Hello, friends...I realize I pretty much don't post here at all anymore (and most of you probs don't remember me/know who I am), but, well...I do still exist and lurk and what have you, and I believe that some of you are London-based, so I thought I'd let you know about a production of Godspell that's happening (in Walthamstow, to be precise...edgy). It opens on Saturday and runs till the 1st of April, every day of the week but Mondays. Come and play if you fancy it! And, I'm in it! I sing and dance and act and stuff. Sometimes all at the same time.

Webiste-based informations: http://www.allstarproductions.co.uk/

I realize there's a forum for posting about shows, but I'm so old school that I can't change my ways. Please can I have this thread here? I promise to be very quiet and behave myself.

The poster suggests a grittier look at Godspell than previous versions. Whether or not the thread is moved, I'm intrigued to find out what led to that choice of artwork. Explicitly religious in nature, and very Passion of the Christ-like, not so much the sugarcoated approach Godspell usually seems to have. I'm not sure whether to be intrigued by the approach in advertising, or worried that the show follows it too far. Care to enlighten me, and others?

Actually, the poster is quite accurate. Our director chose to set this Godspell in a community that's been torn apart by various things (the inspiration for the set comes from the parts of Central London post-riots in the autumn); Jesus and John the Baptist/Judas come into a busted-up, broken-down community and work to bring everyone together--it's focusing on the "building a community" aspect, rather than the "telling Bible stories" aspect. She's tried to incorporate aspects of different faiths into the production concept as well: she's half Jewish/half Evangelical Christian...our cast includes people of a variety of faith persuasions from mainline Christian to Muslim to atheist, so it's about figuring out a way to tell this story that is, obviously, on the surface clearly about one specific thing, and tell it in a way that makes it more universally applicable.

I think it'll be a production that raises people's hackles. I reckon some people will love it and some people will hate it...it'll be interesting to see what the end result is. It's definitely not your typical Godspell though, that is for sure.

I don't know how much sense that makes; I'm knackered from a long day and my brain is doing that thing where it slowly starts goo-ifying.

Sounds interesting. Are you guys sticking with the traditional orchestrations, incorporating influences from newer versions...?

As far as I know, we have the original version of the show (apparently they couldn't even get the rights to Beautiful City here; you have to license it separately). We've changed the style of pieces though...gone for a funk feel on Light of the World, gospel on We Beseech Thee...I'm singing Turn Back, O Man and we've gone more Jessica Rabbit than Mae West. That's all though;

Sounds interesting. If I was in town, I'd buy tickets.

It's definitely is an interesting concept for Godspell. Break a leg!

We've been nominated in the Off-West End Awards! For Best Ensemble, Best Director, Best Musical Direction, Best Male Performance, and two Best Female Performances...and one of those Best Female Performances was me. Don't really know how that happened, but I'll take it. COME SEE THE SHOW!

http://www.offwestend.com/index.php/pages/the_offies

Congratulations! I love productions that focus on the community aspect and it sounds like a great concept! If I were across the pond, I'd definitely want to check it out.