St. Theresa School's

Directed by Ryan Boyles

~Mishare Productions~

Conceived and Originally Directed by John-Michael Tebelak,
with Music and New Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

PHOTOS

Proudly Presented On...

Thursday, April 6, 2006

Friday, April 7, 2006

Saturday, April 8, 2006

SPECIAL THANKS

TO OUR PROGRAM ADVERTISERS!

 

And to An Olde Towne Florist and Greenery for providing our fountain!

• Beautiful City Background & History

• All for the Best - Background & History

• Other songs - Scripture ties

 STS APRIL 2006 GODSPELL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

• Direction & Support

• Cast List

• Photos from Practice

• Photos from School Assembly

• Photos from Post Production Celebration

• Program

SPECIAL THANKS

TO OUR PROGRAM ADVERTISERS!

	And to An Olde Towne Florist and Greenery for providing our fountain!
SPECIAL DEDICATION

• Special Thanks were given to BJ Meagher and Ryan Boyles from the cast.
• GODSPELL was not possible without our wonderful parent volunteers!

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Based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, GODSPELL is one of the most successful musicals in history. It is a present day view of

 Jesus.  His followers and disciples re-enact parables and scenes from Jesus' life with great energy.

The rock musical was an immediate hit when it opened in the spring of 1971 at an off-Broadway theatre. Ticket sales were brisk for three years. Between 1971 and 1973, productions opened in Los Angeles, London, Paris, Washington, D.C., Toronto, San Francisco, Melbourne, Sydney, Hamburg, and Berlin. Several songs from the show, including Day by Day, became chart hits. The show -- written by then - college student John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz of Pippin, and more recently Pocahontas, and Prince of Egypt, fame -- went on to win rave reviews and a Grammy Award for Best Score.

• Beautiful City Background & History

• All for the Best - Background & History

• Other songs - Scripture ties

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Understanding the Song and it's History

By Shawn McCarthy.

What should our response be to the events of September 11th?

Certainly justice needs to be realized but at the same time we need to continue fostering hope, love and community especially in the midst of catastrophe.

The wonderful words of Stephen Schwartz's "Beautiful City" ring through loud and clear as they point us to the real possibility of collectively creating a better world.

9/14/2001

Stephen Schwartz was asked about using some of his songs (e.g. "Beautiful City" or "Children of Eden") in memorial services or related uses. He posted his answer on his forum at www.StephenSchwartz.com: 

"Of course you have my permission, as does anyone else who would like to use one of my songs in any way to comfort or benefit victims of the attacks. Let me use this posting to say the same to those who have contacted me about using "Beautiful City" as well. I am honored that any of my work could possibly be of some use. Most sincerely, Stephen Schwartz"

Beautiful City Lyrics

OUT OF THE RUINS AND RUBBLE
OUT OF THE SMOKE
OUT OF OUR NIGHT OF STRUGGLE
CAN WE SEE A RAY OF HOPE?
ONE PALE THIN RAY REACHING FOR THE DAY

WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY
YES, WE CAN; YES, WE CAN
WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY
NOT A CITY OF ANGELS BUT WE CAN BUILD A CITY OF MAN

WE MAY NOT REACH THE ENDING
BUT WE CAN START
SLOWLY BUT TRULY MENDING
BRICK BY BRICK, HEART BY HEART
NOW, MAYBE NOW
WE START LEARNING HOW

WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY
YES, WE CAN; YES, WE CAN
WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY
NOT A CITY OF ANGELS
BUT WE CAN BUILD A CITY OF MAN

WHEN YOUR TRUST IS ALL BUT SHATTERED
WHEN YOUR FAITH IS ALL BUT KILLED
YOU CAN GIVE UP, BITTER AND BATTERED
OR YOU CAN SLOWLY START TO BUILD

A BEAUTIFUL CITY
YES, WE CAN; YES, WE CAN
WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY
NOT A CITY OF ANGELS
BUT FINALLY A CITY OF MAN.

