The Godspell Experience features a Foreword by Stephen Schwartz, the musical’s creative history, song chapters with complete lyrics, historic photos, and more!
The Godspell Experience
Inside a Transformative Musical
by Carol de Giere
Foreword by composer Stephen Schwartz
When Stephen Schwartz read a draft of The Godspell Experience, he agreed to write a Foreword. In it he comments: “… it has been fascinating to me to read Carol de Giere’s thoroughly researched and colorfully written book, which contains many details about the development of the show that I never knew before.”
Come sing—and read—about love!
The Godspell Experience – Read excerpt “The Costume Story”
The Godspell Experience – See Table of Contents
The Godspell Experience – Sample Chapter
Why Read This Book?
When Godspell opened on May 17, 1971, no one guessed it would become an internationally popular musical, joining the canon of shows most frequently performed around the world. Decades later the musical is still staged by countless church, school, community theater, and other performing groups. The Godspell Experience: Inside a Transformative Musical is the first book-length account of the show’s rich developmental history, its impact on performers, and the stories behind Stephen Schwartz’s popular score.
Author Carol de Giere captured the memories of Schwartz and all of the original cast members who are still living, as well as those of the Godspell movie cast members.
As revealed in the book, the first cast members contributed to the show’s development. Stephen Nathan, who played Jesus for an off-off-Broadway production and the final version at the Cherry Lane Theatre Off-Broadway, recalls many hours of improvisation. As quoted in the book, Nathan says, “Godspell was really all based on play, the innocence of children who see the world uncorrupted—that is how the whole piece evolved. Through improvisations we found what worked and what didn’t work. Ultimately, in the rehearsal process, we solidified those moments that seemed alive and true, and suited the structure of the piece. It was a very transformative process.” This was under the guidance of director John-Michael Tebelak who conceived the show based on material from the Bible, primarily the Gospel of Matthew.
Praise for The Godspell Experience
“Best Resource on Godspell”
The best imaginable resource on Godspell, whether you’re producing the show or just want to enjoy it more fully.
“A Welcome Addition”
For the first time, the entire story of “Godspell,” from its earliest days as a spark in the mind of a Carnegie Mellon University student through its most recent Broadway revival in 2011, has been assembled in a fact and anecdote filled book. Any director, amateur or professional, who is considering helming a production of Godspell should read this book as it gets to the heart of the creators’ intentions.
“A Wonderful History.. Refreshingly Readable”
After [Defying Gravity], it is no surprise that Carol de Giere has written such a wonderful history of Schwartz’s beloved hit Godspell. With refreshingly readable prose and loving attention to detail, she brings readers along as the show grows from a college workshop to an Off-Broadway success—and finally a worldwide phenomenon. Highly recommend!
“A Gift to All Who Love This Musical”
Reading The Godspell Experience was a profound experience. It not only reconnected me to my great love for Godspell, but also helped me understand just what kindled that love in the first place. [Carol de Giere’s] approach is judicious yet open-hearted, tough-minded but never gossipy, critical but never cynical, and marked by an intense desire to make the inside story as transformational as the play itself.
People Interviewed for the Godspell Book
The Godspell Experience is based primarily on the author’s original research in the form of unpublished interviews with more than 50 people. The interview list includes:
- Stephen Schwartz and Trudy Tebelak Williams (John-Michael Tebelak’s sister)
- Original cast members Herb Braha, Peggy Gordon, Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Sonia Manzano, Gilmer McCormick, Stephen Nathan, and the original stage manager, Nina Faso.
- Movie cast members (in addition to Jonas, Lamont, and McCormick) Katie Hanley and Jerry Sroka, as well as Lynne Thigpen before she passed away.
- Carnegie Mellon University cast members Bob Ari (formerly Robert Miller), Mary Maziotti, and Andy Rohrer
- Additional cast members from later productions, friends, and others connected with the show like Dean Pitchford, George Salazar, Don Scardino, Paul Shaffer, Susan Tsu, and many others.
