MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL
FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 | 7:00 PM Originally Adapted and Produced for the New York Stage by
Edgar Lansbury • Stuart Duncan • Joseph Beruh Originally Conceived and Directed by
John-Michael Tebelak Music and New Lyrics by
Stephen Schwartz
Directed by
Musical Direction by
Choreography by
Jill Bolstridge Maddy Wyatt Ashley Hacker
Director’s Note “Suppose within the girdle of these walls are now confined two mighty monarchies...” —William Shakespeare, the Prologue to Henry V Stephen Schwartz was inspired to adapt the Gospel According to Matthew into a musical production because he was attracted to its theme of the continuance of wisdom. As he notes, “Godspell is about the formation of a community which carries on Jesus’ teachings after he has gone. In other words, it is the effect Jesus has on the others which is the story of the show.” But what, exactly, are those teachings? One such teaching is one shared by virtually all religious traditions: the imperialism of matter, the colonization of the spirit. If there is one, universal, perennial religious doctrine, it is to join one kingdom and reject the other. Just as a prophet calls a wayward people to repentance of sin, just as a bodhisattva remains incarnate to teach freedom from the suffering of illusion, just as an enlightened immortal cavorts to show the way that is not called the way, just as a Royal Fellow commands us nullius in verba—so, too, does Schwartz’ Jesus teach of things permanent and things impermanent. As Matthew reminds us, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” But mammon has a trick or two up his sleeve, and Schwartz’ Judas stands in for the argument that we must tend our own garden. Perhaps, he proposes, all we can do in this fallen world is work it as best we can. This tension comes to a head in the dueling duet, “All for the Best.” Here we see, stripped of pretense and parable, the ultimate proposition of these two ways of seeing, these two ways of living. Where, then, is the Kingdom of Heaven to be found? It is a testament (pun fully intended) to the timeless and universal tension between these “truths” that the story of Jesus still carries with it that power to captivate and convey. And never forget that two cups of humor and a dollop of joy is a sure-fire recipe for any story to become a timeless celebration — especially when we’re talking musical theater! Matthew Levi himself, the traditionally accorded author of the Gospel, represents just such a dialectic. A Levite, he was the scion of the priestly caste, called upon since the days of Exodus to be a steward of the Law and instructor of the spirit of the divine. Yet, as a tax collector, he busied himself with accounts and finances, of revenue and loss—of profit, not prophets. Even worse, he collected taxes for the Romans, the occupiers of his people. He, as seen in Godspell, found one way of navigating this contradictory world. We each have to find a way, too. Jill Bolstridge Director
A Note from the Performing Arts Department Mounting a full-scale musical at Poly is not a process confined to the rehearsal and performance period. Shows of this caliber can only be produced in such a short period because of the training students receive during the day in our curricular arts program. This year, the production team would not have been able to bring a musical of this scale together without the on-the-ground training they received since last March. Teaching online and outdoors in tents, navigating health and safety protocols, and creative problem-solving laid the foundation for the protocols we used for the Middle School musical. I commend and congratulate our production team, Jill Bolstridge, Maddy Wyatt, Ashley Hacker, Hannah Chalman, David Higham, and Andrew Murdock, and the cast and crew of Godspell, Jr. for their creativity, dedication, and exuberance as they close out the 2020–21 Performing Arts production season on such a joyous high note. We hope you enjoy tonight’s presentation of Godspell, Jr. Daniel Doughty Performing Arts Department Chair
Cast “The Core Six” Drew Waldman..................................................................................................................Jesus (Save the People, All for the Best, Light of the World, Finale, Featured Dancer) Ryan Geisler.......................................................................................John the Baptist/Judas (Prepare Ye, All for the Best, Featured Dancer) Izzy Gerling (O Bless the Lord My Soul, All Good Gifts, Light of the World) Sadie Schoenberger (All Good Gifts, Beautiful City) Juliet Michaelis (Day by Day, All Good Gifts, Light of the World) Stavroula Gabriel (Learn Your Lessons Well, Light of the World)
Ensemble
Musical Numbers (In Order) Prepare Ye (The Way of the Lord) John the Baptist: Ryan Geisler & The Company
Save the People
Jesus: Drew Waldman & The Company
Day by Day
Juliet Michaelis & The Company
Learn Your Lessons Well Stavi Gabriel & The Company
O, Bless the Lord, My Soul Izzy Gerling, The Core Six, and The Company
All for the Best
Runa Bhandari, Annie Lopez, Zoe Panzo, Raymond Xie..............Featured Actors Val Aberle, Sasha Londoner, Brianna Sylvain.............................. Featured Dancers Maggie Cochran.............................Dance Captain, Featured Dancer, Featured Actor Kiera Goodman.......................................................................... Soloist: We Beseech Thee Kailynn Hernandez................................................................... Soloist: Light of the World Jesse Rogers............................................................................... Soloist: We Beseech Thee Tea Sabbagh.............................................Soloist: We Beseech Thee, Featured Dancer
Jesus & Judas: Drew Waldman & Ryan Geisler & The Company
Production Staff
Light of the World
Jill Bolstridge................................................................................................................ Director Ashley Hacker................................................................................................. Choreographer Maddy Wyatt........................................................................ Music Director/Sound Design Hannah Chalman.....................................................................................Costume Designer Andrew Murdock............................................................... Scenic Design/Filming/Editing David Higham............................................................ Lighting Design/Technical Director Dr. Virginia Dillon and Harold Bernieri....................................................... Dramaturgs Julia Gross........................................................................................................ Stage Manager Andrew Murdock, Bob Burke, and Keith Pressman.............................. Cameramen
