davenport is aiming to bring together the largest community of theater lovers and investors ever assembled to produce a production on Broadway with his upcoming revival of Godspell. The announcement proclaims that "Through this historic initiative, the innovative producer has made it possible for potentially thousands of people across the country to "see their names in lights" as producers of a classic Broadway musical."

Based on The Gospel According to St. Matthew, Godspell-with a score by Academy and Grammy Award-winner and six-time Tony Award-Nominee Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), and book by John-Michael Tebelak-uses improvisation and contemporary themes to illustrate a message of kindness, tolerance and hope that still resonates today. From the moment it premiered on May 13, 1971, Godspell electrified audiences with such instantly recognizable hits as "Day by Day," and favorites like "Learn Your Lessons Well," "Turn Back, O Man" "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord," and "Light of the World." One of the most popular musicals in the world, Godspell ran for more than 2,600 performances in New York. In addition to successful touring productions in major U.S. cities, productions of Godspell have been seen across the globe.

Davenport's business model enables investors to serve as Broadway producers for this revival with a comparatively low minpimum investment that amounts to a fraction of what standard Broadway investment requirements dictate.

The release notes that " Traditionally, the price of one investing unit in a typical Broadway show can be as high as $10,000, $25,000 or even $100,000. One unit in Godspell is only $100 (there is a minimum investment of 10 units or $1,000).

Shining a spotlight on the crowd-funded backer network, the name of every single investor, regardless of the amount invested, will appear on a poster prominently placed outside the theater. In addition, every investor's name will appear on the website PeopleOfGodspell.com along with their photo, hometown, a personal quote from each producer, as well as links to their personal Facebook and Twitter accounts. Opportunities for opening-night performance and gala tickets, complimentary tickets to previews, invitations to private cast functions and more may also be available."

"Godspell is essentially about a community of people coming together," said composer Stephen Schwartz, whose score for Wicked has become one of the most popular in modern theater history. "Because of this, when Ken told me his idea of bringing together people from around the country with strong personal connections to Godspell as producers for the show's return to Broadway, it seemed to me not only innovative and exciting, but particularly appropriate for Godspell and what it means."

"I couldn't be more thrilled to have the opportunity to produce Godspell on Broadway," says producer Ken Davenport, whose roster includes such recent Broadway hits as Speed the Plow, Blithe Spirit and Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America, and Off-Broadway staples, Altar Boyz, Awesome 80s Prom, My First Time and the upcoming Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage. "I'm even more excited that it will be one of the first ever for-profit crowd-funded enterprises. Micro-financing a Broadway show is an idea that I've had for years after being inspired by French entrepreneurs Guillaume Colboc and Benjamin Pommeraud, Seth Godin's Tribes, Kickstarter.org and, of course, the campaign of Barack Obama. I've just been waiting for the right show. And Godspell is that show. Everywhere I go I meet people who are so passionate about Broadway and passionate about Godspell. And now, those people can have the chance to participate in both."

Godspell, which is currently slated to open in the spring/summer 2011 Broadway season, will be directed by Off-Broadway wunderkind Daniel Goldstein and choreographed by Tony-Nominee Christopher Gattelli.

To learn more about investing in Godspell, please visit www.PeopleOfGodspell.com.

For information on the production, please visit www.Godspell.com.