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. |