November 6, 7 & 9, 2008
in the
Fr. Frank Krische Student and Alumni Center

THE CAST
(in alphabetical order)
Aaron Broxterman
Connor Colboch
Brendon Crowley
Ben Deghand*
Johannah Good
Eric Lynch*
Kathleen Minton
Bailey Ossello*
Becky Schieferecke*
Emily Schmar
Margeaux Seymour
Sara Stueve

THE MUSICIANS
Stephanie Schmitz—Piano
Vernon White - Guitar
Kristie Ossello—Bass
Alex Hughes—Drums
Maureen Brogren—Conductor
*denotes member of International Thespian Society Troupe #7275

PRODUCTION STAFF
Directed and Designed by
Mr. Mark Radziejeski

Assistant Director
Mr. Travis Lamb

Vocal Director
Mrs. Maureen Brogren

Orchestra Director
Mrs. Kristie Ossello

Stage Managers
Josh Witt, Abby Hamel

Choreographers
Angie Best, Emily Schmar

Clown Coach
Heidi Stubblefield

Set Constructon and Painting
Sara Stueve, Laura Stadler, Johannah Good, Kathleen Minton, Becky Schieferecke, Aaron Broxterman, Ben Deghand, Margeaux Seymour

Lighting Control
Matt Hamel

Spotlights
Sarah Keffer, Sara Spicer

Sound
Alex Ondracek, Lauren Spain

Costumes
Anne Gardiner

Properties
Sarah Keffer, Sara Spicer

Makeup
Lauren Grimes. Paige Anderson

Dramaturg
Mary Gootee-Schafers

Poster and Program Cover
Joseph Gootee-Schafers

House Management
Maranda Broxterman, Kelsey Blanchette, Hillary Tolliver

DIRECTOR’S NOTE
The first time I directed Godspell was over 30 years ago as part of an honors project in college.  At the end of the final performance, I was exhausted.  I poured so much of myself into that production.  Though it was well received, I felt that I did not do enough, that somehow it could have been so much better.  I felt that the message of the show was so powerful that to end with anything less than a full house of believers was a disappointing failure.  I imagine this is how Jesus might have felt at the end of his ministry, having delivered a message of salvation to people who just didn’t seem to get it.

The problem with this thinking is that it makes faith dependent on myself and my abilities.  The truth is that faith comes from God, not from myself and that if I really believed in the power of the message, I would know that it is not in the way I present it nor in the way that the actors perform it that gives it power.

The creators of Godspell were inspired by Protestant theologian, Harvey Cox.  In his book, “The Feast of Fools,”  Cox was concerned with the waning power and appeal of the gospel message.  He thought that religion had taken itself too seriously and so he proposed a departure from the usual piety as a way to invigorate the message, taking the gospel to the streets.

We are all called by our baptism to take the gospel message to the streets, whether it is by conversation with others, by our living witness to the faith or by an innovative new way to proclaim the Word of God.  The thing that we need to remember is that we are not the ones responsible for its effectiveness, that it is the message itself that inspires and invites others to a relationship with Jesus Christ.  I hope that you see this production as just such an invitation.