Godspell 2001 Touring Production : Really THAT bad?

[Parks]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 2:04am

We were discussing Godspell in the GODSPELL 2008 CASTING! thread, and somebody mentioned the 2001 production. I've been dying to know--why was this production so hated? There are easily more people who do not like the orchestrations from this show than people who do. I think it was nice to hear something new.

From what I've...seen... of the production, it looked like it had some really cool elements to it... and some... not-so-cool elements. The finale was awesome, I thought.

Also--I LOVED the Jesus' voice. His version of the Finale almost always gives me goosebumps on the second time he sings, "Oh God, I'm dying".

I spent about 15 minutes one day TRYING to find out what his name was. I forgot his name, but I finally found it and didn't recognize it. Has he done any work since then?

What are your thoughts on Godspell 2001?

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 2:37am

I didn't see the show but I thought the orchestration and energy was great and I loved the vocals...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 2:52am

People didn't like it for one of two reasons. Either they were purists and they hated the changes or they thought it wasn't as good as Godspell 2000 with Barrett Foa, Shoshana Bean and Chad Kimbal.

[lildogs]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:17am

Jesus was played by Joe Carney...he was also Kenickie in a national tour of Grease and now lives in Rhode Island with his new wife.

[me2]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 9:42pm

I LOVED the show. There were some really talented people in it. Any word on Sal Sabella? (Am I remembering his name right?)

It was directed by Scott Schwartz, Stephen Schwartz's son, and its presence spawned many local productions in my area, including a number of church productions.

It had a revolutionary use of technology, the music was very contemporary for the pop sound, and it was plain old cool, with hip costumes and great energy. I loved it.
Broadway Blog: 525,600 Million Minutes: How Do You Survive the Workshop Process?

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 3/12/08 at 10:50pm

I hate the way they changed the songs, on the cast recording of the 2001 National Tour! I did not see the production, but Turn Back O Man is completely different and sounds terrible as do many of the other songs, in my opinion. It lost the authenticity and charm the Original Off Broadway Cast Recording had... the original Off Broadway Recording is the only recording of Godspell I can tolerate. (its not one of my favourite shows, the lyrics are terrible, but the tunes are catchy. A few songs in it are quite good though).

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 1:45am

Ok. My voice teacher was the John The Baptist/Judas in the national tour, and I he always tells me stories. I would have loved to see this production and I had read an article in a newspaper about the tech. related aspects in the show. I also like how they modernized the music. Sorry, i'll edit this post later to say more details, my battery is about to die.