The Godspell Experience: Inside a Transformative Musical

About the Godspell Book

From the back cover: Day by day for more than 40 years, the musical Godspell has delighted countless performers and audience members around the world. Here, for the first time, is a comprehensive account of the show’s creative journey and how it became a theatrical classic. In his Foreword for The Godspell Experience, composer Stephen Schwartz shares some of his favorite personal memories from the earliest days of Godspell.

Author Carol de Giere has gathered fresh comments from original cast members, Stephen Schwartz, friends of the late John-Michael Tebelak (who conceived the musical and directed the first productions), Godspellmovie cast members, and others. Fans, performers, and directors will find essential material to enhance their understanding of Godspell. Come sing—and read—about love!

“I feel privileged to contribute to a book that is the most factually accurate, definitive account of the making of ‘Godspell.’ Fans of the musical will find a treasure trove of information that is nothing short of inspirational.” – Peggy Gordon, composer of “By My Side” and original Godspell cast member

CONTENTS

Foreword by Stephen Schwartz

PART I THE MAKING OF GODSPELL

1. The Lights Go Up
2. Tebelak and Schwartz: Theatrical Childhoods
3. An Eclectic Talent Gathering at CMU in the 1960s
4. The Turning Point: 1968
5. The College Godspell
6. Experiments in New York City
7. Enter Lansbury, Beruh, and Schwartz
8. An Off-Broadway Collaboration
9. Mishaps, Miracles, and a Completed New Musical
10. Long Live Godspell 

PART II UNDERSTANDING GODSPELL: CONCEPTS AND COLORFUL DETAILS

11. Why Send in the Clown Characters?
12. What Holds Godspell Together?
13. The John/Judas Relationship Arc with Jesus
14. Symbol Wars, or Is Makeup a Message?
15. Q & A: Is Godspell’s Comic Tone Spiritually Appropriate? And Other Concerns

PART III GODSPELL‘S SCORE SONG BY SONG

16. Notes on the Score, Recordings, and Lyrics
17. Godspell’s “Prologue” and the War of Words
18. Prepare Ye: Solving the Problem of the One-Line Lyric
19. “Save the People” – Is This What Jesus Wants?
20. The “Day by Day” Sing-Along
21. “Learn Your Lessons Well” – a Flexible Song
22. Bless the Lord My Burst of Energy
23. “All for the Best” – the Friendship Duet
24. “All Good Gifts” – Godspell’s Thanksgiving
25. “Light of the World” – Rhymes for Matthew 5:13-16
26. “Turn Back O Man” – an Invitation to Act II
27. “Alas for You” – Song of Frustration
28. “By My Side” – Songwriters and the Pebble “Dare”
29. “We Beseech Thee” – Come Sing about Love
30. “On The Willows” – The Ballad of Psalm 137
31. “Finale” – Long Live God Counterpoint
32. “Beautiful City” – The Lasting Tribute

PART IV: A GODSPELL GRAB BAG
33: Godspell Worldwide: The Stories Continue
34: The Godspell Commune Company
35: The Godspell Movie
36: The 2011 Broadway Revival

EPILOGUE: Reflections on Godspell as a Transformative Musical