Red Crescendo Theatre Company Presents GODSPELL
By: A.A. Cristi Nov. 30, 2016
Red Crescendo Theatre Company presents their inaugural production of Stephen Schwartz and John Michael Tebelak's timeless classic GODSPELL (2012 VERSION) performing December 10th - 18th, Saturdays and Sundays @ 2pm as well as Thursday December 15th @ 7pm, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647. Tickets are $12; to purchase tickets call 773-598-4549 or visit gorillatango.com
Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden); and it took the world by storm. Led by the international hit, "Day by Day," Godspell features a parade of beloved songs, including "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord," "Learn Your Lessons Well," "All for the Best," "All Good Gifts," "Turn Back, O Man" and "By My Side." A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus' life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus' messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life.Founded in 2016 by a group of Alumni from Carthage College, Red Crescendo is a New Theatre Company based in Chicago whose mission is to create harmony between music and theater while constantly striving to tell stories in an innovative, accessible, and authentic manner. MORE ABOUT THE CAST AND CREW
Stephen Schwartz (Music and New Lyrics) : Stephen Schwartz was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama. Upon coming back to live in New York City, he went to work as a producer for RCA Records, but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theatre. His first major credit was the title song for the play BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well. In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for GODSPELL, for which he won several awards including two Grammys. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's MASS, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for PIPPIN and two years later, THE MAGIC SHOW. At one point, GODSPELL, PIPPIN, and THE MAGIC SHOW were all running on Broadway simultaneously. He next wrote the music and lyrics for THE BAKER'S WIFE, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel's WORKING, to which he contributed four songs, and which he also adapted and directed, winning the Drama Desk Award as best director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS "American Playhouse" series. Next came songs for a one-act musical for children, CAPTAIN LOUIE, and a children's book, THE PERFECT PEACH. He then wrote music for three of the songs in the Off-Broadway revue, PERSONALS, lyrics to Charles Strouse's music for RAGS, and music and lyrics for CHILDREN OF EDEN. He then began working in film, collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features POCAHONTAS, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, for which he won another Academy Award for the song "When You Believe". He most recently collaborated with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's ENCHANTED. Mr. Schwartz provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, GEPPETTO, seen on The Wonderful World of Disney and recently adapted for the stage as GEPPETTO & SON. He has released two CDs on which he sings new songs, entitled RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY. Mr. Schwartz's most recent musical, WICKED, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway and in several other productions around the United States and the world. In 2008, WICKED reached its 1900th performance on Broadway, making Mr. Schwartz the only songwriter in Broadway history ever to have three shows run more than 1900 performances. A book about his career, "Defying Gravity", has recently been released by Applause Books. Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs Musical Theatre Workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and serves on the ASCAP board; he is also currently the President of the Dramatists' Guild. John Michael Tebelak (Concieved and Originally Directed, book by) : John Michael Tebelak originally wrote Godspell as his Masters Thesis project at Carnegie-Mellon in 1971. Subsequently, he directed productions of Godspell at La MaMa Theatre, the Cherry Lane Theatre, the Promenade Theatre, and on Broadway. He received the 1971 Drama Desk award for Most Promising Director. In 1972, Mr. Tebelak directed the play, Elizabeth I on Broadway, and off-Broadway staged The Glorious One in 1975 and Ka-Boom in 1980. He is also co-writer of the 1973 film of Godspell with David Greene. He was dramaturg for the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York and staged liturgical drama there, and the church's theatre bears his name. John Michael Tebelak died April 2, 1985 of a heart attack in New York City.
Dan Brennan (Director): Dan Brennan is an actor, director, and lyricist residing in Chicago,
IL. He graduated with a B.A. in both Theatre (general) and Musical Theatre from Carthage
College. Dan has worked as Music Director for Fair Lady Productions in Naperville, IL and Directed the world premiere of Isabel Zuniga's MENTAL at Towle Theatre in Hammond, IN. He is the Artistic Director for Red Crescendo.
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