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SAVE THE DATES!
August 18th, 19th & 20th
Hello and welcome to the inaugural musical for Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church!We are in the beginning stages for Godspell. This musical will take place Friday, August 18th –Sunday, August 20th, 2023.
Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden); and it took the world by storm. Godspell features a parade of beloved songs and centers around a group of people who help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life. We have multiple opportunities for people to get involved in the production and those opportunities are grouped into two different areas: Onstage and backstage. Below each are outlined.
Auditions May 30th, 7:00-10:00pm
We will hold vocal/acting and dancing auditions. The time for these auditions will be:
• Tuesday, May 30th from 6:45pm to 10pm at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church (1345 Grace Avenue) on the 2nd floor in the Little Theatre.
- 6:45pm to 7pm will be the dance audition
- 7:00pm to 10:00pm will be individual acting/singing auditions
• Cast list will be posted by Sunday, June 4th by 9:00PM
To audition, you must select a time slot on SignUpGenius.
Please make sure to fill out an audition form below including all schedule conflicts. Please show up for the auditions on time and ready to go. You will also dance in the audition; however, the dance audition will not be taught at the audition.
What has to be prepared for the auditions?
If you are auditioning for:
A Principal Role (a role with a significant amount of lines and/or a song) – We ask that you sing one of these two songs from Godspell (Principal audition song #1 or Principal audition song #2) as well as one of the three monologues from the show as well (Principal monologue #1, Principal monologue #2 or Principal monologue #3). We also ask that you learn the dance audition.
An Ensemble Role (more of a background character who sings in ensemble with other actors in songs and is a part of bigger scenes in the show) – We ask that you learn the ensemble song from the show (Ensemble song) and learn the dance audition. You do not need to do a monologue if you are just auditioning for the ensemble.
All roles (Principal or Ensemble) need to learn a dance audition in advance to the day or auditions. There will be a tutorial video that be posted shortly.
You must learn the dance ahead of time. The video will be available shortly. There will be a voluntary dance workshop to brush up on the video for anyone interested for 30 minutes prior to auditions starting. This will take place from 6:15pm to 6:45pm on Tuesday, May 30th.
AUDITIONING TIPS
- Prepare yourself for the audition at least a week before the audition by practicing and memorizing your monologue. The more you prepare yourself, the more confident you will feel.
- Know the Play – familiarize yourself with the play in general. Knowing the play only increases your chances of making the show because it shows the production staff that you care and are prepared. Read the play in advance, if you can, and see what parts you want to audition for. If you would like to read the script, you can find it here.
- Make strong choices in your acting and singing. Show us something that will wow us!
- Dress appropriately for the audition. Show you’re serious about the play. I’m not saying tuxedos and evening gowns, don’t go there, but something nice enough. If you show up in dirty jeans and a ratty t-shirt, the directors might get the idea that you’re not serious about the part and maybe won’t take you seriously. Also remember that you will be dancing so think comfortable as well.
- Warm up before you perform. Make sure you have at least half an hour to an hour before your performance to achieve the tone you want. Warming up makes an incredible difference to your sound.
- NEVER show up late. If you show up late for an audition, brace yourself for disappointment.
- Be nice to everyone, not just to the people you are actually auditioning for.
- Do NOT chew gum.
Synopsis of Godspell
Godspell began as a student master’s thesis project at Carnegie Mellon University in 1970. The original production was a collection of improvised scenes based on the gospel according to St. Matthew and music based on traditional hymns created and directed by John-Michael Tebelak. The show transferred for a ten week run to New York City’s la mama Experimental Theatre Club in 1971. Producers interested in opening the show Off-Broadway approached composer Stephen Schwartz about writing new music and lyrics. With a new score, Godspell moved to Off-Broadway where it soon became one of the longest-running Off-Broadway musicals, before moving to Broadway in June 1976. It ended its run in September 1977 with a total run of more than 2,600 performances. The show centers on a group of followers who are called to gather together to create a community following a very loving and knowledgeable teacher. By sharing stories about living good lives and singing about love, joy, gratitude, judgement and redemption, the group of disparate individuals band together with a common purpose to face challenges and obstacles as they are tested along the way. In this innovative 40th anniversary revival, director Daniel goldstein has grounded his vision for the play “in a dilapidated theater” as 10 people come out of a storm “both literally and figuratively.” These characters find “love and community through the teachings of a charismatic individual.” The show is being staged in the round which is new for this musical and contains new arrangements and music from Stephen Schwartz. The ensemble is charged with bringing a range of stories to life for the audience utilizing a host of theatrical devices including vaudeville, puppetry, story theater and varied song stylings. The goal is for the audience to experience through Godspell the “spirit of community and the idea to always treat others as you would have them treat you.”
Character Descriptions for Godspell
Below you will find descriptions of all characters appearing in Godspell.
JESUS -Must be the most charismatic individual in the cast. High energy, charming, funny, gentle but with strength. He is the sort of person others instinctively follow. ITS-8
JOHN THE BAPTIST/JUDAS – He has attributes of both Biblical figures: he is both Jesus’ lieutenant and most ardent disciple and the doubter who begins to question and rebel. Like Jesus, he is also charismatic, but in more of an overt revolutionary way. Usually played by someone handsome and masculine, with an undertone of sexuality. He is the most “serious” and intellectual of the group, though as with all the actors, he must still possess a good sense of physical comedy. ITS-6
NICK – Very high energy. Impish and playful. In the original, he played several musical instruments, including concertina, recorder, and guitar. ITS-6
TELLY – Not the brightest in the bunch, he is a little slow on the uptake. But there is a great sweetness and innocence about him. Because he sings “All Good Gifts,” he must be a very good singer. ITS-6
GEORGE – The comedian, the class clown. The guy who can do a hundred voices and imitations. ITS-6
ANNA MARIA – A bit of a tomboy, but basically open and sweet. Perhaps the youngest of the group. She is the first of the group to commit to following Jesus in the song “Day by Day.” ITS-6
LINDSAY – The confident one, the show-off. The first one to volunteer, sometimes she jumps in before she really understands what’s going on. ITS-6
UZO – The shy one. Sometimes a little slow to get things, but when she does, she commits all the way. Has an “earth mother” kind of warmth to her. ITS-6
MORGAN – Sassy and slightly cynical, the most urban of the group. Also the ‘sexy”one, but her sexiness contains a large element of put-on, in the manner of Mae West or Madonna (who in fact once played this role.) ITS-6
CELISSE – The female equivalent of the class clown. Goofy and a cut-up. In the 2012 Broadway revival, she played several instruments, including conga, ukulele, and guitar. ITS-6
The only character that is gender specific is Jesus. He will be male. All other characters are not gender specific in our opinion.