New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Written by Brooklin Henriksen, NBHS Class of 2022
The second weekend of April, The Drama Club at New Bedford High School will graciously present to audiences the 2012 revival version of “Godspell” with music by Stephen Schwartz, in the NBHS Bronspiegel Auditorium. Godspell is a story of love and understanding as told through the Gospel of Matthew. In the NBHS staging, the Jesus figure recruits a group of hopeless strangers waiting at a bus stop to learn and spread His messages of love, hope, kindness and tolerance. Together, this group helps Jesus to tell different parables by using a myriad of games, storytelling and just enough comedic relief. What jumps out about Godspell is that each character has their own song and each song is so incredibly unique to their character’s journey in following Jesus; no song sounds like the song before. The musical has the audience fully absorbed in the characters learning of love and tolerance from start to finish and will leave them with a sense of understanding that even I didn’t have until being a part of this show.
Due to an overwhelming interest in performing and drama club members with an array of talents and strengths, the directors felt it was important to find a musical that could showcase everything they have to offer. “We chose Godspell because of the flexibility in casting and staging, but working on this show has been a beautiful gift with which to re-introduce musical theatre performance to our students. The universal message of love and community is so perfect right now, and we have very much enjoyed tackling this text. Many of the students featured in this show are performing on our stage in a musical for the first time! You’d never know it though; these students are super talented and are always giving it their all.” Sarah Cadieux-Pacheco, Co-director says about her reasoning for choosing this show.
Aydan Sullo, Senior and drama club president will be playing the main role of Jesus, He says of his experience doing this musical, “Throughout our fortifying rehearsal process, the NBHS Theatre Company has fostered a unique and special community. In exploring the beautiful work of Stephen Schwartz’s Godspell, the dedication of our cast and crew is a spectacle of this bond. The overarching concept of innate leaders inspiring those as followers to then become leaders has embedded itself in our club. Thank you endlessly to our patrons and supporters, and please come see Godspell!”
Performances of Godspell in the NBHS Bronspiegel Auditorium begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 with a matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 10. Tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults, and to limit large groups in the lobby can be purchased ahead of time online at http://our.show/nbhsgodspell A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase in person via cash or check at the box office beginning 1 hour before each performance. Tickets purchased in person are subject to a $2 processing fee, per ticket. Godspell is presented with permission from Music Theatre International and is supported in part by the New Bedford Cultural Council, a chapter of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Patrons will be subject to current masking recommendations at the time of the performance.
