Godspell is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John-Michael Tebelak . The show is structured as a series of parables , primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew , interspersed with music mostly set to lyrics from traditional hymns , with the passion of Christ appearing briefly near the end.
85-584: Stephen Lawrence Schwartz (born March 6, 1948) is an American musical theatre composer and lyricist. In a career spanning over five decades, Schwartz has written hit musicals such as Godspell (1971), Pippin (1972), and Wicked (2003). He has contributed lyrics to a number of successful films, including Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt (1998, music and lyrics), Enchanted (2007), and Disenchanted (2022). Schwartz has earned numerous accolades including three Grammy Awards , three Academy Awards , and
170-770: A Golden Globe Award . He has received nominations for six Tony Awards , and a Laurence Olivier Award . He received the Tony Award 's Isabelle Stevenson Award in 2015. Schwartz is Jewish, and was born in New York City, the son of Sheila Lorna (née Siegel), a teacher, and Stanley Leonard Schwartz, a businessman. He grew up in the Williston Park area of Nassau County, New York , where he graduated from Mineola High School in 1964. While attending Carnegie Mellon University , Schwartz composed and directed an early version of Pippin (entitled Pippin, Pippin ) with
255-635: A day until 2004. On May 22, 2006, Terkel, along with other plaintiffs, including Quentin Young , filed suit in federal district court against AT&T Inc. , to stop the telecommunications carrier from giving customer telephone records to the National Security Agency without a court order. Having been blacklisted from working in television during the McCarthy era, I know the harm of government using private corporations to intrude into
340-600: A direct challenge to apartheid in South Africa . Studs Terkel Louis " Studs " Terkel (May 16, 1912 – October 31, 2008) was an American writer, historian, actor, and broadcaster. He received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1985 for The Good War and is best remembered for his oral histories of common Americans, and for hosting a long-running radio show in Chicago. Terkel
425-622: A donation by Terkel, the Chicago History Museum , Library of Congress , and WFMT created the Studs Terkel Radio Archive , digitally preserving his entire interview archive − "a remarkably rich history of the ideas and perspectives of both common and influential people living in the second half of the 20th century," per the Library of Congress. "For Studs, there was not a voice that should not be heard,
510-421: A fund-raising video called Saturday Night Seder which featured an "all-star" cast of performers, composers and religious leaders broadcasting from their home computers and cellphones due to the practice of "social distancing" used by people around the world in response to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic . The video explained the story of Passover through stories, song, comedy and memories, and raised money for
595-464: A good deed done in secret" ("Shhh! It's a secret!"). The cast then performs the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. On earth, the rich man feasts, and Lazarus begs and is ignored. Upon dying, Lazarus is rewarded with Heaven, while the rich man is in Hell. The audience is told to "Learn Your Lessons Well" or be faced with eternal damnation. When the rich man asks Abraham if he would send Lazarus back from
680-493: A meeting place for people from all walks of life. Terkel credited his understanding of humanity and social interaction to the tenants and visitors who gathered in the lobby there and the people who congregated in nearby Bughouse Square . In 1939, he married Ida Goldberg (1912–1999), and the couple had one son. Although he received his undergraduate degree in 1932 and a J.D. degree from the University of Chicago in 1934 (and
765-510: A moving congratulatory speech to the White Sox organization after their 2005 World Series championship during a television interview. Terkel received his nickname while he was acting in a play with another person named Louis. To keep the two straight, the director of the production gave Terkel the nickname Studs after the fictional character about whom Terkel was reading at the time— Studs Lonigan , of James T. Farrell 's trilogy. Terkel
850-652: A new musical that was commissioned to celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen . The production, titled Mit Eventyr or "My Fairytale", opened at the Gladsaxe Theatre in Copenhagen in the fall of 2005. The American premiere of My Fairytale took place in the summer of 2011 at the PCPA Theatrefest of California and was directed by the composer's son Scott Schwartz. Schwartz returned to Hollywood in 2007 and wrote lyrics for
