Godspell - 1971 - Australia Articles Page 9

A portion of proceeds from SoLuna Studio's upcoming production of GODSPELL will benefit PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. Performances will run on weekends from May 10th- 26th.

Villanova Theatre's 2012-2013 culminates with an electrifying production of Salome, written by Oscar Wilde, directed by Rev. David Cregan, OSA, and on stage tonight, April 9 - 21, 2013.

The Grove Theatre announces the opening of Godspell, a powerful musical with a message of kindness, tolerance and love for all people. Directed by Julio Villegas and Ginger Kinison, Godpell opens tonight, April 5th at 7:29 pm and runs on weekends through April 21st.

As an undergraduate theater major in the early 1970s, I heard music everywhere. It seemed to pour out of every office and workspace around the department. (And in the LP era, if you wanted more than the radio, this meant schlepping a twenty pound record player and a dozen or so albums from your home to the campus, sometimes requiring back-and-forth trips from the car. If you go to that much trouble, you want to keep the music playing.) In the hushed costume shop with its quietly industrious all female staff, Broadway ruled, with Stephen Sondheim's recent Company and Follies in heavy rotation. It was 'men only' in the scene shop where I listened to male balladeers like James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot while unhappily working off assigned crew hours. Jazz classes (my favorites) in the dance department were conducted to the pre-disco sounds of Isaac Hayes and the Temptations. And late night cast parties were never complete without spins of Bette Midler's first two albums.

Villanova Theatre's 2012-2013 culminates with an electrifying production of Salome, written by Oscar Wilde, directed by Rev. David Cregan, OSA, and on stage April 9 - 21, 2013. The linguistic genius behind The Importance of Being Earnest plunges us into the visceral, intoxicating world of King Herod and his enticing young stepdaughter, Salome. After being rejected by John the Baptist, Salome's unbridled desire for the pious prophet quickly turns into an uncontrollable lust for revenge. Wilde's sensational adaptation of this biblical tale dramatizes the eternal struggle between body and soul. Cregan's inspired production will feature stunning aerial dance, live drumming and chant, and a striking, elemental set design.

A cast of fine younger singers and performers and great music will charm the audience at York Little Theatre, though some directorial quirks may break the spell

Gigi Bermingham will star as internationally renowned opera diva Maria Callas when International City Theatre (ICT) presents Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning Master Class. Todd Nielsen directs a four-week run beginning March 22 at ICT, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for tonight, March 20 and 21.

The Grove Theatre announces the opening of Godspell, a powerful musical with a message of kindness, tolerance and love for all people. Directed by Julio Villegas and Ginger Kinison, Godpell opens on April 5th at 7:29 pm and runs on weekends through April 21st.

Happy Birthday, Stephen Schwartz! In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell (1971), Pippin (1972) and Wicked (2003). He has also contributed lyrics for a number of successful films, including Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt (1998; music and lyrics) and Enchanted (2007). Schwartz has won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and has been nominated for six Tony Awards.

Gigi Bermingham will star as internationally renowned opera diva Maria Callas when International City Theatre (ICT) presents Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning Master Class. Todd Nielsen directs a four-week run beginning March 22 at ICT, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for March 20 and 21.

When you first meet Calli Armstrong of Beautiful City Theatre (BCT), you are instantly taken with her openness and passion. The arts have been a big part of Armstrong's life for as long as she can remember. She has always been drawn to something in theatre that has to do with self expression and connection with other people. That is one of the reasons she co-founded BCT.

Today in 2011, Godspell opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where it ran for 264 performances. Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since.The structure of the musical is that of a series of parables, based on the Gospel of Matthew (though three of the parables featured are recorded only in the Gospel of Luke). These are then interspersed with a variety of modern music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns, with the passion of Christ treated briefly near the end of the performance.

The 2013 Lincoln Center American Songbook series has just been announced via the New York Times.

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents a one-of-a-kind, modern interpretation of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's GODSPELL. Using a cast of 10 actor-musicians, this beloved musical brings the Book of Matthew to life at Collaboraction's intimate Studio space in the Flat Iron Arts Building (1579 North Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, Ill) now through October 7th, 2012. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Grease,' 'Godspell,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' 'The Rocky Horror Show' and 'Xanadu' bring back the 70s! Plus more, including a big '42nd Street,' two announcements from Light Opera Works, and a weekend with Lonny Price.

Tickets are now on sale for The Brown Paper Box Co.'s one-of-a-kind modern interpretation of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's GODSPELL. Using a cast of 10 actor-musicians, this beloved musical brings the Book of Matthew to life atCollaboraction's intimate Studio space in the Flat Iron Arts Building (1579 North Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622). Tickets can be purchased through www.brownpaperbox.org.

Liberty Showcase Theatre presents the musical GODSPELL by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak, directed by Ted McCadden and Jay Althouse, and choreographed by Doug Kotula, tonight, July 20 through July 29, 2012.

