PEA RIDGE — If you’ve seen the musical “Godspell” before, don’t expect the upcoming Village Players production to be exactly the same. It won’t be. The songs are the same. The stories told are the same, but the characters telling the stories and the way they tell those stories are unique to this production.
The pop, rock musical premiered in New York in May 1971, and returned to Broadway this past November. On July 20-22, it will be produced by the Village Players at Northwest Arkansas Community College’s White Auditorium in Bentonville.
While the show was originally set in an urban playground with cast members costumed asclowns, this production will be set in present-day Bentonville, with actors portraying donors and volunteers at Helping Hands.
The show features a cast of 23 varying in age from children to senior citizens.
Regular attendees Village Players’ productions, will recognize performers from “Hello, Dolly!,” “The Taffetas,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Harvey and the Village Players last show,” “Love, Sex and the IRS,” (including the guy who put on a dress!) as well as newcomers.
Josh Marshall will play the role of Jesus. The cast includes Chris Delacruz, Amber Brown, Anna Hope, Jessica Ivonne Vradenburg, Hope Holmes, Kristyn Saunders, Michelle Vargas,Paul Graves, Rene Garcia-Oliver, Shawn Thompson, Ty Volz and Robbie Lewis. Chorus, dance troupe and additional character actors include: Arlie Bray, Kathe Luetgens, Bailey Kinser, Basia Berner, Christina Campbell, Jessica Hope, Judy Benn, Melissa Hope, Sophia Goodsell and Bob Benson
The show is directed by Sonja Redwine, whose Village Players directing credits include “Moon Over Buffalo,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” and “I Do! I Do!” Audiences saw her on stage in the Village Players last two productions of “Harvey and Love, Sex and the IRS.”
“I fell in love with this show when I first saw it in the 1970s,” says Redwine.
“I rushed out and boughtthe album and played it over and over. The shear joy of life and the lessons of how we can live together in kindness, tolerance and love made a long lasting impression on me.”
Bill Hesse, director of the Bella Vista Men’s Chorus, is musical director.
Carol Roller, co-leader of the Sophisticated Ladies, is choreographer. Patrick Kunnecke, a member of the Fayetteville comedy improv troupe Phunbags, is the improvisational coach.
The G-rated pop/rock musical was conceived and originally directed by John Michael Tebelak, with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. GODSPELL is one of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time.
Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, and featuring a sparkling score by Stephen Schwartz, GODSPELL boasts a string of wellloved songs, led by the international hit, “Day By Day.” As the cast performs “Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” “All For The Best,” “All Good Gifts,” “Turn Back, O Man” and “By My Side,” the parables of Jesus Christ come humanly and hearteningly to life.
Tickets are available online at bvvillageplayers.org, at the Bella Vista branches of Arvest Bank, or at the door. Tickets for the Helping Hands benefit performance can be purchased online or at Helping Hands.
Community, Pages 9 on 07/18/2012