Talk:Godspell

Song Title[edit]

The song I added isn`t actually non existant but I agree I may have got the title wrong:I quoted the first line.Can anyone help? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Andycjp (talk • contribs) 10:44, 7 April 2004 (UTC)[reply]

I believe the song you are referring to is called "Finale" on the soundtrack albums. If you can confirm this and want to re-add a mention of the song, please also describe what makes this particular song notable within the overall work. Jgm 14:49, 7 Apr 2004 (UTC)

OBC List?[edit]

Does anyone have a list of the original broadway cast? I feel that this article really needs it, but I can't find it anywhere. Thanks! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.177.101.173 (talk) 03:53, 17 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Different versions of the show?[edit]

Some of the recent changes to the article are in bright, bold disagreement with the way the show was staged in New York City. Are the editors sure that the facts they're inserting are true for the show as a whole and not just for some local production of it?

Atlant 12:12, 29 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Anonymous Bystander says: With all due respect, have you not the power to edit as you see fit? If something disagrees with you, by all means, do something about it.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.112.171.31 (talk • contribs) .

Generally, Wikipedia works better if we reach a consensus on the talk page first, before making sweeping changes to an article. I have no problem being bold, but I'd rather have consensus if possible.

Atlant 20:19, 13 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Beautiful City[edit]

The song "Beautiful City" is placed in the Act Two listing where it appeared in the movie version. Strictly speaking, Beautiful City is not part of the original stage version, and maybe shouldn't be listed as part of Act Two at all. Maybe the article would benefit from a section on the song itself -- that, while not part of the stage version, is added by many directors in subsequent productions wherever he or she sees fit, at the full behest of Stephen Schwartz. MusicMaker5376 23:10, 11 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

However, "Beautiful City" is in the Godspell Junior version of the show. Maybe they should add this info to the Modern Productions section. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.251.54.194 (talk • contribs)

Done. — Music Maker 20:40, 17 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Really doesn't that all need some kind of citation? Thehatinthecat (talk) 04:47, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Synopsis[edit]

Perhaps some mention could be made of the "tradition" that Jesus wears a Superman shirt. This is common enough that a recent production at the Paper Mill Playhouse made a reference to it (Jesus rejects the superman shirt for a more modest, white shirt), to the knowing chuckle of many in the audience.Tetyler 00:47, 26 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

There is a definite requirement for a synopsis for this show, but I don't think it should be germane to any one production. If possible, a synopsis of the show as currently rented from MTI, without directorial influences or copyright infringment. I think, too, that this article would benefit from a section of settings and production ideas: Godspell is one of those shows that cannot exist in a vacuum; each production is different. Furthermore, it exists mostly now as an amateur piece; the professional productions aren't necessarily more important than the production of a local high school. MusicMaker5376 20:02, 13 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I've added a synopsis, but in it I capitalized "Him" when refering to Jesus. It didn't feel right, but it felt wrong not capitalizing it. It's a pretty fine line, but if anyone knows the correct gramatical convention when referring to Jesus as a character, feel free to change it. MusicMaker5376 02:24, 23 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Oh. And I didn't put a spoiler warning. Lets face it, if there's any show completely devoid of surprises, it's this one. If someone REALLY feels it needs it, go crazy. MusicMaker5376 03:42, 23 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think you're safe (without a spoiler tag). ;-)

Atlant 15:30, 23 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I've changed the Hes and Hims to hes and hims. I saw a review by Roger Ebert on The Last Temptation of Christ where he used lowercase to refer to the character. I can only assume that he (or his editor) knows what he's doing. I noticed, too, that it wasn't uniform -- lots of places I didn't capitalize -- so I think this works better. I did, however, leave a capital Y in "Your" in a quote where the company is referring to Jesus. Since they believe him actually to be Him, I thought it appropriate. Someone can change it if they don't like it. MusicMaker5376 19:51, 25 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Removal[edit]

To the person of this website:

Licking County Players is a non-profit community theater. At no time were you given permission from LCP of Music Theatre International to post this website or the pictures that Tim Stanton took. It is a violation of copyright laws in accordance with our contract with Music Theatre International. Please remove your website immediately. Not doing so could result in legal action by both LCP and Music Theater International.

Sincerely, LCP Board of Directors —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.165.20.116 (talk • contribs) .

There is nothing on this page that, in any way, violates any copyright. We don't need MTI's permission to post details regarding the history of the show, various productions, or a synopsis. There are no photos by Tim Stanton or anyone else. What, exactly, are you talking about? — Music Maker 18:06, 4 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps this is just another form of vandalism? Or perhaps they intended to complain about this: [1]?

