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Fall 2019: Godspell
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
In celebration of the school’s 60th Anniversary and the tenure of our beloved Head of School, Leonard Kupersmith, the CCES Upper School is putting on a special fall musical. And what better choice than Godspell? Structured as a series of parables of Christ, Godspell is a tribute not only to our Episcopal Identity, but also to the strength of community.
“I thought about how interesting it was when I first came here (to CCES), I really wasn’t in search of a community,” said Director Grady McEvoy, “but I was in search of belonging somewhere in the theatrical world in Greenville. This school was so welcoming and inviting, it became my community.” What it means to be welcoming and inclusive is something CCES has spent many hours assessing, as it reflects Goal 1 of the Strategic Plan, to Cultivate a Respectful, Welcoming Community. The show’s message resonated with Grady as a powerful reflection of everything he has come to appreciate CCES stands for.
An ensemble piece, Godspell involves not just one individual star, but several actors whose roles are of equal importance. There are just ten students in the show (versus the 50 or more that will inevitably be cast in Cinderella this spring) and they are all on stage almost from the very beginning. Each student is integral to the storyline and each one stands out with at least one lead vocal part. “They each have their own song and their own moment in which they join this community,” Grady commented. “They’re converted to what’s going on, they’re accepted, and they become part of something.” Only two of the cast members have names, Jesus and John the Baptist. The other cast members use their real names, nurturing the concept that this play parallels our community. “I think that’s one of the brilliant things about the show,” said Robin Garner, Director of the Arts. “It’s about your own chosen community and what you do with that.”
The ten student actors have all had to come together through this process. With two freshman in the mix, a diversity of learning styles, economic backgrounds, life experiences, and family make-up, this group had not worked together before. ‘You’ and ‘I’, soon became ‘us’. The growth of relationships behind the scenes is as inspiring as what you see on stage.
And let’s not forget about the music. In yet another peculiarity, a small accompaniment (keyboard, drums, bass, and electric guitar) plays on-stage during the performance. Typically, you do not see musicians on-stage during a performance, but nothing about Godspell is typical. Led by the international hit, "Day by Day," Godspell features a parade of enjoyable, mostly upbeat songs, coupled with several dance numbers choreographed by local dancer Lauren Clark. There are also several powerful pieces, and it takes very serious tone with the passion of Christ near the end of the performance. “It is music that hits your heart,” said Dr. Garner.
Prepare to be spellbound.
Click here to purchase tickets to Godspell, November 1-3 at the Hartness Performing Arts Center.
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Christ Church Episcopal School (“CCES”) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at CCES. CCES does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, scholarship or other programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs and activities.