Summer tour’s final ‘Godspell’ performance is Aug. 8
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Huntington, Ind.-Student actors and musicians from Huntington University will present "Godspell" at 7 p.m. on Aug. 8 in the Zurcher Auditorium of the university's Merillat Centre for the Arts. This show concludes the summer tour of 44 venues and nine states, including churches, church camps, high schools, a community festival and a performing arts center. Admission is free, and the public is cordially invited to attend the performance. A reception will be held in the lobby of the Merillat Centre for the Arts following the show. For more information, call the Merillat Centre for the Arts Box Office at (260) 359-4261.
For the third consecutive run of the production, director David Shamburger has incorporated a "Survivor" meets "Castaway" theme.
"While the 'stoic' thinkers of the past and present find themselves locked up in their 'ivory towers' and eventually falling to their knees, our band of players find themselves on a deserted island in what might be considered 'Paradise,' free from the rigors of legalistic thinking and exploring a new kind of journey led by a native islander named Jesus," Shamburger said. "With references to such classics as 'Fantasy Island,' 'Hawaii 5-0,' 'Gilligan's Island' and 'Tarzan' to the more familiar 'Survivor,' 'Lost,' 'Cast Away' and 'The Amazing Race,' we hope to achieve another fresh take on the Gospel of Matthew that will entertain, inspire and transform!"
The Huntington University production will feature powerful acting and vocal performances as well as a live band with guitar, piano, keyboards and drums. Leading up to the production, students completed a semester-long course and a two-week "boot camp" to prepare them for the rigors of approximately 40 shows between June and August in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.
"Godspell" has appeared on both Broadway and off-Broadway stages. The production includes almost word-for-word retellings of several of Jesus' parables from the Book of Matthew.
Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music for "Godspell," infused hymnbook lyrics with 20th century rock 'n' roll. Familiar favorites include "Day by Day," a song that received renewed attention when it was recorded by Christian music group dc Talk.
The cast and crew of "Godspell" include Matthias Austin of Wheaton, Ill.; Phil Black of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Alicia Bonham of Upland, Ind.; Nathan Capriglione of Auburn, Ind.; Bethany Edlund of Roanoke, Ind.; Andrew Edmonds of Beloit, Wis.; Eric Geders of Huntington, Ind.; Patrick Harding of Avilla, Ind.; Lindsay Rae Hoops of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Pat Irick of Huntington, Ind.; Kristen Lynne Kohaut of Mount Olive, N.J.; Peter Owens of Indianapolis, Ind.; Rebekah Posegate of Lake Villa, Ill.; Zechariah Reuter of South Whitley, Ind.; Ted Stavrou of Greencastle, Pa.
The production team is led by David Shamburger, director and associate professor of theatre arts. Kristi Shamburger, adjunct professor of theatre arts, is the choreographer, and Brad DeYoung, a 2008 Huntington graduate from Lansing, Ill., is the scenic and lighting designer. Assistant director and company manager Joshua Ryan Dawes is a first-year graduate student at Louisiana State University studying acting. He is also a 2006 graduate of Huntington University.
For a complete tour schedule and a link to the official "Godspell" blog, log on to www.huntington.edu/godspell.
