Question about "The Gospel at Colonus"

[Ayisatu]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 6:41pm

A friend of mine has a copy of "The Gospel at Colonus" (1985 Philadelphia Cast). For those who don't know, it's a re-telling of Oedipus to gospel music. I was just wondering, did this show ever make it to Broadway? If so, who was in it? If not, what do you guys think the chances of it ever making to Broadway are? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks in advance!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 6:49pm

It had a short run on Broadway back in the late 80s with much of the same cast of the Philadelphia production (Clarence Fountain and the Five Blind Boys, the Steele Singers, Carolyn Johnson-White), as well as Morgan Freeman as the narrator. It's also toured the country at various times in the years since, and there was a week long revival (with much of the same cast except for Freeman) at the Apollo a couple of years ago.

[Ayisatu]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 6:53pm

Thanks, Margo. I wish I could have seen it on Broadway. The cd is absolutely amazing!

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 7:19pm

The opening song from "CAMP" comes from this show also.

[professor]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:17pm

There was a televised version(for Great Performances, I think) that was released on VHS back in 1987. It's long out of print, but can often be found in libraries.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 12:50pm

We watched this in one of my classes last year. It's fascinating and amazing. I can't imagine them ever doing anything like it now on Broadway. Maybe at BAM.

It changes the original play in some really amazing and fascinating ways.

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 1:11pm

I sent an email to PBS about a month or so ago to see if it ever had a shot in hell of re-airing. The Response: They've gotten several emails but...Nope. So I comb libraries for it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/5/07 at 2:50pm

It popped up on Channel 13 here a couple of years ago, so it does resurface now and then.