Thursday, October 10, 1996
After a successful spring quarter, the groovy ’70s musical
"Godspell" returns, charged with enough energy to bring crowds back
for moreBy Simon Dunstan
Daily Bruin Contributor
"Godspell," last year’s very successful music department
production is back by popular demand for one more encore.
Opening tomorrow at Schoenberg Hall with some new cast members
(including a new Jesus), a few touch-ups and a lot more energy, the
cast and crew hope audiences will be whirled into the fun of the
evening. Â again.
"Godspell" takes the biblical writings of Matthew and sets them
to music, adding colorful costumes and flashy dance numbers.
John Hall, last year’s director, is back behind the scenes,
adding his expertise to the famous musical. Rather than make the
new "Godspell" merely a re-run of the previous show, everyone
involved is working to put a fresh angle on the upcoming
production.
Each new cast member joining the show has contributed to this
different dynamic. Just in rehearsals, their energy shines through
as they sing and dance on stage.
The main difference for the veteran cast members of the show is
that they have a tighter rehearsal schedule. Last year the cast
rehearsed for three weeks before the opening performance. This time
they had to learn their lines, interpret their characters and
practice complicated dance moves in a mere week-and-a-half. The
pressure is hard on students who also have classes  their
busy schedule often requires them to practice for a grueling six
hours each day.
"It’s a very upbeat show, it’s not like we have time to sit
around during rehearsals," says Julia Rosenblad, who plays various
characters. "We are constantly up on stage moving and dancing. This
helps us a great deal with keeping our energy levels up and energy
is required for the success of the production. It’s a matter of
focus and energy. When our energy is high it goes frantic, so then
John has to get us focused because blind energy is useless."
Mike Shapiro, who plays Buckminster Fuller, also feels the
strain of the tight rehearsal schedule, but is impressed with the
atmosphere that comes with it.
"The attitude here is completely different. These people are the
most professional people that I have ever worked with." Shapiro
says. "I have never worked with a cast that is so devoted and
serious about what they do. I mean we are putting a show together
in a week-and-a-half whereas other shows usually take two
months."
Spending so many hours together is very important to the
production and, as time goes by, the students have become more
familiar with each other. With 10 cast members returning, the
students say it’s been hard to incorporate the new cast into the
old show. When a link is changed, the show changes. But they assert
that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing  because the ensemble
is different, the show has changed and it has a happy if chaotic
feel.
Hall, who worked on the transition between spring quarter’s show
and the current show, is responsible for holding the entire
production together. His extensive experience in the musical
theater department enables him to put a show of this magnitude
together in such a short time. He demands the best from the
performers  keeping the students on their toes for
rehearsals.
And, with the new production of "Godspell," Hall isn’t just
rehashing last year’s production  he hopes audiences will
recognize it as something new.
"I have a certain love for the play," Hall says. "I can see why
people love it so much. It involves the audience as much as the
people on the stage."
Both Hall and the cast members are anxiously awaiting
"Godspell’s" opening night and hope audiences are as enthusiastic
as the performers.
THEATER: "Godspell" opens tomorrow at Schoenberg Hall. TIX: $15,
general admission, $10 for students. For more info, call
825-4761.
Photos by KRIS FALON
"Godspell" opens at Schoenberg Hall this weekend: Jennifer Kelly
(top) plays Socrates in the opening prologue, John Ferdenzi
(middle) sings to Kristy Grant in the first act, John Ferdenzi and
Eric Greene (bottom) dance with "Les Girls."