It’s
another rehearsal night for Lincoln Christian College’s upcoming
production of Godspell, a contemporary musical based on the
gospel according to Matthew. In two acts, Godspell (an old
English form of the word Gospel) presents the life and teachings of
Jesus set to pop-rock music and modern choreography.
With
an enthusiastic cast and a director with long experience in local
theater, the Gospel story comes to life. The familiar teachings of
Jesus—the seeds that fall on good and bad soil, the good
Samaritan, the prodigal son, turning the other cheek and going the
extra mile—are dramatized by LCC students under the direction of
well-known Lincoln-area actor Tim Searby.
Rehearsals
are a cooperative, interactive experience. The actors are encouraged
to develop their own interpretations and make suggestions about the
way they think a scene should go. Searby listens and often agrees.
"This
is an ensemble show," he says. "It’s vital that the
actors help with their interpretation, bring their own ideas to
their parts. The playwright didn’t write in stage
directions."
![](../images/godspell/godspell2.jpg)
The
cast knows that without Searby, whose full-time job is administrator
of the Christian Village, the show might not go on. Assistant
Director Jim Allison, an associate professor of music at LCC, points
out, "We don’t have a drama major as such, but a lot of
students come with drama experience from high school and a desire to
do some theater in college. Having Tim in the community willing to
direct makes it possible to do our productions."
"I
love doing it," says Searby, who has been directing plays at
LCC for the last four years. "This entire area is blessed with
talent. I am not telling them what to do, I am helping them realize
their potential and abilities."
Cast
members describe Searby as "a fun, intense man who helps us get
excited about the play."
Both
the cast and the director are making a substantial time commitment
to put Godspell on the stage. Auditions were held before
Christmas break and cast members were given their scripts to take
home and study. And it wasn’t just one audition—cast members had
to prove they could act, sing and learn the choreography.
Rehearsals
started Jan. 13, Mondays through Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
As the weeks passed, rehearsal time became "from 6 until
whenever we needed it," cast member Jamie Elliott reported.
"It means we don’t have a life, but it’s worth it."
"I’ve
got three papers due Friday, and I don’t know when I’m going to
do them," says Matt Cloud.
"It
takes a lot of time but I love doing it. There’s nothing like it
in the world," says another cast member, Renee Pim.
The
first thing cast learns is the music. Then they begin blocking out
scenes, so they all know where they should be standing, when and
where they will move, and what the cues are. Finally they learn the
choreography, which was created by Gary Shull, a dance instructor
from Millikin University who donated his time to help make the show
a success.
All
but two of the cast members play a variety of roles, becoming kings,
beggars, servants, masters, sheep and goats, Pharisees and fallen
women, even the devils who tempt Jesus as the story move through the
crucial events of his life, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and
the Resurrection. Most of the time, however, the cast members are
seen as Jesus’ disciples.
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Jesus
himself, played by Ben Browning, is the only character who remains
consistent throughout. He follows the tradition started by the
original off-Broadway cast and wears a Superman T-shirt. John the
Baptist and Judas are played by the same character, Nathan Hall.
First
produced in 1971, in New York’s off-Broadway Cherry Lane Theater, Godspell
has the exuberance of the '60s youth culture. Based on a play by
John-Michael Tebelak with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, its
score includes everything from hand-clapping, foot-stomping songs of
praise to moving ballads like the popular "Day by Day."
"It’s
definitely a high-energy show," Allison said. "Everybody’s
onstage all the time."
Godspell
has been called many different things by the critics—naïve
and childlike, modest and loving, fresh and original, part rock and
part revival, both simple and profound. The young people in the LCC
cast are unanimous in describing it as powerful.
Cast
member Sheralyn Bolton says, "Godspell gives a powerful
message, but it doesn’t only feed the audience. It feeds us. We’ve
heard these parables often, but now we are living them. The show
makes the Gospel message even more real to me."
"This
is a really powerful family life musical," says Sherri Grissom.
"The best thing about it is no one cast member is more
important than any other, except of course the Jesus figure."
For
Nora Bishop, the only seminary student in the cast, the chance to
act in Godspell fulfills a lifelong dream. "When I was
three years old my brother talked my mom into letting me stay up to
watch Godspell on television. He also taped it. I was so
fascinated I watched the tape eight or nine times a day. When the
tape stopped I would call Mom to rewind it, because I was too little
to operate the VCR. I learned every word of every song, I danced
every dance, I never forgot it and I always wanted to be in it.
"As
a seminary student I almost never read the announcements, but the
notice of auditions for Godspell was posted and I was waiting
for a friend, so I read it. I became so excited I called my mom and
said, ‘God must want me to be in this play.’ This is my last
semester so it was my last chance. I auditioned and I made it."
Also
in the cast are Tramaine Davis, Eric Gerdts, Thomas Layco, Erin
Baker, Holly Overby and Benji Maurer. Providing the music are Linda
Storm, piano; Michael Gowin, guitar; Nathan Davis, bass; J. D.
Maddox, percussion; Emily Storm, keyboard; and a vocal trio of
Hannah Peake, Becky Schneider and Dan Schneider.
Performances
are set for Feb. 24, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Earl C Hargrove
Chapel. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students through
college. Group rates for 20 or more are available. For tickets and
information, call 217-732-3168, extension 2254.
![](../images/godspell/godspell1.jpg)
[Joan
Crabb]
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