Godspell Revival Sets Opening Date
The upcoming Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell will begin previews at the Ethel Barrymore Theater on September 29th (And what's the significance of that date, Ricky?), towards an October 23rd opening.
As previously announced, the show will feature Gavin Creel (Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage aux Folles) as Jesus and "American Idol" finalist Diana DeGarmo (Hairspray) as one of his followers.
Although it might be because I've done Godspell twice (hasn't everybody?), and seen it innumerable times more, I can't say that I'm all that excited about this new production. But what do I know about producing musical revivals? I never would have given the green light for bringing A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, or Grease back to Broadway, but each of those runs has been profitable, some abundantly so. And I had serious doubts about yet another Gypsy revival, but so far that production seems to be doing solid, if not blockbuster, business.
So I'll leave the business prognostications to others. I just hope that director Daniel Goldstein (All Shook Up) and choreographer Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific) can come up with some way to make this creaky old show fresh. The piece certainly lends itself to creative/conceptual/pretentious interpretations. I remember one local high school production that got around the show's minimal casting requirements by including a chorus of underclass-persons who acted as the fence. (The crucifixion scene was an unintentional hoot.) I've seen the prodigal son parable told with puppets, with projections, and in sign language. I've even seen an all-male version of the show at a Catholic seminary. (The performer who sang "Turn Back, Oh Man" played it drunk, a la Foster Brooks.)
Often, in their zeal to find some new way to present the show, people seem to lose track of its message. I vividly recall one local version of Godspell (Ricky?) in which most of the performers wore revealing cutoffs and midriff-baring T-shirts, and performed slinky, sultry dances like something out of "Flashdance," or an old Janet Jackson video. ("Wait a minute. What's this show about again? Oh, yeah. That Jesus guy. Anyone seen my body glitter?")
Then there's the piece itself. There's no question that Godspell has a very strong score, but the book is sketchy and episodic, and that doesn't always work in the show's favor. It's the sort of show that pretty much anyone can pull off in a church basement or high school gym. (I've done both.) But when it comes to bringing it back to Broadway, the expectations are going to be a lot higher. I don't envy Goldstein and the task before him. But I'll certainly be making a trip to the Ethel Barrymore to see how he rises to the challenge.
Chris, do you think DeGarmo will sing "Bless the Lord?" Seems like a given.
As for the importance of that date, the best i could come up with was its shared with Madeline Kahn's Birthday??? Hope I at least get points for trying!
Posted by: Justin | July 23, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Justin,
It's a bit of an old joke with me and Mr. Carey. In addition to Madeline Kahn, the following theater luminaries were also born on September 29: Darius de Haas, Roger Bart, Lynette Perry, Debbie Gravitte, Christopher Caggiano...
Yeah, it's my birthday. But it's also the date that A Chorus Line became the longest-running show in Broadway history. And that's always made me feel inordinately special.
Hasn't it, Ricky.
Posted by: chris caggiano | July 23, 2008 at 11:41 PM
You've had so many great events take place on your birthday! All I got on mine is its shared with Liam Aiken (the boy from STEPMOM), and the '85 revival of "King and I." You win that contest!
Posted by: Justin | July 24, 2008 at 09:36 AM
I was in the original cast and movie of Godspell. I believe that Diana could sing the ___ out of Bless the Lord. I liked her on Idol.
Posted by: Joanne Jonas | August 19, 2008 at 05:46 PM