Godspell-Original

[Princeton78]

Posted: 9/22/04 at 10:57pm

Hmmm..just wondering. Did anyone on this board see the original production of "Godspell" off broadsay? I'm not referring to the 2000 adaptation with Barrett Foa, Chad Kimball, Shoshana Bean etc. I'm speaking of the production that opened at the Cherry Lane theatre in 1971 and proceeded to run for over 3000 performances before moving to Broadway in 1976 where it ran for over a year at the Broadhurst, Ambassador and Plymouth theaters (I guess back then, shows switched houses a lot). Just wondering what the original show was like. Thanks!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:03am

My parents saw it What questions did you have, exactly? I used to be a massive Godspell freak and may be able to help you.

[Chote887]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:05am

I didn't see it, but I prefer the recording to the recent one.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:06am

Amen.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 12:19am

Godspell is a fun show! i personaly like the newer cast recordings of godspell! the voices are so much better. Updated On: 9/23/04 at 12:19 AM

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:14am

I have a really old vinyl where it's the show logo, but it's all in black and gold. It only mentions the track-list and nothing else, but it sounds really old and the date is 1972

[Jon]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 8:13am

Trivia - Sonya Manzano, who sang "Turn Back Oh Man" in the opriginal production, went on to become "Maria" on SESAME STREET, where she sstill resides!

More trivia - in the film version, there is a scene where they go to an old theatre and whow silent movies while they act out one of the parables. That was filmed at the Cherry Lane Theatre, where the show started.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 9:43am

My favorite CD is the 1993 studio recording with Darren Day, Ruthie Henshall and John Barrowman. The voices and orchestrations are great.

[BroadwayBound06]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 10:03am

I also prefer the 2000 Version especially Alas for You with the added guitar, and it being sung alot higher than the original.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 10:04am

Of the three recordings I have, the one I listen to the most is the 2000 Off-Broadway version, with Barrett Foa, Shoshanna Bean, Chad Kimball, etc. However, I LOVE the original and would listen to it more often if it weren't on, you know, LP. And please, does anyone know WHY they cut the line "let's have some wine!" from "Light of the World" in the more recent productions? If it was okay then, it's okay now! I mean, I saw it in a COLLEGE production and not only did they have wine, they shared their wine with the audience!

[RagtimeRay]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 1:24pm

I suspect that the original post is an effort to flush out us old guys on this board.

I saw the original production of Godspell. It was done quite simply on a mostly bare stage with a chain link fence on three sides. I just remember the show as both entertaining and touching. Although it played off-broadway, the show toured in full sized theatres around the country to good audience response. The first Act ended with the "Let's have some wine" line, and the audience was invited on to the stage where wine was poured out of gallon jugs into small paper cups. As to why it is cut, I don't know. It may have become a question of an insurance issue... inviting the audience onto the stage. Who knows.

That was quite a few years ago, but if you have a specific question I will be happy to try and answer it.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 2:36pm

OK, then. Another old person weighing in. I did see the original and the one in Toronto and of all the recordings, I actually prefer the film version with Victor Garber

[morosco]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 2:40pm

Chad + Kimball = DREAMBOAT!

[Princeton78]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 4:13pm

Hey...thanks to those who responded. I was just wondering what the atmosphere was like. All of the recent productions of the show I've seen seem to force the hippie vibe or try waaaay to hard to reinvent the show. I can only imagine that the original was somewhat unpretentious in that it tried to be nothing other than what it was. Listening to the orig. recording from 1972, I can only imagine what it must have sounded like in the tiny Cherry Lane theatre. The finale must have blown the roof off of the place! Oh and yes, Chad Kimball...HOT....I was thinking...if he could learn to work a puppet, I'd love to see him take over when JTags leaves "AQ"...not that I'm rushing that though! :)

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 9/23/04 at 5:12pm

Well, he did manage to be a cow.