Kristen Kane and Molly Karlin of Plainsboro attended school together from kindergarten through 12th grade and graduated from High School North in 2012. This summer, they find themselves schoolmates once again in the fictional classroom setting of M & M Stage Productions’ “Godspell” at Kelsey Theater, weekends, July 12 to 21. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance this Friday, July 12.
The girls, who had performed with each other in many school plays, are thrilled to be onstage together again. “Kristen and I have shared the stage numerous times in middle and high school, and she always brings a great energy and presence to the stage,” says Karlin.
Now a rising sophomore at Muhlenberg College, Karlin has been active in the performing arts, appearing in two college productions and several dance recitals and singing with the Muhlenberg Chaimonics, an a capella group.
“‘Godspell’ has always been one of my favorite shows,” says Karlin. “When I saw that it was being put on at Kelsey and that I would be home from college in time to audition, I was so excited.”
Kane was also eager to be a part of the show. “I already loved the music,” she says. “I was thrilled to be cast.”
Taking advantage of a gap year, Kane is a rising freshman at Westminster College of the Arts at Rider University. She has been focusing on singing and vocal technique with Patricia Bartlett.
“I decided to take this year and really hone in on my craft,” says Kane, who plans to major in musical theater. “I know this show will be a great end to my gap year and will be a great experience.”
“It has been a treat to be on stage with Molly again,” says Kane. Both Kane and Karlin have performed on the Kelsey Theater stage before. Karlin has appeared in multiple shows with her parents, Scott and Rosie, over the past decade, and Kane played Tracey Turnblatt, the lead in last season’s “Hairspray.”
“It’s really nice to come back to Kelsey after being away because it feels like home,” says Karlin.
The musical relates a series of parables based on the Gospel of Matthew. All actors are on stage throughout the show. The show originated in 1970 as John-Michael Tebelak’s master’s thesis project at Carnegie Mellon University. A version was performed at the school in 1970 and a second version was performed in 1971 during a two-week run at La MaMa Experimental Theater Club in New York City.
It was brought to the attention of producers Edgar Lansbury (brother of Angela Lansbury) and Joseph Beruh, who hired Stephen Schwartz, another alumnus of Carnegie Mellon’s theater department, to write a new song score. He rewrote most of the original songs, and most of the lyrics were from Episcopal hymns. Music includes “Day By Day,” “We Beseech Thee,” and “Save the People.”
While fans of the original production or the film will remember Jesus visiting a group of strangers in a junkyard, director Mike Steele of Hamilton is choosing to take a new spin on the story, setting the action in a present-day high school classroom with Jesus depicted as a nerdy, outcast student.
“I wanted to explore the possibilities of what might happen if the quiet student in the back of the classroom that nobody ever notices has the chance to speak up for a day,” says Steele. “Maybe he has something important to say if others would just listen.”
This production will also include newly licensed arrangements of the score, based on the recent Broadway revival. The production will have less of a 1970s feel, as M & M brings the popular musical into a new generation.
The cast features 14 performers from the local area, ranging in age from 16 to 20. It was important to M & M that the cast remain young to not only create an authentic looking group of students, but also because there are so few opportunities for real high school and college students to perform locally during their summer vacations.
Godspell, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $18. 609-570-3333 or www.kelseytheatre.net.
