BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham-Southern students will produce and perform the musical “Godspell” in only three weeks during the college’s January Exploration Term.
The two-act production, set in contemporary America with modern songs, is a joyous celebration of the Gospel According to Matthew through song and dance. It follows the last days in the life of Jesus Christ, culminating in Act II with his betrayal by Judas and execution by crucifixion. “Godspell” exploded off-Broadway in 1971 and has played worldwide since, including a Broadway revival in their 2011-12 season.
The production and performance is an E-Term theatre class in which 28 BSC students are enrolled. The students are working daily building sets, creating costumes, designing lighting and sound, and rehearsing.
“The students involved in the production of “Godspell” will get the true experience of working in the theatre as if it were a real job, said BSC Professor of Theatre Michael Flowers, who is co-teaching the course with Professor of Theatre Matthew Mielke. “The hours are intensive, jam-packed and fun-filled, and the result, after three weeks of work, is a fully realized production of a classic musical.”
Ten of those students will perform their way through the Gospel: DeCorian Cobb, Savannah Weidman, David Strickland, Emily Huff, Jacob Abbott, Kiona Reese, Macy Ladner, Bee Hall as Jesus, Spiro Gerontakis, and Jada Cato.
Student designers include Anna Toal (costumes) and Sean Alexander (lights); the director and choreographer is Birmingham-Southern alumnus Todd Underwood, who choreographed the college’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” last spring; and Brent Irwin, who directed BSC’s fall production “Four by Tenn,” is assistant director.
Performances of the musical by Stephen Schwartz and book by John-Michael Tebelak will be at 7:30 p.m. each night, Jan. 27-30, in the College Theatre/The Underground. General admission tickets are $20; $10 for students, and they go on sale Jan. 13. For tickets and additional information, contact the College Theatre Box Office at (205) 226-4780.
