Feb. 15, 2008

Theatre department to present “Godspell”

Morningside College’s theatre department will present the Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak musical “Godspell” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday to Saturday, Feb. 28 to March 1 and March 6 to 8, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Avenue.

The performances are sponsored by Morningside's Academic and Cultural Arts Series (ACAS).

Godspell” was written in 1970 and opened off-Broadway on May 17, 1971. The structure of the musical is that of a series of parables taken primarily from the Gospel of Matthew. Much of the lyrics to the music are taken from traditional hymns. The play is set in modern day times with the parables enacted through song and dance, comedy, and mime. The play was later made into a motion picture. One of the songs from the motion picture soundtrack, “Day By Day,” reached No. 13 on the “Billboard” pop singles chart in 1972.

Cast members include Josh Phipps, a junior from Larchwood, Iowa, as Jesus; and Whitney Gries, a junior from Onawa, Iowa, as Judas. The rest of the cast members portray characters named after themselves and include Trey Blackburn, a junior from Knoxville, Iowa; Katie Gorden, a sophomore from Le Mars, Iowa; Andrew Gerodias, a sophomore from Laurens, Iowa; Annika Kolbo, a sophomore from Sioux City; Britt Gebhardt, a sophomore from Sioux City; Katie Stumpf, a freshman from Laurens, Iowa; Sarah Schreur, a sophomore from Hawarden, Iowa; and Nicole Helgeson, a senior from Altoona, Iowa.

The play is directed by Bette Skewis-Arnett, professor and chair of the theatre department. Steve Lundberg, a member of Morningside’s adjunct faculty, is the vocal director. Dr. Gail Dooley, associate professor of music, is vocal coach; Randy Peters, a 1985 Morningside graduate who is artistic director of the Betty Ling Tsang Summer Fine Arts Series, is costume designer; Bob Barry, a 1983 Morningside graduate who is a music instructor at Sioux City East Middle School, is band director; Art Moss, assistant professor of theatre, is publicity director; and the Rev. Kathy Olson, director of church relations, is Gospel consultant.

Other members of the production staff include Beau Sudtelgte, a senior from Le Mars, as lighting designer and light operator; Tanya Anderson, a senior from Piedmont, S.D., as choreographer; and Rachel Radel, a senior from Mitchell, S.D., as stage manager.

Members of the crew include Jeremy Bauer, a senior from Lake City, Iowa, back stage manager; April Parkison, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., run crew; Phoebe Smith, a sophomore from Clive, Iowa, run crew; Maggie Konecne, a sophomore from Hardy, Iowa, run crew; Catelin Hoistad, a sophomore from Huron, S.D., house manager; Christina Meranda, a senior from Ceresco, Neb., usher; Amber Kelley, a freshman from Box Elder, S.D., usher; Adam Toom, a freshman from Pella, Iowa, usher; and Jennifer Bechtel, a junior from Cherokee, Iowa, box office manager.

General admission is $8 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens, and $1 for Morningside students and other area college students with an ID. Reservations can be obtained by calling the Klinger-Neal Theatre box office at (712) 274-5196.