Re-Imagined in Cornwall

In the 1990’s, the grunge music scene was instrumental in changing culture and pushed boundaries of gender equality and cultural norms. This “third wave” of feminism was spearheaded by the women born to the “second wave” of feminists who grew up in the 1960’s and early 1970’s.

Godspell was conceived and performed in 1971, at a time when peace and love became paramount in the face of the Vietnam war, when civil rights and the birth of rock and roll were driving culture and hippies were vogue. Twenty years later we experience the 1990’s, with the first war to hit the Gen Xers and our culture experiencing a new wave of change. Within it, an awareness of fighting to protect our freedoms, leadership by women coming of age in this era, and the advent of a new music scene which spoke of anger, sadness, depression. It was a time before modern technology drove us all into the smaller world of our phones and social media.

In contrast to the original story of Jesus and Judas, the new production envisions God sending his daughter, Jess, to spread a new message of hope, forgiveness, love and community to people gathered in a famous Seattle bar in the early 90’s. Her closest friend and follower, Judy, betrays her and completes the story of crucifixion, and inevitably the death of humanity’s ability to stay united and on the path of love and forgiveness.

This ancient story is re-told in a more contemporary setting, in an immersive theatrical space which by its nature engenders a feeling of community, to inspire audiences to push the boundaries of their own imaginations of this message, gender leadership possibilities, and their personal participation in leading their own small communities to choose acceptance, forgiveness, love and hope.

The cast and crew are: Michael E. Boyle, Jr., Chelsea Camp Castro, Ryan Danahy, Jessica Jaber, Sara Johnson, Montana Nogrady, Benedict Hudson and Angela Pepe. Directed by Jaber, the stage manager is Meghan Farrell with music direction by Andrew Stein, and choreography by Montana Nogrady.

The show is produced by Theatre on Main Street, 45 Quaker Avenue, Suite 100, Cornwall, through April 2

Tix: www.theatreonmainstreet.com