935-563: A new personal memoir entitled Touch and Go in fall 2007. Terkel was a self-described agnostic , which he jokingly defined as "a cowardly atheist" during a 2004 interview with Krista Tippett on American Public Media 's Speaking of Faith . One of his last interviews was for the documentary Soul of a People on Smithsonian Channel . He spoke about his participation in the Works Progress Administration . At his last public appearance, in 2007, Terkel said he
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#17327908763171020-429: A partnership with Schwartz for the development of four shows over three years. The first will be a magic themed review of Schwartz's music, titled Magic To Do , including one new song written for the show . Schwartz returned to write the lyrics for a sequel to Enchanted , titled Disenchanted , and will do the same for a live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame . In April 2020 Schwartz participated in
1105-472: A project by drama students at Carnegie Mellon University and then moved to the off-off-Broadway theater La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in the East Village of Manhattan . The show was rescored for an off-Broadway production, which opened on May 17, 1971, and became a long-running success. Many productions have followed worldwide, including a 2011 Broadway revival. An abbreviated one-act version of
1190-489: A put-on sensuality). In the original script, licensed through Theatre Maximus, the "Christ" character and the "John" and "Judas" role are assigned the names of the original performers, Stephen and David. All ten actors are on stage throughout the entirety of the production. In the revised script used for the 2011 Broadway revival, the names of the cast are again assigned to the non-Biblical roles: Nick, Telly, George, Anna Maria, Lindsay, Uzo, Morgan, and Celisse. Each character
1275-785: A second production in Sydney on April 10, 1972. Peta Toppano , John Waters , and Marty Rhone were in the Sydney production. Melbourne played 504 performances and Sydney played 507 before the two companies went on tour, performing another 700 shows. Godspell opened at the Roundhouse Theatre in Chalk Farm , London on November 17, 1971. This London production featured Jacquie-Ann Carr, Julie Covington , David Essex , Neil Fitzwiliam, Jeremy Irons , Verity-Anne Meldrum, Deryk Parkin, Tom Saffery, Gay Soper , and Marti Webb . After
1360-495: A story that could not be told," said Gary T. Johnson, Museum president. "He believed that everyone had the right to be heard and had something important to say. He was there to listen, to chronicle, and to make sure their stories are remembered." On September 5, 2019, podcast The Radio Diaries , produced by Radiotopia on PRX , released an episode called "The Working Tapes of Studs Terkel." In it, Terkel's taped interviews with working people are played and examined. In 1982, Terkel
1445-668: A successful run at the Roundhouse Theatre, the production transferred to the Wyndham's Theatre , also in London, on January 26, 1972. with Barry Stokes . The Washington, D.C. production of Godspell , at Ford's Theater , ran from 1972 into 1973. The cast consisted of Bartley Braverman , Scotch Byerley, Baillie Gerstein, Tony Hoty, Maggie Hyatt, Doris Jamin , Irving Lee , Dean Pitchford , John-Ann Washingson and Lynne Thigpen . The 1972-1973 Chicago production played at
1530-700: A touring cast. After an enthusiastic response from the audience, the scheduled run at the Royal Alexandra ended and the show moved uptown to the Bayview Playhouse in Leaside . The Bayview Playhouse production ran until August 1973, with a then-record run of 488 performances. The Toronto production launched the careers of many actors, including Victor Garber , Eugene Levy , Andrea Martin , Gilda Radner , Dave Thomas , and Martin Short , as well as
1615-659: Is "All for the Best" and heaven contains the ultimate reward as Jesus and Judas do a soft shoe together. This is followed by the parable of the Sower of the Seeds , which Jesus tells them represent the Word of God ("All Good Gifts"). By this point in the musical, the group has transformed from a rag-tag cast, into a community of love and caring and now march as soldiers in the military, signifying their ability to think as one. With Jesus as
1700-481: Is Known: God and King. I am most in majesty, in whom no beginning may be and no end." ("Opening (Monologue)"). The cast then enters and takes the roles of various philosophers who sing their philosophies, first alone, then in cacophonous counterpoint ("Prologue: Tower of Babble"). In response, John the Baptist enters blowing a shofar to call the community to order. He then beckons them to "Prepare Ye, The Way of
1785-725: Is also assigned a few character traits. An ensemble can also be added to the production if needed. Since the names of the characters are normally changed to the cast members' names in professional productions, the names here match the character's main solo, excluding Jesus and John/Judas. These are the names the characters are referred to in the licensing of the show. Notable replacements include: Corbin Bleu as Jesus (Broadway 2011), Sonia Manzano (Broadway 1976), Don Scardino (Canada 1972), Dave Thomas (Canada 1972), and Victor Garber (Off-Broadway 1972). The show opens with God 's voice, as spoken by Jesus , declaring his supremacy: "My name
