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It is the gospel of Matthew filled with parables and songs. It is Crowder College’s musical production this year. It is “Godspell.”
It is also the first time the area has had a chance to see the show since the 1990s, said director Drew Fethers, costumer for the theatre department.
Fethers describes the musical as a group of strangers coming together to form a community.
“The beginning of the show is kind of a bunch of strangers voicing their opinion on all kinds of different things and it kind of starts in chaos,” Fethers said. “Then John the Baptist comes in and kind of settles everything down and says, ‘hey, we need to follow Jesus.’ Each song as it goes along each person kind of has their own song where they kind of commit to Jesus and they tell a story.”
The music will still be the same with a rock orchestra and a big rock sound, but Fethers has taken a step back from the musical’s 1970s roots and plans a new urban twist for costumes and set design.
“I’m making it modern I’m kind of setting it in a grunge kind of look,” he said.
Written by John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz, the department chose “Godspell” as part of its American voices series. The feel good vibe and recognizable tunes were also part of the decision.
Two of the most popular are, “Day by day” and “O bless the Lord my soul.”
The school does a musical only every other year.
“Directing a musical is just a little bit more difficult,” Fethers said. “Just incorporating the other elements, music and dance and stuff like that along with line memorization and blocking and all that stuff.”
It’s her first time to sing in a musical for Bekah Crawford, but it’s something she’s always wanted to do.
“I love to sing,” Crawford said. “I’ve always loved to sing.”
Crawford, an elementary education student at Crowder, has two roles. She starts the musical as John the Baptist, and then reappears as Judas.
The entire “Godspell” cast is Crowder students. Jaymes Wilkins of Neosho plays the part of Jesus. Eric Crosswhite of Neosho appears as ‘Lamar,’ Joe McNary of Jasper as ‘Jeffrey,’ Josh Gauss of Cassville as ‘Herb,’ Shannon Schlessman of Pineville as ‘Robin,’ Sara Moorehouse of Carthage as ‘Gilmer,’ Thea Hasley of Aurora as ‘Sonia,’ Bailey Conklin of El Dorado Springs as ‘Joanne’ and Crystal Hope of Aurora rounds out the ensemble as ‘Peggy.’
The symbolism, paired with the musical’s song and dance numbers, tells a classic story.
“It’s religious, it’s about Jesus,” Fethers said. “It’s very universal. It’s timeless.”
“Godspell” starts at 7:30 p.m., March 26-27, with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 28. Tickets are $10 at the door with discounts available for students and senior citizens. For more information contact Crowder College at 451-3223.
It is the gospel of Matthew filled with parables and songs. It is Crowder College’s musical production this year. It is “Godspell.”
It is also the first time the area has had a chance to see the show since the 1990s, said director Drew Fethers, costumer for the theatre department.
Fethers describes the musical as a group of strangers coming together to form a community.
“The beginning of the show is kind of a bunch of strangers voicing their opinion on all kinds of different things and it kind of starts in chaos,” Fethers said. “Then John the Baptist comes in and kind of settles everything down and says, ‘hey, we need to follow Jesus.’ Each song as it goes along each person kind of has their own song where they kind of commit to Jesus and they tell a story.”
The music will still be the same with a rock orchestra and a big rock sound, but Fethers has taken a step back from the musical’s 1970s roots and plans a new urban twist for costumes and set design.
“I’m making it modern I’m kind of setting it in a grunge kind of look,” he said.
Written by John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz, the department chose “Godspell” as part of its American voices series. The feel good vibe and recognizable tunes were also part of the decision.
Two of the most popular are, “Day by day” and “O bless the Lord my soul.”
The school does a musical only every other year.
“Directing a musical is just a little bit more difficult,” Fethers said. “Just incorporating the other elements, music and dance and stuff like that along with line memorization and blocking and all that stuff.”
It’s her first time to sing in a musical for Bekah Crawford, but it’s something she’s always wanted to do.
“I love to sing,” Crawford said. “I’ve always loved to sing.”
Crawford, an elementary education student at Crowder, has two roles. She starts the musical as John the Baptist, and then reappears as Judas.
The entire “Godspell” cast is Crowder students. Jaymes Wilkins of Neosho plays the part of Jesus. Eric Crosswhite of Neosho appears as ‘Lamar,’ Joe McNary of Jasper as ‘Jeffrey,’ Josh Gauss of Cassville as ‘Herb,’ Shannon Schlessman of Pineville as ‘Robin,’ Sara Moorehouse of Carthage as ‘Gilmer,’ Thea Hasley of Aurora as ‘Sonia,’ Bailey Conklin of El Dorado Springs as ‘Joanne’ and Crystal Hope of Aurora rounds out the ensemble as ‘Peggy.’
The symbolism, paired with the musical’s song and dance numbers, tells a classic story.
“It’s religious, it’s about Jesus,” Fethers said. “It’s very universal. It’s timeless.”
“Godspell” starts at 7:30 p.m., March 26-27, with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 28. Tickets are $10 at the door with discounts available for students and senior citizens. For more information contact Crowder College at 451-3223.
