Welcome to the 2011 production of Godspell

The musical is a series of parables, based loosely on the Gospel according to St. Matthew (with three of the parables featured are in the Gospel of Luke). These are then interspersed with a variety of modern music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns, and it also touchingly presents the story of Jesus’ last moments beginning with the last supper.

Set against a modern backdrop, Godspell was the brainchild of John-Michael Tebelak and upcoming composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz has also written such hit musicals as Pippin, The Baker’s Wife, Children of Eden, and Wicked and collaborated on the Disney animated features Pocahontas and The hunchback of Notre Dame.

Godspell opened off-Broadway on 17 May 1971, and instantly became the talk of the town; so much so, in fact, that it was moved to the larger Promenade theatre on August 10, 1971 to accommodate the demand for tickets.

Five years later, it transferred again, this time to the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway, where it arrived on 22 June 1976. By the time it closed after another nine years, the show had accumulated a total of 2645 performances.

A London version, which came to the Wyndham’s Theatre on 17 November 1971, likewise enjoyed a long run of 1128 performances, staring David Essex as Jesus and Jeremy Irons as John the Baptist.