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#17327908763171870-574: Is better to lose it than to have the whole of the body thrown into hell. The cast then plays charades to finish several statements posed by Jesus, including "If a man sues you for your shirt..." and "If a man asks you to go one mile with him...." The cast then performs the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a play-within-a-play . Jesus explains the need to "love your enemies" and "not make a show of religion before men". He says: "God will reward
1955-548: The CDC Foundation . Schwartz married Carole Piasecki on June 6, 1969. They have two children, Jessica and Scott. In 2009 Schwartz was elected president of the Dramatists Guild of America , succeeding John Weidman ; he stepped down in 2014, to be succeeded by Doug Wright. Schwartz has won many major awards in his field, including three Oscars, three Grammys, four Drama Desk Awards, one Golden Globe Award ,
2040-536: The Last Supper and Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. Each member of the cast asks, "Is it I?" ending with Judas: "Rabbi... can you mean me?" Jesus tells him to do quickly what he must do and Judas runs off. Jesus breaks the bread and shares the wine, while saying the traditional Hebrew Seder blessings. He tells his followers that they will dine together in the Kingdom of Heaven. The band sings "On
2125-635: The Pharisee and the Publican praying in the temple: "Every man who humbles himself shall be exalted!" As Jesus teaches the law of the offering gifts at the altar, the cast makes offerings of themselves. They are taught that to approach God's altar, they must be pure of heart and soul. They then act out the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant a story of a master and a servant who owes him a debt. The servant asks his master for pity in repaying
2210-483: The Resurrection of Jesus in the show. It can be interpreted that either the singing of "Prepare Ye" in the finale or the curtain call, where all including Jesus return to the stage, represents the resurrection. The Music Theatre International script states that either representation is valid. "Tower of Babble," the show's opening number, has often been omitted in productions. The song consists of
2295-560: The Rodney King riots in Los Angeles . In the film, it follows "Alas for You" and "By My Side", omitting the parable typically found in between these two numbers. In the decades following the film's release, many directors have chosen to use the lyrics from the original film version, sometimes to replace the "Day by Day" reprise, "Tower of Babble", like the prologue, or adding it the end of the musical as an additional scene depicting
2380-405: The 2001 revival, Luther, Gibbon, Nietzsche, and Fuller were replaced by Galileo Galilei , Jonathan Edwards , L. Ron Hubbard , and Marianne Williamson , respectively. The 2011 revival retains Galilei, Hubbard, and Williamson, but restores Gibbon and replaces da Vinci with Georg Hegel . On many early cast recordings, including the original off-Broadway recording and the original London recording,
2465-558: The Broadway production of Wicked passed the 1,000 performance mark, making Schwartz one of four composers (the other three being Andrew Lloyd Webber , Jerry Herman , and Richard Rodgers ) to have three shows last that long on Broadway (the other two were Pippin and The Magic Show ). In 2007, Schwartz joined Jerry Herman as being one of only two composer/lyricists to have three shows run longer than 1,500 performances on Broadway. After Wicked , Schwartz contributed music and lyrics for
2550-467: The Chicago School of Television. Terkel published his first book, Giants of Jazz , in 1956. He followed it in 1967 with his first collection of oral histories , Division Street: America , with 70 people talking about the effect on the human spirit of living in an American metropolis. He also served as a distinguished scholar-in-residence at the Chicago History Museum . He appeared in
2635-755: The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dayton Literary Peace Prize , the first and only annual U.S. literary award recognizing the power of the written word to promote peace. In 2010, Terkel was inducted into the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. Terkel was a recipient of the 1999 George Polk Career Award and the National Book Critics Circle 2003 Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award . Terkel, despite not being black ,
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2720-561: The Lord!" and baptizes the cast ("Prepare Ye"). John gives a short sermon, as Jesus watches quietly. Jesus then announces his presence and says that he also wishes to be baptized. John instead asks to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus explains that "We do well now to conform with all that God requires" and is baptized by John. The cast enters and sings with Jesus ("Save the People"). In his first parable , Jesus explains that he has come "not to abolish