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The following is Shawn McCarthy's article from the newsletter, The Schwartz Scene: "We Can Build a Beautiful City"

Copyright 2001 by MusicalSchwartz.com

When the film version of the Stephen Schwartz /John-Michael Tebelak off-Broadway smash hit GODSPELL opened in movie theatres across the country in 1973, fans of the stage musical would have been surprised by the numerous differences between the two.

Watching the film they would have quickly discovered that, unlike the stage show where the action played out in one location against the backdrop of a cyclone fence, the movie made spectacular use of various locals around New York City. Another distinction centered around Stephen's wonderfully infectious score which included some significant changes; new orchestrations and additional instrumentation, certain songs removed such as "Tower of Babble" "Learn Your Lessons Well" and "We Beseech Thee" and a new song written specifically for the film called "Beautiful City."

This song was written to replace the song "We Beseech Thee" as David Greene, the film's director, felt that the latter song was "too theatrical" to work effectively in the film.

"Beautiful City" is sung by Jesus played by Toronto GODSPELL cast member, Victor Garber, and his disciples toward the end of the film as they merrily skip and dance through the empty streets of New York. Joyfully they sing the sprightly music and unabashedly optimistic words:

"Come sing me sweet rejoicing/Come sing me love

We're not afraid of voicing/All the things we're dreaming of 

Oh, high and low/and everywhere we go

Chorus:

We can build

A beautiful city

Yes we can

Yes we can

We can build

A beautiful city

Call it out

And call it the city of man"

In the years since it was written, Stephen has described the lyric as 'too sentimental'- amongst other choice words - but admits to liking the music. Hence in early 90's when a new L.A. production of GODSPELL was proposed, Stephen supplied a new lyric but the tune remained essentially intact. The lyric changes were influenced by the aftermath of the riots in L.A. and reflected a more thoughtful, practical approach to rebuilding community in contemporary society.

The second verse begins:

"We may not reach the ending/But we can start
Slowly but truly mending/Brick by brick/Heart by heart
Now, maybe now/we start learning how.

Chorus: We can build/A beautiful city
Yes we can/Yes we can
We can build/A beautiful city
Not a city of angels/But finally a city of man"

Though the L.A. production never came into being, the song has found a life within the many productions of GODSPELL done around the world partially as the result of a studio cast recording completed in 1993.

(It's an optional song when licensing the show from Music Theatre International.) In August of that year a talented group of singer/actors based in London's West End assembled to record GODSPELL under the supervision of Stephen and producer John Yap. This recording was the first to include the new version of "Beautiful City" and was sung by Darren Day.

Along with the new lyric was a new arrangement that was exquisitely minimalist compared to the original movie version. Day's solo rendition was gentle and heartfelt bringing added poignancy to the song. The lyric was once again revised in the mid-nineties when the late, wonderfully talented Laurie Beechman recorded an album of "songs of hope and inspiration from Broadway" entitled "No One is Alone" found on the Varese Sarabande label. Because she wanted to repeat the bridge with new words, at the singer's request Stephen wrote an additional lyric:

"When they finally put the flame out

When your final tear's been split
You can stand there portioning the blame out

Or begin at last to build..."

Over the last eight years many productions of GODSPELL have had the interesting challenge of finding the 'perfect' placement for the song within the show, in addition to deciding who should sing it and how to stage it effectively. In one production I saw several years ago, Jesus sang it after the finale, looking out over the city street (the setting of the play) as he watched the disciples re-integrate into society at large.

In the 2000 off-Broadway production, the song was placed after "We Beseech Thee" and before "On the Willows". Sung by Barrett Foa, this version was truncated, leaving out the second verse entirely. The arrangement was again fairly sparse using mainly bass and synthesizer but also made use of the cast singing backup as heard on the recently released Fynsworth Alley recording.

