Playwrights Theatre Presents GODSPELL, 7/24-26

The Madison Recreation Department and Playwrights Theatre present GODSPELL Conceived and Originally Directed by John-Michael Tebelak, Music and New Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Originally Produced on the New York Stage by Edgar Lansbury, Stuart Duncan and Jospeh Beruh.

In a special arrangement with the Theatre Authority, the cast of the play will include professional Equity Actors who will be working alongside the student actors as mentors and fellow performers, all of whom will be familiar to New Jersey audiences.

The production (appropriate for teenagers and adults) will have three performances:July 24, July 25 at 7:30pm and July 26 at 2:00pm. The production will be directed by Danielle Constance and musical direction by Karen Romero with assistant musical direction by Jane Keitel. The cast features student actors Anastasia Arvanites, Melissa Barry, Rob Bazaral, Larry Bissett, Katharine Brundage, Kavi Daniels, Loren Donnelly, Max Dreitlein, Mike Dreitlein, Pauline Figarelli, Brian Lang, Kathryn McManus, Kristin McManus, Alex Post, Walter F. Rodriguez, Jayati Samar.

Professional actors Najah A. Johnson*, Sahirah Johnson* and Jane Keitel* will be donating their talents to the process.

Single tickets are on sale now $10 for adults and $5 for students/child. For tickets, call the box office at 973-514-1787 X31 or online at www.ptnj.org. There will no charge for Senior Citizens who should call the Senior Center at 973-593-3095 to secure their tickets. Performances will take place at Madison High School, 170 Ridgedale Avenue in Madison, NJ 07940.

"This is a very powerful talented cast of local performers," said John Pietrowski, Playwrights Theatre Artistic Director. "Audiences should expect a very energetic and moving production."

About The Production:
Written by Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), this long running musical (the original production ran over 2,100 performances, was revived 3 times, and a second revival in 2012) features pop, rock and folk style songs as well as lessons and skits. Schwartz has said the show was "never intended to be a "Sunday school lesson". "Godspell, at its heart, is about the formation of a community out of disparate people coming together over very basic and simple philosophical concepts, such as "Always treat others as you would have them treat you".

About Playwrights Theatre:
Founded in 1986, Playwrights Theatre is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit professional theatre and arts education institution dedicated to developing and nurturing the dramatic imagination of artists, students, and audiences. Our New Play Program, which includes the The New Jersey Emerging Women Playwrights Program and the Literary Artist Fellowship Program creates development opportunities for professional writers through readings, workshops and productions, and invites audiences to participate in authentic feedback experiences. Our New Jersey Writers Project, Poetry Out Loud, New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest and Festival, and Creative Arts Academy programs provide a comprehensive and hands-on arts education experience to over 31,000 students, Pre-K through adult.

Writers in the New Play Program are drawn from across the country, including our affiliation with the National New Play Network, a nation-wide group of theatres dedicated to the development and production of new work. Teaching Artists in our Education Programs are professional artists working in their field in the New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. From 2003-2016, we have been designated a Major Arts Institution by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (along with only five other theatres: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, George Street Playhouse, McCarter Theatre Center, Two River Theatre and Paper Mill Playhouse) as "an anchor institution that contributes vitally to the quality of life in New Jersey."

Funding for our activities comes from: the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Community Foundation, the F.M. Kirby Foundation, Inc., Dramatist Guild Fund, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, The Shubert Foundation, Novartis, The Victoria Foundation, and many corporations, foundations and individuals.

Playwrights Theatre is a member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the National New Play Network, and Madison Arts & Culture Alliance.