2805-457: The Lord," then Jesus tells the cast not to worry about tomorrow: "Tomorrow will take care of itself. Today has problems of its own." In an antiphonic chorus, the cast recites the Beatitudes . Judas directs the final beatitude regarding persecution at Jesus, and Jesus quickly changes the subject ("Did I ever tell you that I used to read feet?"). However, Jesus then persuades the cast that it
2890-852: The Lyric Theatre in Stuart, Florida . It was presented by the StarStruck Performing Arts Center. In 2003, Schwartz returned to Broadway, as composer and lyricist for Wicked , a musical based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , which tells the story of the Oz characters from the point of view of the witches. Schwartz won a Grammy Award for his work as composer and lyricist and producer of Wicked' s cast recording . On March 23, 2006,
2975-710: The Promenade Theatre three months later, and closed on June 13, 1976, after 2,124 performances at the Promenade. This production was directed by Tebelak, and the original cast included Lamar Alford , Peggy Gordon, David Haskell , Joanne Jonas, Robin Lamont, Sonia Manzano , Gilmer McCormick , Jeffrey Mylett , Stephen Nathan, and Herb Braha (Simon). The band included Jesse Cutler on guitar and bass, Richard LaBonte on bass, Stephen Reinhardt on keyboards, and Ricky Shutter on drums and percussion. In late 1971, LaBonte
3060-528: The Resurrection. The 2011 Broadway revival places "Beautiful City" after "We Beseech Thee" and just before the Last Supper, sung by Jesus as a slow ballad. This production used the revised 1993 lyrics and is included on its cast recording, along with a cover by John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting as a bonus track. Some productions use both the original upbeat film version as a prologue as well as
3145-652: The Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theater and a self-described "tiny handful of tennis trophies". He has received six Tony Award nominations, for Wicked , Pippin , and Godspell , music/lyrics; Rags , lyrics; and Working , music/lyrics and book. In 2015, he received an honorary Tony Award, the Isabelle Stevenson Award , for his commitment to serving artists and fostering new talent. In April 2008, Schwartz
3230-571: The Studebaker Theatre, with a cast of Richard Gilliland (Jesus), Joe Mantegna (Judas), JoAnn Brown-El, Sammy Chester, Karla DeVito, Carol McGill, Jim Parks, Tricia Smith, Dan Stone, and Fran Uditsky. The 1972–1973 Toronto production opened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre and was intended to be a run of a few dozen performances for a subscription audience. The cast was drawn entirely from local performers, instead of
3315-593: The Willows", which is about what has been sacrificed. In the song, Jesus blesses each member of the cast. He asks that they wait for him as he goes into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. In the garden, Jesus implores God to let the burden be lifted from his shoulders if there is another way. Jesus returns to his followers to find them all asleep. He begs them to stay awake, but they all fall asleep again and Jesus warns them they will all betray him three times (a reference to
3400-589: The apostle Peter ). Jesus then prays to God that if his death cannot pass him by, then His will must be done. He is then tempted by Satan (usually played by the apostles), but orders him away. Judas returns to betray Jesus, but has a moment where he cannot bring himself to do it. He tries to leave but finds himself boxed in by invisible walls, except for one path which leads to Jesus. Jesus encourages Judas to do what he has come to do, and Judas grabs Jesus to bring him to be crucified . The community starts to attack Judas, while Jesus tells them to stop, as all who live by
3485-406: The audience was offered wine on the stage. The second act then opens with one or more cast members singing "Learn Your Lessons Well", calling the audience back to their seats. After the reprise of "Learn Your Lessons Well", a member of the cast sings "Turn Back, O Man", imploring mankind to give up its temporal pursuits and turn to God. Jesus then says: "This is the beginning." Several members of
Stephen Schwartz - Misplaced Pages Continue
3570-409: The ballad version, either in its original place just before the Last Supper whereupon the "Day by Day" reprise is used as the Resurrection, or as an epilogue depicting the resurrection itself. In Music Theater International 's Broadway Junior series, which edits popular musicals to one act appropriate for a middle school cast, "Beautiful City" is included in the show. Godspell Junior contains most of
