ZOE KIRIAZIS
Special to The Leader
Every show has a moral or lesson to be learned, whether it be obvious or more indirect. “We can build a beautiful city, not a city of angels, but finally a city of man,” sang the company of the Department of Theatre and Dance’s (TADA) production of “Godspell” in the final moment of the story.
Opening on Oct. 21 in Bartlett Theatre in Rockefeller Arts Center, 10 performers and a four-member pit band presented the parables in the Gospel of Matthew with music composed by Stephen Schwartz.
The show centered around 10 different personalities of performers expressing visually and vocally the various stories and lessons that Jesus, portrayed by sophomore musical theatre major Tyler Hecht, teaches or has the community discover on their own.
Director and associate professor Paul W. Mockovak presented an adaptation of “Godspell” that incorporated musical references such as current Broadway phenomena “Hamilton” and last year’s TADA musical, “Cabaret.” Although the show had religious elements, the audience was taken on a journey of a group of people creating a community through common lessons and personal beliefs. “Godspell” became personal by using the names of the actors rather than the Broadway Revival cast found in the script.
The score, filled with rock, contemporary, folk and Broadway music, held the tight harmonies and vocalization by music director James Welch and vocal coach Laurie Tramuta, both faculty members of the School of Music. Ten voices became one solid sound throughout the performance.
Powerhouse voices of the performance came from sophomore musical theatre majors Ellie Meyer and Noah Barnes. Meyer’s innocent façade is no match for her soprano and soulful voice, which was highlighted when she sang “Learn Your Lessons Well” during the time we learn about the parables of Lazarus. Barnes’ mature and sultry tenor voice sailed while painting the picture of the parable of Sower of the Seeds towards the end of Act 1.
Darker and mysterious voices, such as senior musical theatre Christine Boehm, sang “By My Side” and, as Judas, junior musical theatre major Patrick Brett disclosed his revenge towards Jesus. As Boehm sang, she drew the audience in from the happy and lively music previously sung which foreshadowed the inevitable end.
“Godspell” runs for one final weekend starting Oct. 27 to Oct. 30 in Bartlett Theatre.