Curtains rose November 7 on this season’s latest Broadway arrival — a new production of “Godspell” at Circle in the Square Theatre. Daniel Goldstein helms this revival of the early tuner by Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”).
This marks the first Broadway revival of “Godspell” since its original 1976 run on the Great White Way. While some changes have been made to contemporize John-Michael Tebelak’s book, the production’s focus remains the retelling of the Gospel of Matthew through song and dance.
Well-known tunes from the production include “Day By Day” and “Learn Your Lessons Well.” An ensemble cast performs “Godspell,” but featured performers include Hunter Parris as Jesus and Wallace Smith in the dual role of John the Baptist and Judas.
“Godspell” began previews October 13 at the 735-seat playhouse, where it is booked into an open-ended run. Audiences jumped to a high 97 percent capacity in the final full week of previews, while the show has tallied a four-week cumulative gross of $1,166,223.
Regular ticket prices are $125 to $135, with the exception of the $155 ticket for holiday performances the week of December 25 through January 1. Theater-goers can also buy tickets at discounted rates of $79.50 or $89.50 with TicketNews discount code GSTN922, for savings of up to 35 percent.
Through November 14, performances are being staged at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, with 2:30 matinees also on Saturday and Sunday. But beginning November 15, the schedule alters slightly. Tuesday performances will be bumped up to 7 p.m., and the Wednesday evening perf is dropped for a 2 p.m. matinee.
Circle in the Square Theatre is located at 235 West 50th Street in New York, NY. “Godspell” runs two hours and 15 minutes, including an intermission. More information can be found on the production’s official Web site.
Opening Night: “Godspell”
| Publication | Critic | Review |
| Variety | Steve Suskin | “Strongest aspect of the affair is the casting: This ‘Godspell’ is especially well sung.” |
| New York Times | Charles Isherwood | “…the juvenile spirit of the show tends to infantilize its moral and spiritual subject matter…” |
| Hollywood Reporter | David Rooney | “Earnest counterculture in this revival has given way to self-conscious pop culture.” |
| New York Post | Elisabeth Vincentelli | “Clean-cut and colorful, this production skews young. It’s great for teens, but adults may find its hyperactivity a bit numbing.” |
| New York Magazine | Scott Brown | “One could accuse this ‘Godspell,’ with its slightly corporatized sleekness and unmistakable sense of salesmanship, of undermining the show’s homespun garage-rock charm.” |
| Associated Press | Mark Kennedy | “This Christ, played by Hunter Parrish (“Spring Awakening”), is, in a word, milquetoast.” |