The most recent recorded version, found on the DRG label, is performed by the highly gifted and energetic cast of the 2001 National Touring Company directed by Scott Schwartz. In this production the entire score has been re-orchestrated and arranged by Alex Lacamoire giving it a very 'hip' contemporary edge. Specific pop artists such as Tori Amos, Fiona Apple and the Dave Matthews band directly influenced many of Alex's choices in orchestrating the show. The later group specific influenced the arrangement of "Beautiful City" which is very upbeat, funky and at a relatively brisk tempo. It opens Act II and is sung by Joe Carney (Jesus),Michael Yuen (Judas/John the Baptist), and the company as they work together demonstrating that, as a group, they are evolving into a living community.

Throughout its various incarnations, the fundamental theme of "Beautiful City" has remained intact: society has within its power the ability to build a truly "civilized" community. It begins by making a choice.

"When your trust is all but shattered

When your faith is all but killed
You can give up bitter and battered

Or you can slowly start to build

A beautiful city..."

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"All For the Best"

Irving Berlin and the Musical Models for "All For the Best"

 In 1971, Schwartz decided to pay homage to Irving Berlin when he needed a duet for GODSPELL. His piece was conceived during discussions with GODSPELL's director and conceiver John-Michael Tebelak about infusing a theatrical score into the play before it opened Off-Broadway. Most of the songs from GODSPELL were based on hymns or psalms. Schwartz believed that there was something missing from Act II. "Don't forget, I didn't know any of these stories," Schwartz once explained. "I hadn't been brought up Christian. And so I was not someone coming in with reverence. I was coming in thinking, well if you're going to tell this story, how do you make this story work? How do you actually care about these people if you don't come in already caring about them? Since the central personal relationship was the Jesus/Judas thing, I said, 'John-Michael, if he's going to betray him in the second act, you have to see that they're really good friends in the first act, so they need to do a number together.'He agreed."

With the concept of the two performers and Irving Berlin's counter-melody style in mind, Schwartz invented the playful number. "All for the Best" along with "Learn Your Lessons Well" and the "Prologue" are noteworthy as being completely original in both music and lyrics (i.e. not from Bible text or hymns).

EDITOR'S NOTE: The joy and love that comes through in Godspell's music demonstrates the power of the source material as well as Schwartz's talent. As he has said in another interview: "I come not from a Christian upbringing and therefore I really didn't know the New Testament. I was reading some of these parables for the first time and the hymns that I set with new music for the show are all from the Episcopal Hymnal. I basically was responding to the material fresh, for the first time." His fresh response coupled with his combined musical background in theatre and popular music, gave rise to the joy that is the Godspell score.

Here's a really good link to the background information behind the songs that sculpt the play.  It lists all of the lyrics and also provides scripture links.  (HINT:  You need to scroll down the page to get to this information.)

Here's a link to a STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (music & lyric master) message board that describes how the writing of GODSPELL came about.

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Ryan Boyles joins St. Theresa's once again for the 2006 season to direct GODSPELL. 

Ryan directed SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK, JR. in 2005 for STS and also assisted with direction of portions of BROADWAY SCRAPBOOK in 2004.

Ryan is the General Manager for THE CAPITAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, the area's one and only dinner theater!

SPECIAL THANKS from the cast was given to Ryan Boyles and BJ Meagher for all their hard work and support during this production.

• A donation was made in both of their names to the MUSIC LIVES FOUNDATION.

• Here are the words of the presentation the 8th grade cast members made to both Ryan and BJ after their final performance

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Godspell the Musical - http://www.musicalschwartz.com/godspell.htm

The Godspell Page - the definitive source of information for the musical Godspell - http://www.geocities.com/sloanpeters

Broadway Junior - http://www.broadwayjr.com/store/showkitproduct.asp?oid=12

MORE LINKS...

“Putting Arts Education Front and Center” – Education Week, Jan 26, 2005.

Music Lives Foundation

New Cumberland Olde Town Homepage

The Capital Performing Arts Center

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The Cast & Crew of STS Godspell

along with STS Staff, Faculty & Parents

would like to share our

SPECIAL THANKS

with those in our midst

who have given support to this production!

