For Your Godspell Productions

Notes For Performers and Directors

Licensing | Books | Karaoke | Magic props | Vocal ranges | FAQs - Answers to frequently asked questions

See also the full Godspell page for sheet music, CDs, etc.

Licensing Godspell for performance - 2 agencies

For the rights to perform Godspell in your school, church, theatre group, or other setting, contact one of these two agencies. For a licensing fee, they will provide the script, score, and support materials.

1) Music Theatre International Godspell Licensing

Visit the MTI website for a detailed description and ordering information for your Godspell production. Godspell pages at MTIshows.com. MTI provides supportive resource materials for Godspell that include "RehearScore" - propriety sequencing software for Windows and Mac that supports the rehearsal process with show music. It allows a music director to point-and-click to transpose keys, conduct dance or choral rehearsals at varying tempos and parts, separate parts for rehearsal in Karaoke style, and more. MTI also makes available a stage manager's script that can be personalized with your own production notes even though it is part of the rented materials, and "transpositions on demand" for adjusting the music to virtually any key resulting in an easy-to-read computer print out.

2) Theatre Maximus Godspell Licensing

Theatre Maximus has licensed Godspell since 1972. They send out the materials three months in advance and do not require a deposit. The package includes 12 libretti with chorus, bass drum and quitar, 2 piano scores, production book, beautiful city, and the permission to use the original Godspell logo. They also license the Spanish version of the Godspell script.

Theatre Maximus, 1650 Broadway Suite 601, New York, NY 10019, 212-765-5913. Theatre Maximus. Contact them for details on their offering in English and Spanish.

Books with Godspell chapters

Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked is the best behind-the-scenes resource for Godspell. It offers Schwartz's perspective and never-before-told stories from original cast members. Info on Defying Gravity - Schwartz biography that includes the making of Godspell

Peter Filichia's Let's Put on a Musical includes Godspell Let's Put on a Musical: How to Choose the Right Show for Your Theater, Revised & Expanded Edition as does his latest book Broadway Musicals: The Biggest Hit and the Biggest Flop of the Season - 1959 to 2009

Godspell is among the 150 musicals covered in Little Musicals for Little Theatres

Check out Scott Miller's book on musicals. It has a chapter on Godspell and one on Pippin. From Assassins to West Side Story : The Director's Guide to Musical Theatre

Karaoke CDs: Practice with Godspell Karaoke - background music for performers.

Spotlight Karaoke Vol. 38 - Godspell  A nice thing about this Chartraxx karaoke is that performers can download it instantly for use at home. It is compatible with MP3 Players (including with iPod®), iTunes, Windows Media Player.

Sing The Broadway Musical Godspell (2-Disc Karaoke CDG)  - This is probably the fanciest version. Practice with Godspell Karaoke - background music for performers. Here is the company's blurb about it: "Our accompaniment/karaoke CD of songs from Godspell features 32 tracks. Tracks 1-16 contain the background tracks and guide vocals; tracks 17-32 contain the accompaniment tracks alone. This album is a re-recording in the original show key and show tempo."

The Broadway Box- 80 Songs From 51 Shows. Here's a 5-CDG box set that contains 80 classic songs. Includes songs from Pippin and Godspell - 51 top shows in all. Great gift item

Magic props for Godspell such as the "All for the Best" appearing cane

In many productions of Godspell, Jesus and Judas use the magic trick of the appearing cane and then dance with the cane in the part of the song. You can see an example of this on a Yube version of the song sun by original cast members Stephen Nathan and David Haskell about 20 or 30 years after their first performance. All for the Best - Opens in a new browser window

Godspell props: Appearing Cane and appearing flowers

Get ready for "All for the Best" soft-shoe dance. Find "Appearing Cane" or other illisions on Amazon.com: Appearing Cane

Also available: Appearing Bouquet MAGIC APPEARING BOUQUET or APPEARING FLOWER MAGIC TRICK

Gifts and Games Ideas for Godspell Casts, Directors...

1) Now there's a board game for theatre geeks.

 2) Autographed copies of "Defying Gravity," the Stephen Schwartz biography, signed by Stephen Schwartz. Defying Gravity - Schwartz biography signed copies

Auditioning for Godspell

Auditioning for GODSPELL?

See Vocal Ranges info below and

See Godspell cast as characters for a description of each part, taken from the director's notes.

Current Productions of Godspell - Show Schedule

Yes, Godspell is on DVD as a movie but the movie has a whole different feel than the stage production. So you want to see it LIVE. Check two places: One is on the Godspell pages at MTI. Look for the blue tab that says "Upcoming" - click on that to find dozens of productions. Another licensing agency also has productions, and those will be listed on StephenSchwartz.com's show schedule.

According to the frequently asked questions post on Musicals.net Godspell forum they are as follows:

What are the singing ranges of the characters?

Jesus - Tenor High G#
Judas/John - Baritone E
Lamar - Tenor High A
Jeffrey - Tenor High D (falsetto)
Herb - Baritone E (does not sing any real solo, but should be able to carry baritone
harmonies)
Robin - Alto
Peggy - Alto
Sonia - Low Alto (D below middle C)
Gilmer - Mezzo
Joanne - Soprano (High A in "Bless the Lord", High C in "We Beseech Thee")

WHO SINGS WHAT - The whole troupe joins in for most songs, but lead singers as as follows:

Prologue/Tower of Babel: All
Prepare Ye: John the Baptist
God Save the People: Jesus
Day By Day: Robin
Learn Your Lessons Well: Gilmer
O bless the Lord: Joanne
All for the Best: Jesus/Judas
All Good Gifts: Lamar
Light of the World: Herb, Peggy, Jeffrey, Robin/All
Turn Back, O Man: Sonia
Alas for You: Jesus
By My Side: Peggy
We Beseech Thee: Jeffrey
On the Willows: Band
Finale: Jesus
Long Live God: All

Visit www.musicalsingers.com for musical theatre audition tips, vocal ranges, vocal technique, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions on Godspell

1. Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page on Stephen Schwartz's official site. He answers these questions:

• Is there only one version of GODSPELL?
• May we use the new GODSPELL Orchestrations for our production? (from Godspell 2000 or the 2001 tour) - Yes. Read about Alex's for the 2001 tour. Alex Lacamoire: Godspell 2001 tour orchestrations and arrangements
• May we use the song Beautiful City in our production of GODSPELL?
• Where can we use Beautiful City in our production of GODSPELL?
• Do we have to dress like hippies in our production of GODSPELL?
• Has the Prologue been cut from GODSPELL?
• Why are you credited for writing "new" lyrics for GODSPELL?

Schwartz FAQs . Also see the Godspell forum archives PDF file for Godspell Directors. The Godspell files in the archives also answer questions like How much of the script can you change? www.stephenschwartz.com/forum/the-forum-archive/

2. Notes from directors - commentary.

3. Where can I chat about Godspell? See www.stephenschwartz.com forum for general discussion.

See www.musicals.net Forum list for their active Godspell discussion Forum.