VIDEO: On This Day, November 7- Prepare Ye for the First Broadway Revival of GODSPELL

By: Nov. 07, 2017

Today we celebrate the first Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, which opened on this day in 2011.

Directed by Daniel Goldstein and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific), GODSPELL starred Corbin Blue as Jesus (formerly played by Hunter Parrish) and Wallace Smith as Judas, and co-starring Uzo Aduba, Nick Blaemire, Celisse Henderson, Morgan James, Telly Leung, Hannah Elless(previously played by Lindsay Mendez), George Salazar and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.

Godspell has entertained audiences the world over for decades. Major sit-down productions of the smash hit musical were produced in most all major cities including Boston, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago and Toronto. During much of 1972, these seven companies performed simultaneously. Productions also opened abroad in Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Melbourne. A London production, which opened in 1971, ran for nearly three years. In the last four years of its New York run, there were 25 companies performing Godspellaround the world with eight resident companies and three touring companies.

Godspell has been credited for establishing Toronto as a major theatre center that could support its own productions with its own actors. The legendary 1972-73 Toronto production cast local actors for the record-breaking production providing the first paying jobs for actors Victor Garber, Eugene Levy, AndRea Martin, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas and Martin Short. Paul Schaffer served as musical director.

A film version of Godspell was released in 1973 set in modern New York City. The cast featured Toronto alum Victor Garber as Jesus, David Haskell as John the Baptist/Judas and Lynne Thigpenin her first film role. John-Michael Tebelak co-wrote the screenplay and served as the creative consultant. The song "Beautiful City" was written for the film and has subsequently been performed in major stage revivals of the show. Godspell permeated pop culture when its song "Day By Day" reached #13 on the Billboard Top 100 list.






2023 Regional Awards


RELATED STORIES

1
VIDEO: On This Day, July 11- Robin Williams Brings His Act to Broadway Photo
VIDEO: On This Day, July 11- Robin Williams Brings His Act to Broadway

On this day in 2002, comedy star Robin Williams headed to Broadway for a limited three-night run at the Broadway Theater! Check out a clip from Robin's legendary stand up comedy tour de force below! (Content warning: NSFW. Explicit language).

2
VIDEO: On This Day, July 10- XANADU Opens On Broadway Photo
VIDEO: On This Day, July 10- XANADU Opens On Broadway

On this day in 2007, the musical adaptation of the cult classic film Xanadu opened at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre. 

3
On This Day- Original HAMILTON Stars Depart Bway Production Photo
On This Day- Original HAMILTON Stars Depart B'way Production

On this day in 2016, original Hamilton cast members, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, and Ariana DeBose along with the musical's star and composer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, took their final bows in the hit musical.

4
Video: On This Day: Happy Birthday Audra McDonald and Betty Buckley! Photo
Video: On This Day: Happy Birthday Audra McDonald and Betty Buckley!

Today we're sending out a heartfelt Happy Birthday to Broadway legends, Audra McDonald and Betty Buckley!

Videos


TICKET CENTRAL

Recommended For You