Together we are building a

BEAUTIFUL CITY!

THANK YOU!

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Alphabetical List of

Program Advertisers

Aquatic Club of the West Shore

Allied Maintenance Systems, Inc.

Bob Lutz Home Improvements

Bordlemay Electrical & Maintenance

Brewhouse Grille

Cornerstone Coffeehouse

Gift Incentive Albums - Stephanie Kreysar (938-4555)

Healthworks, Inc.

Hempt Brothers Inc.

Henderson & Co. Jewelers

Holmes Cycling & Fitness

Hilton-Diminick Orthodontic Associates

Intelecom Consulting Services

Krehling Industries

One Good Woman

Oxford Hall Celtic Shop

Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.

Passage to India

Reager & Adler, P.C.

Remax Realty Associates, Inc. - Gary Muccio

Susquehanna Breast Cancer Center

Turner Buick

UGI Utilities

A very special "Thank You" to

for providing our fountain!

and the entire cast and crew of Godspell, Jr.!

Love Mom, Uncle Rob, Aunt Ann, and Grandma P.

Mike and Kiersten, Awesome Job!

Love, Mom, Dad, Joseph and Alyssa.

BRENDAN - "Day by Day" you make our lives a joy. 

Continue to use "All Good Gifts"

- you are ever the Light of OUR World!

We love you, Mom and Dad

We Beseech Thee Hear Us - DIANA

Come sing about Love!

Diana, You are using the many gifts God gave you.  You go girl!  Sing out loud!  Love, Mom

I want to say "break a leg" but with your karate skills that could carry a different meaning so instead I will wish you good luck and have fun!  Love, Dad

D, Good Luck!  Heather

Good Luck!  Mark

I'm proud of you!  Have fun!  Annmarie

Diana, "Break a leg"  Love, Grandmom

Diana; sing it loud and clear!  Good Luck,  Grand dad

Good luck from Grandpa

Lots of Luck, Corianne!

We Love You.

Love, Grandma & PopPop P.

Good Luck Maggie & Sarah

BREAK A LEG!!!

"Air Kisses & Hugs"  Best Wishes to:

CORIANNE PETESICH

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This list is updated periodically.

Please check back!

Links will be incorporated if provided.

		Click on the LINE AD type to view.
Special Friends	Sponsors	Wish-a-grams

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Special Friends

Break a leg!  We love you Bren!

Grandy and Granddaddy

Congratulations and Best Wishes Angie Marie! 

Love, Mom, Dad & Eric

I Love you more "Day by Day" Angie,

Grandma Joni

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Sponsors

Vincent, You shine in our hearts, Good Luck! 

All our love, Mom, Dad and Victor

Hey Eric, Good Luck!  You're a star!  We are very proud of you! 

Love, Mom, Dad, Brady, Caitlin & Tim

You're my "American Idol", Sissy

Love & Kisses, Ryan

Angie, "Show us the Drama!"

Love Grandma Betty

Good Luck Ben!  And Success to All!

Love, Grandmum

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Wish-a-grams

Morgan, Cast and Crew enjoy yourself and have fun!

Love You!  Mom and Dad, Grandpa, Abba, Lisa, Jim Katie, Skeeter & Chris

Ben - We know each night on stage will be a "swimming success"!

Colleen and Colin

Amanda, Break a leg! 

We love you! from Mom, Dad and Ryan

Good Luck in the show.  We love you, Amanda! 

Love Mom-mom and Pop-pop.

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PRODUCTION PROCEEDS

Check back later for more information on the funds raised by this production and for information on some of what it is able to provide for the school in our community.

SPECIAL DEDICATION

The STS Godspell Cast

dedicated their performance to support the strength of their friend, classmate, and cast member.

8th grade members of the cast paid a special

SURPRISE &

GET WELL SOON VISIT

to JULIA

prior to their final performance.

"DAY BY DAY"...GET BETTER

and COME HOME TO US!

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