Pictured is the cast of Godspell. Front: Tara Wagner (Hamilton), Rachel Sherman (Belle Meade), Molly Karlin (Plainsboro), Taylor Lloyd (Hamilton), Kristen Kane (Plainsboro), Sydney Kobil (Hopewell), Chelsea Gonzalez (Hamilton) and Frankie Confalone (Bordentown). Back: Dont’e Wilder (Ewing), Zachary Latino (Moorestown), Jonathan Martin (East Windsor), J Scott (Allentown), Trevor Nalepka (Hillsborough) and Wesley Cappiello (Hamilton).
Hamilton-based community theatre company M & M Stage Productions is set to perform Godspeed July 12 to 21 at Kelsey Theatre.
The musical is produced by the company’s co-founders, Mike Almstedt and Mike DiIorio, both of Hamilton.
The story of Godspell is adapted from the Gospel According to St. Matthew. It features a 1970s-sounding score, including the Billboard Hot 100 hit “Day By Day.”
While fans of the original production or film may remember Jesus visiting a group of strangers in a junkyard, director Mike Steele of Hamilton chose to take a new spin on the story. M & M’s adaption is set 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,” Steele said in a statement, “maybe he has something important to say if others would just listen.”
Not only does the production feature a different setting setting, it will also include newly licensed arrangements of the score, based on the recent Broadway revival.
The cast features J. Scott of Allentown, Rachel Sherman of Belle Meade, Frankie Confalone of Bordentown, Jonathan Martin of East Windsor, Dont’e Wilder of Ewing, Wesley Cappiello, Chelsea Gonzalez, Taylor Lloyd and Tara Wagner of Hamilton, Trevor Napelka of Hillsborough, Sydney Kobil of Hopewell, Zach Latino of Moorestown and Kristen Kane and Molly Karlin of Plainsboro.
Performances are scheduled for July 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. and July 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $14 for students. Tickets are available online at kelseytheatre.net.
Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer County Community College’s campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.
More information is online at mandmstage.com.
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