3655-655: The cast album went on to attain cult status, which led to several subsequent productions, including a London production directed by Trevor Nunn in 1990 and another at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey in 2005. In 1978, Schwartz's next Broadway project was a musical version of Studs Terkel 's Working , which he adapted and directed, winning the Drama Desk Award as best director, and for which he contributed four songs. He also co-directed
3740-586: The cast gather, join in Jesus' song, and throw garbage at the Pharisees. Jesus predicts that he will not be seen for quite a while, while standing at the " Wailing Wall ", and predicts great wars and famines. He reminds the cast and audience of the time of Noah and teaches that faith can calm the storm. The cast is told: "Keep awake, then. For the Son of Man will come at a time when you least expect it." One woman in
3825-508: The cast is shunned as an adulteress . Jesus says: "Let the one of you who is faultless cast the first stone." Her accusers then bow their heads and walk away. Jesus walks over to her and asks: "Woman... where are they now? Has no one condemned you?" The woman answers: "No one, sir." He tells her: "Then nor shall I. You may go, but do not sin again." As she watches Jesus walk from her, she entreats him to remain "By My Side". During this song, Judas foretells his upcoming betrayal of Jesus. In one of
3910-412: The cast then begin to question Jesus's authority, and he responds with yet another parable. He is asked, "What is the greatest commandment?" and responds, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul... And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The Pharisees continue to question him, and he laments "Alas for You" and calls them hypocrites. Members of
3995-496: The dead to warn his brothers of their impending doom, Abraham tells him no: "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead." Jesus teaches that no man can serve two masters (God and money). A member of the cast tells a story of a man who spent a lifetime acquiring the good things in life, then dies before he has the time to enjoy them. This character sings "Bless
4080-423: The debt, and the master absolves it. The servant then turns to a fellow servant who "owed him a few dollars" and demands that it be paid in full. The master, hearing this, then condemns the servant to prison. Jesus explains the moral: "Forgive your brothers from your heart." The character telling the parable sings "Day by Day", and the cast joins in. After the song, Jesus teaches that if one part of you offends God, it
4165-512: The drill sergeant, they perform the Parable of the Prodigal Son . The cast sings "Light of the World" about Christ's Light and how it shines in each person. Jesus thanks the audience for coming and announces a 10-minute intermission . There is audience interaction during intermission. In the original production, the cast joined the audience for wine and bread. In the 2011 Broadway revival,
4250-702: The eight disciples (or soloists) acting out as philosophers, each singing about their various philosophies. They grow increasingly more irritated with each other, sing in contradiction, and eventually run out of words. "Prepare Ye" follows this prologue. In the original productions, the philosophers were Socrates ( Jeffrey Mylett ), Thomas Aquinas (Peggy Gordon), Martin Luther (Lamar Alford), Leonardo da Vinci ( Gilmer McCormick ), Edward Gibbon ( Sonia Manzano ), Jean-Paul Sartre (Joanne Jonas), Friedrich Nietzsche (Robin Lamont), and Buckminster Fuller (Herb Braha). In
4335-533: The film Eight Men Out , based on the Black Sox Scandal , in which he played newspaper reporter Hugh Fullerton , who tries to uncover the White Sox players' plans to throw the 1919 World Series . Terkel found it particularly amusing to play this role, as he was a big fan of the Chicago White Sox (as well as a vocal critic of major league baseball during the 1994 baseball strike), and gave
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#17327908763174420-728: The first act and almost none of the second act. "By My Side" is omitted entirely. "Beautiful City" is placed at the beginning of the second act and is immediately followed by the Last Supper, the Betrayal, and the Crucifixion. John-Michael Tebelak wrote the first version of Godspell as his master's thesis at Carnegie Mellon University. The Carnegie Mellon cast included (listed in speaking order): Andrew Rohrer, Mary Mazziotti, Martha Jacobs, Robin Lamont, Robert Miller, Sonia Manzano , Stanley King, Randy Danson, James Stevens, and David Haskell with original music by Duane Bolick. This version
4505-622: The first ever Schwartz biography titled Defying Gravity , by Carol de Giere. The book is a comprehensive look at his career and life, and includes sections on how to write for the musical theatre. Turning to the pop world in 2009, Schwartz collaborated with John Ondrasik in writing two songs on the Five for Fighting album Slice , the title track as well as "Above the Timberline". Ondrasik became familiar with Schwartz based on his daughter's affection for, and repeated attendance at performances of,