All Good Gifts
Juliet Michaelis, Sadie Schoenberger, Izzy Gerling, and The Company
We Beseech Thee
Kiera Goodman, Tea Sabbagh, Jesse Rogers, and The Company
Jesus: Drew Waldman, Stavi Gabriel, Izzy Gerling, Juliet Michaelis, Kailynn Hernandez, and The Company
Beautiful City
Sadie Schoenberger & The Company
Finale
Jesus: Drew Waldman & The Company
Encore: Day by Day Reprise The Company
Meet the Production Staff Jill Bolstridge (Director) is thrilled to direct her first-ever, live-streaming, musicalon-film! The year 2021 marks Jill’s twentieth year in the field of theater education, and over these past 20 years, she has taught tens of thousands of students from all over the US and around the world, and directed hundreds of shows for dozens of theater companies, schools, summer camps, after-school programs, enrichment organizations, and arts outreach programs all over the US. Since 2009, she has taught drama full-time here at Poly Prep, where she has directed twenty-four mainstage productions. Most recent Poly productions include: Clue, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Footloose. Since 2013, Jill spends most summers teaching and directing for Ohana Arts in Honolulu, Hawai’i; there, she has directed The Lion King, Legally Blonde, and 13, to name a few. Other programs where Jill has taught include: The Children’s Theatre Company of Manhattan, Los Angeles, and Boston, The Drama Training Institute in Boston, and Oasis Children’s Services, among others. When not teaching, Jill continues to work as an actor and director outside of the theater education world. Her most recent acting credits include Libby in Big Women, Deb in Elf, and April Green in The Hot L Baltimore. She also directed Narrows Community Theatre’s production of Ken Ludwig’s comedic masterpiece, Lend Me a Tenor, in 2017. Jill holds a MA in Theatre from C.W. Post and a BA in Theatre and English Literature from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Ashley Hacker (Choreographer) is excited to be back in action with Poly students embarking on our first filmed Middle School musical! While not in musical rehearsals, she can be found teaching dance all around Poly’s campus to Middle School students. Outside of Poly, Ms. Hacker continues to take dance classes and perform in NYC, attend and present at national conferences, study and obtain additional certifications and support NYC artists. She holds an MA in Dance Education with a PK–12 Dance Certification from New York University, as well as a BFA in Dance, a BS in Psychology, and a minor in Music from SUNY, the College at Brockport. Ms. Hacker would like to thank the entire cast, with a special shout out to her Dance Captain Maggie, for retaining choreography and being so dedicated, diligent, and flexible during Zoom and in-person rehearsals. She would also like to thank her creative teammates for being such supportive collaborators as we navigated the many nuances of safety and filming guidelines. Maddy Wyatt (Music Director/Sound Designer) is excited to be conducting (and audio mixing!) her fifth musical at Poly Prep. In addition to teaching and directing many talented students in the Middle and Upper Schools, Ms. Wyatt is also an accomplished singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, having toured the country with her band WYATT, released three albums of original music, and composed both film scores and the occasional toothpaste jingle. In normal times, she played frequent live shows in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and looks
forward to doing that again soon. She is also the host of a live tribute series in Bed-Stuy called “Sunday Night Tribute.” Thanks to Jill, Ashley, and to our wonderful cast and creative team for all their hard work. www.bandofwyatt.com
Hannah Chalman (Costume Designer) Hannah Chalman is a costume designer, costume technician, and makeup artist from Tennessee. Ms. Chalman received her MFA in Costume Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and her BA in Theatre from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Before joining Poly Prep, Ms. Chalman worked as the Costume Design Assistant for Long Wharf Theatre’s 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 season. Other credits include working as Assistant Costume Designer for Othello (The Public Theatre—Shakespeare in the Park), Assistant Costume Designer for Admissions (Lincoln Center Theatre), and as a Personal Assistant to Toni-Leslie James for Come from Away (Broadway). Andrew Murdock (Scenic Designer, Videographer, Editor) is an interdisciplinary artist and educator. He has worked at Puppetry in Practice and Marquis Studios teaching classes in video, puppetry, and stop motion animation (K–12 in NYC public schools). His personal work often bridges the tangible and digital by utilizing techniques in video, physical theatre, and puppetry. He holds a customized BFA dual major in Sculpture and Film, Animation, Video (FAV) from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in Theatre from Sarah Lawrence College focusing on collaborative theatre-making and the integration of technology. Recent credits include: Video Designer and Livestream Technician for 36.5 / PROCESS by Sarah Cameron Sunde (Socrates Sculpture Park/Hallett’s Cove, NYC) and commissioned video project AMASS (ArtYard, Frenchtown, NJ). This is Mr. Murdock’s first year at Poly Prep and he is very excited to help showcase the students’ work in video form. David Higham (Lighting Designer & Technical Director) is in his twenty-ninth year at Poly, where he has been responsible for designing the lighting, sound, and scenery for over 170 productions. In addition to his work at Poly, Mr. Higham has designed lighting for productions at The Public Theatre, Lincoln Center, the Irish Arts Center, The Women’s Project, The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, and The National Shakespeare Company, among others. Mr. Higham also has worked as a lighting designer for several New York City architectural and landscape design firms.
