GODSPELL Revival is Aiming for Broadway Spring/Summer 2011
#2
Posted: 9/1/10 at 2:58pm
Pity it's not a better production. There was an all-black version that played in Harlem 14 years ago that was supposed to transfer to Broadway around that time, with Jermaine Jackson, Ruth Brown, Ben Vereen, and Marla Gibbs, among others, set to join it when the show went uptown. What happened to that show? I remember seeing it and thinking it was fantastic.
"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from."
~ Charles M. Schulz
#3
Posted: 9/1/10 at 3:04pm
Did some searching to make sure I wasn't imagining the all-black version and turned up these:
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/32477-First-All-Black-Version-of-Godspell-Begins-Previews
* http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1997/01/10/1997-01-10__godspell__brings_uplift_upt.html
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/33102-New-Godspell-Updates-Show-to-21st-Century-Harlem
* http://books.google.com/books?id=KWT7nHthzDgC&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=richard++haase+godspell&source=bl&ots=_YvcuN9LOV&sig=X-zRoBCYO8S2PzkbuN9Xo-geaHM&hl=en&ei=9rt3TN-3K8OB8gbzza2RBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDEQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=richard%20%20haase%20godspell&f=false
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/34144-Off-Bway-Godspell-Eyes-Move-With-Jackson-And-Or-Vereen
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/34687-Harlem-Godspell-Fighting-Media-Indifference-Day-by-Day
* http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/19/nyregion/neighborhood-report-harlem-with-empty-seats-at-godspell-an-organizer-cries-bias.html
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/32477-First-All-Black-Version-of-Godspell-Begins-Previews
* http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1997/01/10/1997-01-10__godspell__brings_uplift_upt.html
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/33102-New-Godspell-Updates-Show-to-21st-Century-Harlem
* http://books.google.com/books?id=KWT7nHthzDgC&pg=PA140&lpg=PA140&dq=richard++haase+godspell&source=bl&ots=_YvcuN9LOV&sig=X-zRoBCYO8S2PzkbuN9Xo-geaHM&hl=en&ei=9rt3TN-3K8OB8gbzza2RBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDEQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=richard%20%20haase%20godspell&f=false
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/34144-Off-Bway-Godspell-Eyes-Move-With-Jackson-And-Or-Vereen
* http://www.playbill.com/news/article/34687-Harlem-Godspell-Fighting-Media-Indifference-Day-by-Day
* http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/19/nyregion/neighborhood-report-harlem-with-empty-seats-at-godspell-an-organizer-cries-bias.html
"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from."
~ Charles M. Schulz
Updated On: 9/1/10 at 03:04 PM
#4
Posted: 9/1/10 at 3:45pm
What do you mean "Pity it's not a better production." There's no cast, no director, no theater listed. Yet somehow it's already not as good as the production 14 years ago?
#5
Posted: 9/1/10 at 4:03pm
JoeKv, this production was (at least originally) intended to be a remounting of the production seen at Paper Mill.
#6
Posted: 9/1/10 at 4:08pm
Don't tease us again, Broadwayworld! I'm holding my breath till I hear of an official cast and director.
I think they should do an engagement at the York first, where it originally started. Jus' sayin.
I think they should do an engagement at the York first, where it originally started. Jus' sayin.
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Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
#7
Posted: 9/1/10 at 4:54pm
That production was in 2006 wasn't it? There is NO WAY this has any connection to that.
Updated On: 9/1/10 at 04:54 PM
#8
Posted: 9/1/10 at 5:08pm
Diana Degarmo was originally going to star in this. However, I am not sure if she will do if it happens. She's doing the "9 to 5" tour, but there's always the possibilty that she is doing the tour for a limited run.
Updated On: 9/1/10 at 05:08 PM
#9
Posted: 9/1/10 at 5:27pm
According to Playbill the director is the same as the Papermill 3006 revival, so it has at least some connection to that production.
Playbill: Godspell Revival Aiming for Spring/Summer 2011
Playbill: Godspell Revival Aiming for Spring/Summer 2011
#10
Posted: 9/1/10 at 5:44pm
I think that it should be at the Circle In The Square. I really enjoy this show a lot and am glad it is making a comeback, hopefully.
#11
Posted: 9/1/10 at 5:48pm
Joe, actually, it does have a connection. Remember the original planned date for this revival was 2008.
#12
Posted: 9/1/10 at 6:05pm
Huh! Well sorry I didn't believe- just can't imagine remounting a show 5 years later without a totally different outcome. Good luck!
#13
Posted: 9/1/10 at 7:38pm
I would like to add in a public forum that, having recently established contact with the presenters of the all-black Godspell, Mr. Schwartz apparently recently approached them to fund-raise for this revival. To paraphrase the show's director/producer: Why bother when they already have him on tape saying that production from 14 years ago was the best production of the show he'd ever seen?
If he decides to let the all-black version go to Broadway now, they could hook up leads like Ben and Jermaine, Shirley Caesar, Rain Pryor, Melba Moore, and others for it, and it would trump the Papermill production in a million ways if it was anything like the show I saw.
If he decides to let the all-black version go to Broadway now, they could hook up leads like Ben and Jermaine, Shirley Caesar, Rain Pryor, Melba Moore, and others for it, and it would trump the Papermill production in a million ways if it was anything like the show I saw.
"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from."
~ Charles M. Schulz
#14
Posted: 9/1/10 at 11:59pm
if lombardi flops (which it probably will) i bet it will end up there.
#15
Posted: 9/2/10 at 12:11am
Gvendo, seriously. Many of the names you are dropping belong to people who are ELDERLY. One of the things about Godspell is its youthful vitality. Jermaine Jackson is 55 years old. Ben Vereen is 64. Melba Moore is 65.
Seriously.
Seriously.
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#16
Posted: 9/2/10 at 1:40am
I love Ben Vereen, but I wouldn't pay a brass farthing to see a bunch of senior citizens do Godspell. It would just be ridiculous.
#17
Posted: 9/2/10 at 2:09am
While i think with that supposed (very aged) cast, it'd be awful. However, something about an all-black cast of Godspell sounds like it really could work.
#18
Posted: 9/2/10 at 2:23am
I think it should have a multi-racial cast. The whole show is about unity and together-ness, why single out one race when you can have many represented?
#19
Posted: 9/2/10 at 8:52am
The big black Godspell from 20 years ago couldn't be remounted with the same cast now. It's just one of those "Magical Lost Productions" that everyone loved, but nowadays it's hard to find people who saw at all.
Luckily, an archival video has been said to exist of the black Godspell. The other legendary Godspell production- the Canadian production with Victor Garber, Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Jim Belushi and Paul Shaffer among others- has been lost for all time, despite being probably THE definition of all-star cast.
Luckily, an archival video has been said to exist of the black Godspell. The other legendary Godspell production- the Canadian production with Victor Garber, Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Jim Belushi and Paul Shaffer among others- has been lost for all time, despite being probably THE definition of all-star cast.
#20
Posted: 9/2/10 at 10:52am
Lord, I've seen and worked on Godspell so many times, I can't imagine what would draw me into an over-sized Broadway house to see it again.
Although I do always like seeing it in small venues.
Although I do always like seeing it in small venues.
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