4590-713: The hit Disney film Enchanted , again collaborating with Menken. Three songs from the film, "Happy Working Song", "That's How You Know", and "So Close", were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. He has written the theme song for the Playhouse Disney show Johnny and the Sprites , starring John Tartaglia . A recent project is incidental music for his son Scott Schwartz's adaptation of Willa Cather 's My Ántonia . On several occasions prior to 2008, Schwartz had reached out to Tim Dang who
4675-662: The late 1940's he voiced characters in WMAQ 's Destination Freedom series, written by Richard Durham . His own well-known radio program, titled The Studs Terkel Program , aired on 98.7 WFMT Chicago between 1952 and 1997. The one-hour program was broadcast each weekday during those 45 years. On this program, he interviewed guests as diverse as Martin Luther King Jr. , Leonard Bernstein , Mort Sahl , Bob Dylan , Alexander Frey , Dorothy Parker , Tennessee Williams , Jean Shepherd , Frank Zappa , and Big Bill Broonzy . In
4760-459: The late 1940s and early 1950s, Terkel was also the central character of Studs' Place , an unscripted television drama about the owner of a greasy-spoon diner in Chicago through which many famous people and interesting characters passed. This show, Marlin Perkins 's Zoo Parade , Garroway at Large , and the children's show Kukla, Fran, and Ollie are widely considered canonical examples of
4845-505: The law and the prophets, but to complete." Jesus explains to the cast that those who adhere to the law of God will earn the highest place in the Kingdom of Heaven. He tells them the parable of the Widow and the Judge , demonstrating that God is a just jurist who will support those who cry out to him. The cast begins to understand Jesus' teachings and take it upon themselves to tell the story of
4930-413: The lighter moments in the second act, Jesus tells how he will separate men as a shepherd separates his flock into sheep and goats . The sheep will enter heaven while the goats must suffer eternal damnation. "We Beseech Thee" cry the goats, begging for mercy. After the song, the cast reminds each other to take things "Day by Day", as they remove their clown makeup, face paint, or object. They assemble for
5015-580: The lives of innocent Americans. When the government uses the telephone companies to create massive databases of all our phone calls it has gone too far. The lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Matthew F. Kennelly on July 26, 2006. Judge Kennelly cited a " state secrets privilege " designed to protect the government from being harmed by lawsuits. In an interview in The Guardian celebrating his 95th birthday, Terkel discussed his own "diverse and idiosyncratic taste in music, from Bob Dylan to Alexander Frey , Louis Armstrong to Woody Guthrie ". Terkel published
5100-441: The music ends. The women of the cast sing "Long Live God", and the men join in with "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord" in counterpoint. The cast removes Jesus from the fence and carries him out, either offstage or through the aisles. The cast then finishes with a reprise of "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord". Similar to criticism of the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar there is controversy over there being no obvious allusion to
5185-469: The musical Rags . In 1991, Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Children of Eden . He then began working in film, collaborating with composer Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features Pocahontas (1995), for which he received two Academy Awards, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996). He provided songs for DreamWorks ' first musical animated feature, The Prince of Egypt (1998), winning another Academy Award for
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#17327908763175270-595: The musical Wicked . In September 2011, Northlight Theatre in Skokie, Illinois premiered Schwartz's new musical, Snapshots , which featured music and lyrics by Schwartz, book by David Stern, and was directed by Ken Sawyer. It blended together "some of the best-loved music with some of the genuinely wonderful lesser known gems of (the) renowned Broadway composer." On March 22, 2012, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus released "Testimony", composed by Schwartz with lyrics taken from submissions to Dan Savage 's It Gets Better Project . In March 2015, Princess Cruises announced
5355-621: The musical designed for performers aged 18 and under also exists, titled Godspell Junior . Several cast albums have been released over the years. " Day by Day ", from the original cast album, reached #13 on the Billboard pop singles chart in the summer of 1972 and #7 in Canada . The show features eight non- Biblical characters , who sing and act out the parables: Gilmer (silly, a great storyteller); Robin (a tomboy); Herb (goofy and entertaining); Jeffrey (happy and excited); Joanne (eager and enthusiastic); Lamar (clumsy and unintentionally funny); Peggy (shy and loyal); and Sonia (dramatic with
