Difference between revisions of "Godspell"

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[[Godspell]] by ***. Musical about the life of Christ. First produced in South Africa by [[Des Lindberg]] and [[Dawn Lindberg]] in Maseru in 1973 and at [[UCT]] in 1974, starring [[Bruce Millar]], [[Cocky Tlhotlhalemaje]],  [[Graham Clarke]], [[Caryn Solomon]], [[Ros Monat]], [[Des Lindberg]], [[Jenny Cantan|Jenny Rose Cantan]], [[Ali Relefolo]], [[Trish McKenna]], [[Harriet Matiwane]]. Musical director [[Arthur Stead]], stage and lighting manager [[John White-Spunner]], sound manager [[Mary Field]].  
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''[[Godspell]]'' is a rock-musical by Stephen Schwartz (1948-)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Schwartz_(composer)] and John-Michael Tebelak (1949–1985)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John-Michael_Tebelak].  
  
This production was very controversial as it challenged the country’s race laws by using a non-racial cast where previously only white or black casts were used. First done in Lesotho, then, when it came to South Africa,  Banned under the [[Publications and Entertainment Act no. 26 of 1963]], because of blasphemy, ostensibly for presenting Christ as a clown. , but toured the country nevertheless, performing at various Christian Brothers College High Schools. Later unbanned following an appeal to the Supreme Court, but a note had to be added to the programme stating that what the audience is about to see is a play and that all the actions in it are symbolic.
 
  
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== The original text ==
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A rock musical about the life of Christ, that began as a project by drama students at Carnegie Mellon University and then moved to the Off-Off-Broadway theater La MaMa.  Rescored the play opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since.
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== South African productions ==
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1973: First produced in [[South Africa]] by [[Des Lindberg]] and [[Dawn Lindberg]] in Maseru in 1973, where it ran there for 5 months.
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1974:  The production was brought to South Africa to open at the [[Wits University Great Hall]]. The original cast consisted of [[Bruce Millar]], [[Cocky Tlhotlhalemaje]],  [[Graham Clarke]], [[Caryn Solomon]], [[Ros Monat]], [[Des Lindberg]], [[Jenny Cantan|Jenny Rose Cantan]], [[Alie Lerefolo|Ali Lerefolo]], [[Trish McKenna]], [[Harriet Matiwane]].  Musical director was  [[Arthur Stead]], stage and lighting manager [[John White-Spunner]], sound manager [[Mary Field]].
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It was a very controversial production, as it challenged the South African race laws by using a non-racial cast where previously only exclusively white or exclusively black casts were used. , then, was brought to South Africa to open at the [[Wits University Great Hall]], but was banned under the [[Publications and Entertainment Act no. 26 of 1963]], because of blasphemy, ostensibly for presenting Christ as a clown. The Lindbergs challenged the banning in the Supreme Court, and won their case. However,  a note now had to be added to the programme stating that what the audience is about to see is a play and that all the actions in it are symbolic.
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1974-5: Having won their case, the production now toured the country for two years, performing at universities and various Christian Brothers College High Schools.(Subsequent productions would star amongst others, [[Patrick Ndlovu]], [[Barrie Shah]], [[Neville Nash]], [[Dawn Lindberg]], [[Ian Lawrence]], [[Sam Marais]] and [[David Dennis]].)
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1976: Revived by [[Des Lindberg]] and [[Dawn Lindberg]] (at the [[Brooke Theatre]] from 22 October to 20 November?)
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1981: Produced by the [[People's Space]] (?*) with *** and [[David Nissen]]
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1984: Performed by the [[Westville Theatre Club]] on [[The Grahamstown Fringe]], [[Grahamstown Festival|National Arts Festival]],  directed by [[Jeanne Beauchamp]], choreographed by [[Gay Rodda]].
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1985: Produced by [[Des Lindberg]] and [[Dawn Lindberg]] at the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]] and the  [[State Theatre]], Pretoria. Musical direction by [[Peter McClea]]. The cast included [[Sam Marais]], [[Neville Nash]], [[Jocelyn Broderick]], [[David Brown]], [[Natalia de Rocha]], [[Jenny de Lenta]], [[Mandisa Dlanga]], [[Mark Richardson]], [[Ashleigh Sendin]], [[Jonathan Taylor]], and [[Mandy Wildman]].
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1994: Produced once more by [[Des Lindberg]] and [[Dawn Lindberg]], in conjunction with the [[Johannesburg Civic Theatre]]. 
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'''Other versions'''
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A recording of the Maseru production, by the original South African cast, was produced by [[CAT Productions]], directed by [[Dawn Lindberg]].(South African Cast Recording: ''Godspell'', CAT CAL 16000[https://samusicheritage.wordpress.com/tag/godspell/])
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
  