Atlant 19:43, 4 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I have no idea what I'm doing, but felt it was important for editors of this page to consider the following. The controversy section is missing attribution to POV. It appears to be from th conservative christian POV. Especially the discussion about the show being "harmless." "One layer of interpretation is that the musical is supposed to "de-mythologize" the person of "Jesus". However, it can be argued that the omission of the Resurrection and the miracles denies the fully God and fully human nature of Christ. On the other hand, the musical functions as a popular interpretation of Christ and, therefore, can be seen as harmless." The show does not threaten the theology of Unitarian, Universalist, and many liberal Christians, and certainly doesn't harm the theology (or anything else) for non-christians. Can this be reworded to attribute the critique of the show? thanks -Amy —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.241.20.26 (talk) 19:52, 15 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Unitarians and Universalists are not, as churches, Christian. They may include Christians, atheists, agnostics, Wiccans, Moslems, Buddists, and others. Source: publications by Universialist-Unitarian Alliance of America. --Richardthiebaud (talk) 16:55, 11 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Unitarian Universalists Churches as they are commonly know in the United States are not primarily Christian but they do stem from Christian roots, and the way that Amy was addressing it Unitarian and Universalists are separate subsets of Christianity and can in some cases are considered to be liberal. http://www.uua.org/visitors/history/6903.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarians http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universalism Thehatinthecat (talk) 04:58, 9 March 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Carnegie Institute of Technology?[edit]

How could the show have originated in 1970 at the Carnegie Institute of Technology? By that time, CIT had become Carnegie Mellon University, and thus CIT would refer solely to the engineering college at CMU.

London Production[edit]

Godspell also showed in London's West End in 1971-72, long enough ago that I was too young to buy a programme. It was a fantastic production, starring David Essex, Jeremy Irons, Julie Covington and someone else who made it big later (I think it was Marti Webb). This should have a section on the main page, I think.JohnGU47 18:46, 31 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Proper English[edit]

I have changed "while not part of the show proper" under Beautiful City as it isn't proper English. Tobzhooli 13:28, 11 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, that wording is perfectly acceptable. 128.122.253.196 09:58, 14 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Better recheck your dictionary, Tobzhooli. Definition #6 of proper according to Merriam-Webster is "strictly limited to a specified thing, place, or idea <the city proper>". — Walloon 15:42, 14 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Ok...it's just that where I am from part of the show proper is not good English. Tobzhooli 16:42, 14 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Similarly themed???[edit]

I don't want to be so bold as to make a change based purely on my own opinion, but it seems to me that the reference at the very front of this article to "the similarly themed Jesus Christ Superstar" is also opinion, and a pretty dull and suspect one at that. Sure, two musicals came out in rapid succession whose central character was Jesus of Nazareth. They both employ creative anachronism in costuming, sets, and cultural references. Beyond that, I can't really see any more similarities--certainly not thematic ones.

JCS was an anxious, angry, and--most importantly--agnostic retelling of the story of Jesus's last days, full of barbs at the very notion of his divinity and reminders of the hypocrisy of, well, pretty much of the human race; whereas Godspell is an enthusiastic Christian fantasy-revue featuring conventional (if somewhat flower-child-inflected) interpretations of Jesus's "teachings." They may both end with the crucifixion, but Godspell anticipates the resurrection (with a reprise of "Prepare ye the way of the Lord") while JSC pointedly does not (the final instrumental being named for the verse in the Gospel of John in which Jesus is interred). In Godspell, Christ is serene, beatific; in JCS, he's so whiny you want to smack him. Godspell's music veers from pretty, sweet ballads to praise-the-Lord blues to earnest patter-song renderings of parables; JCS's music ranges from jazz-inflected guitar rock to post-Bernstein classical, and absolutely none of it serves the glorification of Jesus. Even the title tune and its appellation of "superstar" are ironic and baiting; and Simon's song subtly perverts the "power and the glory" phrase from the so-called Lord's prayer.

To me, the similarities between these two shows are as superficial as, say, those between that pair of great 1964 nuclear doomsday movies, Fail-Safe and Dr. Strangelove, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

Others' thoughts? Sebum-n-soda 20:07, 30 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I think you have a very valid point. I do believe, however, the statement was incorporated into the article to draw the connection between only two things:

The sole similarity between the religious nature of the pieces
That Godspell was released in very close timing to Superstar.

