Student performers bring the musical’s parables into a modern campus setting during
performances Nov. 5-7 at Butler Theatre.
For director Evan Bridenstine, “Godspell” was the first musical he directed. For producer Jeremy Fiebig, it was the first show he saw in a real theater. Now, nearly 25 years after Bridenstine first directed it in Fayetteville, the two are bringing the show to Fayetteville State University, where students are building the community at its center.
Bridenstine first directed “Godspell” in 2001-02 at Methodist College, now Methodist University. Returning to the script has given him a chance to see it differently, he said. His earlier production focused on the disciples’ relationship to the parables; now he is focused on how the group becomes a community and chooses to stay together. “It’s them becoming a community, and in that community deciding to stay together,” Bridenstine said.
Fiebig said the production also appealed to him because Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music and new lyrics for “Godspell,” also wrote the music and lyrics for “Wicked.” FSU Theatre wanted to bring another Schwartz musical to campus after the popularity of “Wicked” over the past few years.
“Godspell was the very first show I ever saw in a real-life theater,” Fiebig said. “Godspell” is built around parables, most drawn from the Gospel of Matthew, rather than a conventional plot or full retelling of Jesus’ life. Bridenstine said the script leaves room for directors to adjust references and staging for their time. The production uses humor to make the lessons relatable while respecting the material. There is “some laughter” and “some goofiness,” he said, but “it’s not irreverent.”
That contemporary approach also shapes the production’s look. Bridenstine set the show in a rundown urban playground. Costume designer Santana Moore said she studied earlier designers’ interpretations for styles and details she could adapt, while also drawing inspiration from the everyday clothing she sees students wearing around campus. “You could have picked up somebody walking to the library, walking to their dorm, walking to the cafeteria, put them onstage, and it would make sense,” Moore said.
A two-piece tracksuit reflects campus styles. For Jesus’ T-shirt, Moore chose Spider-Man rather than copying the Superman logo from the film version. She wanted a familiar hero for a younger generation. For actor Alyssa Randlett, who plays Judas and John the Baptist in the opening song, the role begins with seeing the character as human.
“These were absolutely people. They were people with jobs to do. But they were still people,” Randlett said. When she put on Judas’ costume, Randlett said, the character came into focus. “I know exactly who Judas is. I know exactly what I’m gonna do,” she recalled thinking.
The costume helped her approach a line she had been struggling with and shaped her delivery. The cast’s relationships have grown alongside their characters, Randlett said. “As we’ve gotten to know each other in the cast, our characters have gotten to know each other as well. It feels pretty natural.”
Moore said the costume team has also grown close, forming its own circle within the larger production. Bridenstine said performers use their first names for the disciples, while Jesus and Judas keep theirs. FSU students fill the cast and design team, joined by community guest artists such as guitarist Dean Biddling, who has played with Sweet Tea Shakespeare. Moore said the shared experience extends to the audience.
“You all laugh at the same jokes because you all found it funny.” Bridenstine hopes theatergoers will leave with some of the joy the company finds in creating the show together. FSU Theatre will present “Godspell” Nov. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. at Butler Theatre, 1200 Murchison Rd. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for FSU faculty and staff, non-FSU students, seniors and military members. FSU students can attend free with a valid ID and coupon code. Tickets are online only through Etix at https://bit.ly/48glK3r. Parking has moved farther from the theater, near the new College of Education building, so audiences should allow extra time to get to Butler.