5440-403: The musical director, thus starting Shaffer's career. Godspell was followed by the English-language texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein , for Bernstein's Mass , which opened the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. In 1972, the long-running Pippin premiered on Broadway. Schwartz had begun writing songs for Pippin while in college, although none of
5525-426: The prologue was omitted in order to produce an album that could sell as a pop album. This omission was for marketing purposes and was not meant to diminish the importance of the number, as Stephen Schwartz has repeatedly stated. As a consequence, some audiences have gotten the impression that this number was added into the score later. "Beautiful City" was written in 1972 as part of the film and re-written in 1993 after
5610-441: The show's musical director, Paul Shaffer . Howard Shore played saxophone for this production. Godspell opened in Maseru , Lesotho in 1973 and ran for five months. When Des and Dawn Lindberg brought the show to the University of the Witwatersrand ( Johannesburg ), it was immediately banned on the grounds of blasphemy . The ban was widely recognized as a political response to the depiction of racial mixing , which presented
5695-443: The show. Schwartz's score incorporated a variety of musical genres , including pop , folk rock , gospel , and vaudeville . "By My Side", written by Carnegie Mellon students Jay Hamburger and Peggy Gordon, was kept from the original score. As in the original score, most of the lyrics not written by Schwartz were from the Episcopal hymnal . The show opened as a musical at the Cherry Lane Theatre on May 17, 1971. It transferred to
5780-492: The song " When You Believe ". He wrote music and lyrics for the original television musical, Geppetto (2000), seen on The Wonderful World of Disney . A stage adaptation of this piece premiered in June 2006 at The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri , and was titled Geppetto and Son , and is now known as Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale . A version created for young performers, titled Geppetto & Son, Jr. had its world premiere on July 17, 2009, at
5865-515: The songs from the college version ended up in the Broadway production. Both Pippin and Godspell continue to be frequently produced. Two years after Pippin debuted, Schwartz wrote music and lyrics of The Magic Show , which ran for just under 2,000 performances. By mid-1974, at age 26, Schwartz had three smash hit musicals playing in New York simultaneously. Next were the music and lyrics of The Baker's Wife , which closed before reaching Broadway after an out-of-town tryout tour in 1976. However,
5950-406: The student-run theatre group, Scotch'n'Soda . Schwartz graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama. Upon returning to New York City, Schwartz went to work as a producer for RCA Records , but shortly thereafter began to work in Broadway theatre. He was asked to be the musical director of the first American rock opera , The Survival of St. Joan . He
6035-449: The sword will one day die by it. Judas (usually alone, as a representation of the others arresting Jesus) ties Jesus upon an electric fence (representative of the cross) as Jesus berates him for arresting him at night, but then says that it had to happen to fulfill the prophets' writings. The "Finale" begins, loud and in B-minor, with Jesus wailing, "Oh, God, I'm bleeding," and the community answers: "Oh, God, You're bleeding." Jesus dies and
6120-644: The television production, which was presented as part of the PBS American Playhouse series. In 1977, Schwartz wrote a children's book called The Perfect Peach . In the 1980s, Schwartz wrote songs for a one-act musical for children, The Trip , which 20 years later was revised, expanded and produced as Captain Louie . He then wrote music for three of the songs of the Off-Broadway revue Personals , and lyrics to Charles Strouse 's music for
6205-499: The wealthy. His 1974 book, Working , in which (as reflected by its subtitle) People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do , also was highly acclaimed. Working was made into a short-lived Broadway show of the same title in 1978 and was telecast on PBS in 1982. In 1995, he received the Chicago History Museum "Making History Award" for Distinction in Journalism and Communications. In 1997, Terkel
6290-597: Was "still in touch—but ready to go". He gave one of his last interviews on the BBC HARDtalk program on February 4, 2008. He spoke of the imminent election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, and offered him some advice, in October 2008. Terkel died in his Chicago home on Friday, October 31, 2008, at the age of 96. He had been suffering since a fall in his home earlier that month. From
6375-642: Was acclaimed for his efforts to preserve American oral history . His 1985 book "The Good War": An Oral History of World War Two , which detailed ordinary peoples' accounts of the country's involvement in World War II, won the Pulitzer Prize . For Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression , Terkel assembled recollections of the Great Depression that spanned the socioeconomic spectrum, from Okies , through prison inmates, to
