Northwestern theatre to present "Godspell"

Northwestern theatre will present “Godspell”—the Gospel of Matthew told through rock ’n’ roll—Feb. 19, 20, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 27 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The beloved Broadway musical will be on stage in the England Theatre of the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center.

“Godspell” follows Jesus’ life and ministry from his baptism through his resurrection. Set in no particular time or place, “Godspell” imagines Jesus and his followers as a merry band of clown-like comics. As they travel, Jesus patiently, indulgently corrects their misunderstandings about God and God’s stories with jokes, songs and tender interaction.

“I love this musical!” says theatre professor Jeff Barker, who is directing the production for the fourth time. Barker is collaborating with Northwestern music professor Dr. Heather Josselyn-Cranson, who is leading the production’s on-stage band, and theatre professor Jonathan Sabo, who is overseeing the production’s design. Sabo has hired a magician to design the show’s resurrection scene.

Barker has cast fellow Northwestern theatre professor Karen Bohm Barker in the dual role of John the Baptist and Judas Iscariot. “All of the Northwestern theatre faculty members practice our craft regularly,” explains Barker, “so it’s important for our acting professor to act on occasion. And students get valuable experience performing alongside a professional who’s there to both teach them and learn from them.”

Jesus will be played by sophomore Warren Duncan, Urbandale, Iowa. Eleven additional cast members will act as Jesus’ followers, singing and soloing the production’s songs, including the well-known “Day by Day,” which will be performed by junior Liz Meier, Badger, Iowa.

Tickets for “Godspell” are $8 for adults and $4 for students. The DeWitt Theatre box office opens Feb. 8 for Theatre Patrons; it is open Feb. 9–27 for the general public.

Tickets can be reserved at www.nwciowa.edu/tickets or by visiting the box office between 5 and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday or between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday. The box office can also be reached by phone, 712-707-7098, or e-mail, boxoffice@nwciowa.edu.