Gosher, 1988
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godspell
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Schwartz_(composer)
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John-Michael_Tebelak
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[[ESAT Bibliography Gl-Go|Gosher]], 1988.
  
 
http://samusicheritage.wordpress.com/tag/godspell/
 
http://samusicheritage.wordpress.com/tag/godspell/
  
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http://www.desdawn.co.za/theatre.htm
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[[National Arts Festival]] programme, 1984
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CV supplied by [[David Nissen]] (July 2015)
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Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Latest revision as of 09:04, 16 January 2021

Godspell is a rock-musical by Stephen Schwartz (1948-)[1] and John-Michael Tebelak (1949–1985)[2].


The original text

A rock musical about the life of Christ, that began as a project by drama students at Carnegie Mellon University and then moved to the Off-Off-Broadway theater La MaMa. Rescored the play opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since.

South African productions

1973: First produced in South Africa by Des Lindberg and Dawn Lindberg in Maseru in 1973, where it ran there for 5 months.

1974: The production was brought to South Africa to open at the Wits University Great Hall. The original cast consisted of Bruce Millar, Cocky Tlhotlhalemaje, Graham Clarke, Caryn Solomon, Ros Monat, Des Lindberg, Jenny Rose Cantan, Ali Lerefolo, Trish McKenna, Harriet Matiwane. Musical director was Arthur Stead, stage and lighting manager John White-Spunner, sound manager Mary Field. It was a very controversial production, as it challenged the South African race laws by using a non-racial cast where previously only exclusively white or exclusively black casts were used. , then, was brought to South Africa to open at the Wits University Great Hall, but was banned under the Publications and Entertainment Act no. 26 of 1963, because of blasphemy, ostensibly for presenting Christ as a clown. The Lindbergs challenged the banning in the Supreme Court, and won their case. However, a note now had to be added to the programme stating that what the audience is about to see is a play and that all the actions in it are symbolic.

1974-5: Having won their case, the production now toured the country for two years, performing at universities and various Christian Brothers College High Schools.(Subsequent productions would star amongst others, Patrick Ndlovu, Barrie Shah, Neville Nash, Dawn Lindberg, Ian Lawrence, Sam Marais and David Dennis.)

1976: Revived by Des Lindberg and Dawn Lindberg (at the Brooke Theatre from 22 October to 20 November?)

1981: Produced by the People's Space (?*) with *** and David Nissen

1984: Performed by the Westville Theatre Club on The Grahamstown Fringe, National Arts Festival, directed by Jeanne Beauchamp, choreographed by Gay Rodda.

1985: Produced by Des Lindberg and Dawn Lindberg at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre and the State Theatre, Pretoria. Musical direction by Peter McClea. The cast included Sam Marais, Neville Nash, Jocelyn Broderick, David Brown, Natalia de Rocha, Jenny de Lenta, Mandisa Dlanga, Mark Richardson, Ashleigh Sendin, Jonathan Taylor, and Mandy Wildman.

1994: Produced once more by Des Lindberg and Dawn Lindberg, in conjunction with the Johannesburg Civic Theatre.

Other versions

A recording of the Maseru production, by the original South African cast, was produced by CAT Productions, directed by Dawn Lindberg.(South African Cast Recording: Godspell, CAT CAL 16000[3])

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godspell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Schwartz_(composer)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John-Michael_Tebelak


Gosher, 1988.

http://samusicheritage.wordpress.com/tag/godspell/

http://www.desdawn.co.za/theatre.htm

National Arts Festival programme, 1984

CV supplied by David Nissen (July 2015)

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to G in Plays 1 Original SA Plays

Return to G in Plays 2 Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

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