Collaboration with the History Department
A Note About Our Rehearsal Process and Safety Protocols
The cast, crew, and creative team of Godspell, Jr. extend their gratitude to members of Poly’s History Department, Harold Bernieri and Dr. Virginia Dillon, who served as dramaturgs on this production.
Due to the current health and safety protocols, we made several adjustments to our rehearsal process, which are outlined below.
Because Godspell is a dramatization of the Gospel of Matthew, it leaves a lot of room for questioning and exploration. Respecting the religion it represents while avoiding any forms of prosthelytizing presents a unique challenge and a delicate balance. Ultimately, Godspell is a theatrical experience, not a religious one. At its core, the musical is about a community of people in search of something, who come together to experience learning, love, and loss, in its most sacrificial form. But all theatrical experiences require of their actors a deep level of understanding, empathy, and research. And the expertise of Poly’s wonderful History faculty proved to be an excellent resource in guiding that research. Mr Bernieri stated: “It was wonderful for Dr. Dillion and I to have a chance to discuss some of the religious and historical context behind the musical with the actors. They impressed us with their level of engagement, their sophisticated questions, and their ability to make connections between the play and the information Dr. Dillion and I were sharing. We hope that the actors found our time together valuable.” Dr. Dillon added: “It was such a pleasure to speak with these young actors about their work. They approached this text with impressive intelligence, thoughtfulness, and care.” From the cast, crew, and creative team of Godspell to Mr. Bernieri, Dr. Dillon, and Poly’s History faculty, THANK YOU!!!
Our teaching and rehearsal process was done entirely via Zoom. We had one day on campus to rehearse together and three days of on-campus filming. In preparation for our on-campus days, we worked closely with Sarah Zuercher, Director of Health and Well-being and COVID Safety Coordinator, to create these protocols: • Students were rapid-tested upon arrival or tested the day prior. • Students were masked and socially distanced all day except for specific moments when filming. • Students remained seated in the theatre’s back rows while not rehearsing to avoid proximity with the performers on stage. • Staging and choreography adhered to state and national guidelines for social distancing: 12 feet apart for dancing and singing. • All singing was pre-recorded and students lip-synced while on stage, maintaining 6-foot distancing. • Students did not share props, costume pieces, or microphones.
RETURNING STUDENTS, DATES AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FALL 2021 OFFERINGS COMING SOON! — Grades 9 & 10 Preseason Theatre Workshop — Auditions for the Grades 9 & 10 Play — Course Registration We encourage returning students to continue their in-school training at Poly by enrolling in some of the following classes. Please contact Daniel Doughty at ddoughty@polyprep.org for more information:
• Acting • Advanced Acting • Concert Choir • Advanced Concert Choir • Dance • Advanced Dance • Stagecraft and Construction
• • • • •
Set Design and Computer Aided Drafting Concert Band Jazz Band String Ensemble Music Production
Our Production Would Not Be Possible without the Generous Support of: Audrius Barzdukas P’20 Head of School Michal Hershkovitz P’16, ’18 Assistant Head of School, Academics André Del Valle Head of Middle School Michael Robinson Head of Arts Daniel Doughty Performing Arts Department Chair The members of the Performing Arts faculty, the Engagement & Communications Department, the Poly Prep IT staff, the Facilities and Maintenance Department, the Security staff, the kitchen staff, and the Middle School deans.
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