New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Gallery
Players opens its 49th season with the rock opera, Godspell, conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak, music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
In an urban wasteland, full of icons but empty of meaning and direction, those who find themselves isolated in the darkness yearn hopelessly for the light. But each has a story, and in the telling, harmony and trust grows, and the light dawns.
In 1970, Godspell evolved from John Michael Tebelak's master's thesis project at Carnegie Mellon. Within a year, it had won the attention of producers who brought in Stephen Schwartz - another Carnegie Mellon Graduate - to re-work the score, and it opened off-Broadway, directed by Tebelak. After a long run there and in London, it opened on Broadway. Since then, Godspell has been performed around the world. In 2011, it returned to Broadway with updates to both book and music. In accordance with Gallery's signature approach, which offers re-imagined presentations of popular repertoire, this production will incorporate many of these changes while adhering to the simplicity and heart of the original.
Godspell opens Saturday,
September 12th, and runs for 16 performances through Sunday, October 4th, 2015. Performances will be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm and Sunday afternoons at 3:00 pm. The third and fourth
Saturdays will also have matinees at 2:00 pm.
Tickets are $18 for Adults and $15 for senior citizens, students, and children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased 24/7 online at www.galleryplayers.com or by calling OvationTix at 212-352-3101 (phone hours 9-9 weekdays, 10-6 weekends). Godspell is an approved Actors Equity Association showcase.
Bringing Godspell to the Gallery Stage is Producer, Mark Harborth; Director, Ben Tostado;
Music Director, Jacob Patorti; Associate Producer, L.
Sidney Fortner; Assistant Director, Sean Pollock; Scenic Design, Jerry Mittelhauser; Lighting Design, Scott Andrew Cally; Costume Design, Ricky Lurie; Properties Design, Roxanne Goodby; Production Stage Manager,
Sarah Lahue; and an ensemble including: Elyse Beyer*, Albert Jennings, Ashli Louis, Jacleen Olson, Sean O'Shea , Aramie Payton, Gavyn Pickens*, Geena Quintos*, Adrian Rifat,
Diego Rios. (*member of Actor's Equity Association)
Following the Sunday,
September 13th, matinee, the audience is invited to Gallery Talks, a brief, complimentary post-show event at which they can openly discuss topical facets of the show and the production with theatre scholars, the director and the cast.
ABOUT THE GALLERY PLAYERS
A New York institution since 1967—nearly 50 years—The Gallery Players' season comprises three plays and three musicals from both the classic and contemporary repertoire; the season finale is the annual
Black Box New Play Festival, which workshops and presents world premier productions of works by emerging playwrights. Gallery has received the Off-Off Broadway Review's 2000 Award for Lifetime Achievement, as well as New York Innovative Theater (IT) awards for outstanding musical for Urinetown, Yank, and Like You Like It, and has earned the reputation of "New York's Best Kept Secret."
The Gallery
Players is located at 199 14th Street, between 4th and 5th Avenues, in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Take the F, R or G
Train to 4th Avenue / 9th Street. By car: the BQE to Hamilton Avenue, to 14th Street. Website: https://galleryplayers.com
