RAINSVILLE – The Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) Theatre will perform Godspell on April 21-34, April 28 – May 1, and May 5-8, 2022. Performances Thursday through Saturday nights will be held at 7:00 p.m. Sunday’s performance will be a matinée at 2:00 p.m. The performances will be at the Tom Bevill Lyceum located on the NACC main campus.
Tickets for Godspell will be available to purchase by phone, in person, or online. The Theatre Box Office is located on the 2nd Floor of the Tom Bevill Lyceum. To order tickets by phone with a credit card call: (256) 638-4418 ext. 2218. To order tickets online visit www.nacc.edu/theatre. This production will be held in person with Covid-19 safety protocol in place. Masks will be highly suggested. Tickets are $8 each.
Godspell the musical will be performed on stage in the round! The seating for the show will be on stage rather than in the normal auditorium seating! This seating setup will provide an amazingly immersive and interactive performance unlike any other to have graced the Tom Bevill Lyceum stage.
“We are excited about Godspell,” stated NACC President Dr. David Campbell. “It is a wonderful play and the interactive audience seating for the play will make it an exceptional experience. Our Theatre Director, Ms. Kayleigh Smith, will bring on the best in the actors and actresses!”
Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden); and it took the world by storm. Led by the international hit, “Day by Day,” Godspell features a parade of beloved songs, including “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” “All for the Best,” “All Good Gifts,” “Turn Back, O Man” and “By My Side.”
In this updated (2012) version of the musical, a small group of people help Jesus Christ tell the different parables through games, storytelling, and comedy. A wide range of musical styles from vaudeville to pop are played and sung while you watch the story of Jesus’ life play out on stage. The group of people along with familiar characters such as John the Baptist and Judas portray the story of Jesus’ kindness, good news, and love all coming to the haunting dissolve of Jesus’ Crucifixion.
The chart-topping score, by playwright (John-Michael Tebelak), is a sensational story of love and death that continues to reach the hearts of theatre goers around the world. The simplicity of the staging combined with the complexity within the music has made it a staple of theatre companies both large and small.
Godspell is a wonderfully designed production built and designed by about 25 people and performed by an extraordinary group of 10 students and community members. The crew consists of more than 20 people working on costumes, set construction, prop design, sound, and lighting. The 10 cast members each play a variety of roles throughout the production, including Jesus, John the Baptist, and Judas.
NACC’s Theatre Department, led by Director of Theatre Kayleigh Smith, has used the college’s state-of-the-art technical equipment and talented theatre students, community members, and college staff to bring in-person productions back to the area.
“We have had so much fun putting Godspell together for our community,” said Smith. “I chose this particular show—the story of Jesus’ love, hope, and acceptance—to bring a little joy into our lives in these trying times, and to remind ourselves and our audiences that we should always lead with love. We chose to perform this show with the seating onstage so that our audiences can feel like they are not just observing, they are experiencing the story with us. It is truly a spiritual experience.”
NACC’s Music Department has also been very involved in bringing Godspell to the stage. “Working with Stacy Morris and the Department of Music has been an absolute dream,” said Smith. “This is the sixth production on which we have collaborated. The talent never ceases to amaze me. Having live music in our productions elevates our shows in a way I didn’t think was possible. They blow me away every time!”
Finally, Smith is grateful for the support given to the NACC Theatre. “We would like to thank the amazing cast and crew for their tireless efforts to bring the magic of theatre to life. They have poured so much time, energy, and love into this show—all while wearing masks! A huge thank you to our biggest supporter and president of Northeast, Dr. David Campbell, as well as the entire NACC family, for their belief in, and support of creating quality live theatre for those we serve. We could not do what we do without your advocacy for the arts.”
For more information about Northeast Alabama Community College, visit nacc.edu or download the OneACCS app in the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Follow NACC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest announcements, current events, and more.