The Brown Paper Box Co. will bring to Chicago a one-of-a-kind modern interpretation of Stephen Schwartz and John Michael Tebelak's GODSPELL. Using actor-musicians, this beloved musical brings the Book of Matthew to life in an intimate space: all performances will take place at Collaboraction Studio 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622. Information can be found at www.brownpaperbox.org. Tickets to go on sale in late August.

Liberty Showcase Theatre will present the musical GODSPELL by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak, directed by Ted McCadden and Jay Althouse, and choreographed by Doug Kotula, July 20 through July 29, 2012.

The big day is here! Follow our LIVE coverage starting from Tony Rehearsals starting at approximately 10am. Want to know who's performing what? What order to expect the awards in and other tidbits? Spoil yourself!

My first dose of musical theater was through my uncle's old screechy phonograph recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's hippie, loud, angst-laden rock musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" (JCS). The classic stage hit, which was originally a concept album before evolving into a full-blown Broadway musical that follows the passion and death of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, had completed its three-year run on Broadway (1971-1973), and its first commercial movie release (1973) by the time I got to experience JCS's electrifying, personally-impactful songs in the '80s though. So when the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Toronto, Canada announced late last year that its critically-acclaimed, deemed revolutionary production of JCS, directed by Tony winner Des McAnuff, was coming to Broadway, I was delighted to hear the news; and more so when I learned that three Filipino-Canadian musical theater artists - brothers Julius and Jason Sermonia, and Laurin Padolina - are part of the show.

JULIE REIBER - the singer and actress currently playing Marion in Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway at the Palace Theater - will release her debut solo album today, April 24. Love Travels is a mix of her original tunes, musical theatre favorites by such composers as Jason Robert Brown ('Still Hurting'), Adam Guettel ('Through The Mountain') and Stephen Schwartz (the special bonus track 'Defying Gravity') - each with a special twist - and reinventions of Reiber's favorite artists including Stevie Wonder ('Knocks Me Off My Feet'), Chaka Khan ('Stay'), John Mayer ('Back To You') and Joni Mitchell ('Little Green'). She will celebrate this new recording with a concert at Rockwood Music Hall the following night, Wednesday April 25. The $20 ticket price includes a signed CD. Love Travels will also be available via iTunes, CDBaby.com, Amazon.com and JulieReiber.com

JULIE REIBER - the singer and actress currently playing Marion in Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway at the Palace Theater - will release her debut solo album on Tuesday, April 24. Love Travels is a mix of her original tunes, musical theatre favorites by such composers as Jason Robert Brown ('Still Hurting'), Adam Guettel ('Through The Mountain') and Stephen Schwartz (the special bonus track 'Defying Gravity') - each with a special twist - and reinventions of Reiber's favorite artists including Stevie Wonder ('Knocks Me Off My Feet'), Chaka Khan ('Stay'), John Mayer ('Back To You') and Joni Mitchell ('Little Green'). She will celebrate this new recording with a concert at Rockwood Music Hall the following night, Wednesday April 25. The $20 ticket price includes a signed CD. Love Travels will also be available via iTunes, CDBaby.com, Amazon.com and JulieReiber.com

In October of 1971, three days after the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar began its week and a half of previews, the title song of what is considered to be the world's first rock opera was heard on American television's highest-rated show.  No, it wasn't The Ed Sullivan Show, which had ended its run earlier in the year, but the controversial new sitcom, All In The Family.

A few days shy of the holiest week of the year for Christians - aptly named Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter (with Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the most sacred events on the calendar coming between) - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was resurrected on Broadway by TOMMY and JERSEY BOYS director Des McAnuff - modeled after the hit Stratford Shakespeare Festival production last year and comprised of many of the same cast members, including all three leads - to hails of praise and hosannas, mostly. While JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR itself will always divide audiences and critics alike - and not merely because of its controversial content and its button-pushing treatment of the hallowed tale it tells - the magnetism and sheer power that Lloyd Webber's propulsive, throbbing rock score imbues gives the show an energy, vitality and life rare to find in even the most earnestly effervescent and energetic of comparable entities - the recently revived and similarly-themed GODSPELL in a revival a few blocks away included. Then, there are Tim Rice's lyrics - oh-so-spot-on in 1970, but still biting and edgy today in McAnuff's hi-tech and elaborately presented new Broadway production. Using the book of John as the jumping off point, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ (Paul Nolan) and his subsequent betrayal by Judas (Josh Young) and sentencing to death at the hands of King Herod and Pontius Pilate (Tom Hewitt). The twelve apostles, Mary Magdalene and her female companions, lepers, Pharisees, priests and others populate the grand story told almost entirely through song - the show is 90% music - and Webber and Rice's score never, ever lets up. While this may not be the most faithful rendering as far as the Bible is concerned, nor the most historically accurate, SUPERSTAR is now available to experience for a whole new generation thanks to this new revival and the timing could not be more ideal. The time is ripe for a revival of SUPERSTAR, and, as Andrew Lloyd Webber himself has recently related, this new production of the show is the best ever as far as he is concerned. High praise indeed - coming from no less than the Lord.