Other than that, the statement has no validity. I'll try and find a way to incorporate the other two aspects without implying any "thematic" connections. Best Regards. --omtay 38 20:12, 30 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The article miss the interpretations of miracles explained as normal, realistic events, based on psychology, like the fish being enough for a large crowd because everyone had brought a little, but did not want to share, until one broke the ice and took his and placed it in a basket for collecting what people had - then they dared give what they had brought (as a contribution to the common meal). d-axel (talk) 16:15, 6 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

WikiProject class rating[edit]

This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 19:20, 28 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

references to Gospel of Luke[edit]

Some of the parables depicted in the production refer to parables that are found only in the Gospel of Luke, such as Good Samaritan, The Rich Fool, Prodigal Son, and Lazarus. Should we add the Gospel of Luke to the sources for the production or not? Toad of Steel (talk) 00:58, 25 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Credits[edit]

I've removed a {{fact}} tag from the intro about the credits. The sources of the songs are as follows:

Prepare ye The Way of the Lord: Matthew 3:3 (originally from Isaiah)
Save the People: Episcopal Hymnal #496
Day By Day: Episcopal Hymnal #429
Learn Your Lessons Well (new)
O Bless the Lord: Episcopal Hymnal #293
All for the Best (new)
All Good Gifts: Episcopal Hymn #138
Light of the World: Matthew 5:13-16
Turn Back, O Man: Episcopal hymnal #536
Alas for You: Matthew 23:13-37
By My Side (new)
Beautiful City (new)
We Beseech Thee: Episcopal hymnal #229
On The Willows: Psalm 137:2-4

So that's four original sets of lyrics, four that come from scripture (some of which were clearly songs in the original), and six whose lyrics come from the 1940 Episcopal Hymnal, which I think is reasonably identified as the "primary" source of the lyrics. WhatamIdoing (talk) 17:33, 29 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The various non-scriptural lyrics probably all have identifiable authors. For example, 'Save the People' is taken from the poem 'God Save the People' written by the English poet Ebenezer Elliott in 1850.109.157.149.12 (talk) 17:38, 29 April 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Wet Hot American Summer[edit]

"In the film Wet Hot American Summer, "Day by Day" is performed at the camp talent show. At first, the other campers enjoy the performance, but at the end of the song, booing ensues when an image of the cross appears behind the performers. In the DVD commentary for the film, director David Wain noted that the booing was not directed at the cross but rather at the performance itself."

Ok, if it's confirmed that it's not because of the cross, shouldn't this edited to state that booing ensues at the end of the performance and not when the cross shows up? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.162.122.6 (talk) 00:17, 3 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

My take is that the ensuing booing has nothing to do with the cross. Its simply comedy. The camp leaders are always pushing the young preformers and complaining that they are "amatures." So when they actually get up and sing beautifully it is comedy. The irony is that the audience doesn't like it, but loves the hack commedian. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.172.109.141 (talk) 00:39, 15 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

??[edit]

"Godspell is a 1969 musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak."

"The show originated in 1970 as Tebelak's master's thesis project,"

?? MachoCarioca (talk) 14:39, 29 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Re: No reference to the resurrection. I first time I saw Godspell was in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in the mid-70s. I will never forget the end of the show: The male members of the cast removed Jesus from the fence where he had been crucified, and carried him spreadeagled on his back above their heads up one aisle of the theatre and out the back of the auditorium, whilst on the stage the girls sang "Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord" very softly a capella. There was a pause, the house lights came up, the band came into the song with a crash, and the whole cast were rocking up the song. Jesus came dancing down the aisle, followed by the men dancing and clapping. Every person in the audience was on their feet, clapping and singing and cheering. I cannot imagine a clearer evocation of the resurrection. That night the cast took 12 curtain calls, and eventually the curtains closed and the audience just stood there, clapping and cheering. JonP — Preceding unsigned comment added by 197.104.247.7 (talk) 13:08, 9 June 2011 (UTC)[reply]

So? I didn't get the point... MachoCarioca (talk) 17:56, 12 June 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Original Off-Broadway vs Original Broadway production[edit]

It seems to me that this show had more than one "original" production. There was the LaMama version (February 24, 1971), the Cherry Lane Theater Production (date unknown), and the Promenade Theatre Production (August 10, 1971). The "Original Broadway production" was not actually until 1976. It is not clear which production is being discussed in that section. Sojambi Pinola (talk) 17:06, 10 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I guess another way to put it is that the "Broadway" production was not the "original" production, so its non-chronological placement in the article is very confusing. I am going to change it. Sojambi Pinola (talk) 17:09, 10 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Brasil[edit]

"The production adopted a scenario composed of woods and irons in different planes" ... this seems very unclear to me...not sure at all what's being discussedPurpleChez (talk) 20:50, 12 January 2017 (UTC)[reply]

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