6460-547: Was admitted to the Illinois Bar the following year), he decided that, instead of practicing law, he wanted to be a concierge at a hotel, and he soon joined a theater group. A political leftist , Terkel joined the Works Progress Administration 's Federal Writers' Project , working in radio , doing work that varied from voicing soap opera productions and announcing news and sports to presenting shows of recorded music and writing radio scripts and advertisements. In
6545-583: Was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Illinois at Chicago . In 1985, Terkel received the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for his book The Good War . Bill Clinton , then the President of the United States , awarded Terkel the National Humanities Medal in 1997. The National Book Foundation awarded Terkel the 1997 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In 2001, Terkel
6630-562: Was born to Russian Jewish immigrants, Samuel Terkel, a tailor, and Anna (Annie) Finkel, a seamstress, in New York City . At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Chicago , Illinois , where he spent most of his life. He had two brothers, Meyer (1905–1958) and Ben (1907–1965). He attended McKinley High School . From 1926 to 1936, his parents ran a rooming house called the Wells-Grand Hotel that also served as
6715-467: Was credited as the producer of the double album of the soundtrack with the progressive rock group Smoke Rise on Paramount Records . His first major credit was the title song for the play Butterflies Are Free ; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well. In 1971, he wrote music and lyrics for Godspell , for which he won several awards, including two Grammys . For this musical's Toronto production in 1972, he asked Paul Shaffer to be
6800-680: Was elected a member of The American Academy of Arts and Letters . Two years later, he received the George Polk Career Award in 1999. In 2004, Terkel received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College . In August 2005, Terkel underwent successful open-heart surgery . At the age of 93, he was one of the oldest people to undergo this form of surgery and doctors reported his recovery to be remarkable for someone of that advanced age. Terkel smoked two cigars
6885-664: Was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . In 2009, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame . Also in 2009, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame . The induction ceremony took place on the night of January 25, 2010. Schwartz received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University in May 2015. Sources Godspell Godspell began as
6970-693: Was made an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Northwestern University . In 2001, Terkel was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Community. In 2004, Terkel was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State's highest honor) by the Governor of Illinois in the area of Communications. In 2006, Terkel received
7055-674: Was performed at Carnegie Mellon in 1970 by students from Carnegie Mellon's Theatre Department. The show was then brought to the attention of producers Edgar Lansbury (brother of Angela Lansbury ), Joseph Beruh , and Stuart Duncan by Carnegie Mellon alumnus and associate producer Charles Haid , who wanted to transfer the show to off-Broadway. The show was first produced at La Mama as a play with original music for eight songs by Duane Bolick, Jeffrey Mylett, who added one of his songs ("The Raven and The Swan") and Peggy Gordon and Jay Hamburger, who added "By My Side". The producers then hired Stephen Schwartz , another Carnegie Mellon alumnus, to re-score
7140-752: Was replaced by bassist Steve Manes when two of the original musicians, Shutter and LaBonte, went with the majority of the original cast to The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles to open the show there. With the exception of LaBonte, they all returned to the Promenade in January 1972. The first production after the off-Broadway show opened at the Playbox Theatre in Melbourne, Australia on November 15, 1971. The cast included Colleen Hewett , Collette Mann , Christopher Pate, and George Spartels . The producers, Aztec Services and Williamson Edgley Theatres, opened
7225-553: Was the longtime artistic director of Los Angeles-based Asian-Pacific Islander theater company, East West Players (EWP). This collaboration led to the conception of a new version of Pippin , aesthetically inspired by Japanese anime and musically inspired by hip-hop . The production was a record-breaking hit and remained the highest grossing production in EWP's history for an entire decade before being dethroned by Allegiance in 2018. In 2008, Applause Theatre and Cinema Books published
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