NEYT’s ‘Godspell’ a life changer

NEYT’s ‘Godspell’ a life changer

[To the] Editor of Reformer:

Emotionally moving, fun, humorous, serious, heart wrenching -- how can I describe the performance of "Godspell" at the New England Youth Theater last month? As an old clown and kids opened the show I wondered if I would stay awake. Returning late from intermission I watched the remainder of the show from stage level center aisle. As each youth poured her/his heart into their parts big and bit I asked the clown beside me, "Are you the director?" With tears running down my face I said, "Oh my God, what a show!" and hugged him.

Broadway acting cannot be as inspiring as these kids. I understand these performances are often life changing for the youth. It was for some of us audience.

David P. Terrell,

a visiting Buckeye,

Ohio, July 18

NEYT presents 'Godspell' in all its positive, groovy glory

By JON POTTER

Reformer Staff

BRATTLEBORO - - Religion is highly charged territory, so if you're going to go there, it's best to tread carefully - like with big clown shoes and groovy dance steps. Once again, the New England Youth Theatre steps boldly where others merely mince, as two dozen Senior Company actors go all-in on a production of the groundbreaking rock musical, "Godspell."

Performances open Friday and continue through July 14. With memorable songs such as "Day by Day," a full-on rock band backing the singers, colorful costumes and a story that leaves plenty of room for improvisation, clowning and the high-energy contributions of the NEYT cast, "Godspell" is based on the parables of Jesus, particularly the gospels of Matthew and Luke. But at NEYT, the show also comes right from the Book of Stephen. "They call this show NEYT's religion, because clowning is NEYT's religion .... I've talked a lot about this show being about changing 'me' into 'we,'" said director Stephen Stearns. "This show is probably just about the most universal show ever written. The messages go back to way before the Bible .... We've had talks with the cast about religion. … There are no-religion kinds in the cast, and Catholic kids and Protestant kids and Jewish kids and atheist kids." Though based on Christian texts, the themes of "Godspell" transcend any particular religion, and the music is set in modern times - NEYT transports audiences back to the late-1960s when a bunch of people step out of their everyday lives, come together and are reminded of some powerful lessons they may have once learned but forgot. "People are so plugged in and connected all the time, we've lost our organic roots. It's a way of pulling back from looking at the screen and seeing what's around us," said Chris Diak, who plays Jesus in this production. "I feel like it has the lessons of The Bible with the religiousness removed," said Alec Silver, who plays Judas, a complicated and painful role. "I, can honestly say that I really feel awful when I decide to break away .... The last scene ... it's not acting." Indeed the last scene, when Jesus takes his leave, is powerful and emotional. More than one cast member had tears in his eyes after it during a run-through Tuesday afternoon. But most of the time, "Godspell" is a freewheel in', fun, high-spirited set of stories told with clowning, comedy, improv and inclusion - it might as well ho an outward expression of NEYT's mission. "It preaches NEYT's philosophy of everyone joining in," said cast member Emily Seymour. "Community .... I feel like that's a big part of it," added Rachel Durante. "The miracle of it is that this guy shows up and goes into the 'interesting' zone and convinces other people to go into the interesting zone, the curiosity zone, with him, and through some simple children's stories teaches them lessons about how to behave," said Stearns. "It's about getting involved." Sounds like a winning formula. It certainly has been in "Godspell's" case. Conceived and originally directed by John Michael Tebelak, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, "Godspell" debuted in 1971 and became one of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time. And Stearns was one of the first people ever to see the show. He and his wife Bonnie were living in Greenwich Village when some of the actors in the original production called them in off the street saying they needed an audience for run-through. "We got the first glimpse of it, and we loved it," said Stearns. About 10 years ago, Stearns was planning to do "Godspell" for NEYT's summer show, but the cast didn't come together, and he scrubbed the plan and moved on to other shows. This year, it bubbled back to the top of the list. For this production, Stearns has added some unique NEYT twists, including a new beginning, which features him on stage as an old clown, selling all his clown stuff. The young people passing by take him up on his offer and are transported back in time to the '60s. Things take off from there. Stearns will be on stage, clowning, for about half a hour before the show as part of the setup, so audiences can come early and be entertained. The show has a groovy look, thanks largely to the efforts of Sandy Klein, who assembled the costumes. There is technicolor lighting, a rock band led by musical director Alii Lubin and dancing choreographed by Jen Moyse. Adding a further bit of authenticity, local artist Scot Borofsky, a nationally known street artist, painted the back wall to look like a cityscape of the period, complete with "Clapton is God" graffiti. The songs are well-loved and instantly hummable. Asked which one was there favorite song, cast members reeled off seven titles, no two of them the same: "We Beseech Thee," "Save the People," "On the Willows," "All for the Best," "By My Side," "Beautiful City," "The Finale." Performances of "Godspell" at NEYT, 100 Flat St., are this Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., Sunday, at 2 p.m., and Tuesday, July 10, through Saturday, July 14, at 7 p.m., with a matinee on Saturday, July 14, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $9 for students and may be purchased at www.neyt.org or at the NEYT Box Office in person, or by phone at 802-246-6398, from noon to 5 p.m., on Wednesdays. New England Youth Theatre is an accessible theater, with accommodations for wheelchairs, and assistive listening devices for patrons who are hard of hearing. The sponsor is 1st Advantage Dental. New England Youth Theatre is also supported by Foard Panel, the Vermont Children's Trust Fund, Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.