Theatre Eastern Opens Drama Season This Week With 'Godspell'
(Press Release 10-06-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

GODSPELL OPENS THURSDAY!      

Theatre Eastern at Eastern Oklahoma State College will open their season with a presentation of Godspell Thursday, October 9th, Friday, October 10th, and Saturday, October 11th at 7:30pm in Mitchell Auditorium on the Wilburton campus.    

Godspell, an ancient word for Gospel, is a lively musical based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew from The Bible. The show was written in the 1970s and became a huge Broadway and international success, as well as spawning a movie starring Victor Garber (Alias, Legally Blonde). Stage productions around the world have included comedic greats such as Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, and Martin Short, and the show has been embraced as a non-denominational but inspirational storytelling musical.

“Godspell is a high-energy, contemporary play that tells the story of Jesus and the community of believers who followed him. It’s not preachy. It’s not trying to challenge or change anyone’s beliefs. It’s just storytelling plain and simple. An ensemble of actors performs many of the parables from Matthew in a fun and engaging way that anyone can understand – and the songs are great. Many of them were actually developed from old  hymns, though you might not recognize them with their folk and pop/rock arrangements,” said Melissa Heath-Lee, Theatre Eastern instructor and director of Godspell.    

Godspell is not new to longtime Eastern audiences. It was previously done in 1986, under the direction of Lois Hintze, and is being done now in honor of Eastern’s Centennial year. In 1986 the production was extremely popular with audiences, and according to The Eastern Mountaineer, one critic also said, “Godspell was neither preachy nor overdone. It’s just good fun for all ages and all faiths.”    

“Godspell is that great kind of show that families can watch together and enjoy, whether or not they go to church or consider themselves religious – but I’ve also seen church groups and individuals who were deeply moved by this musical,” said Heath-Lee.    

The cast includes; Hartshorne freshman, Ethan Shaffer as Jesus, and Vian sophomore Robert Miller as John the Baptist and Judas. Miller, a member of Eastern’s Pom and Dance Team, is also the Choreographer for Godspell. The rest of the ensemble, playing various roles, includes: Hartshorne freshman, Joshua Billie; Wilburton freshman, Callie Bush; McAlester sophomore, Kari Herron; Pittsburg sophomore, Rebecca Herron; Smithville sophomore, Boomer Lowrie; Hartshorne sophomore Tiffany Price; Krebs freshman, Corey Seeley; and Red Oak freshman Tia Young. Pittsburg sophomore, Rachel Herron is Stage Managing and Understudying for the show. Marcia Davis of Wilburton was the rehearsal pianist, and Peery Lee, adjunct instructor from Red Oak, is the show’s technical director.    

Dottie Minshall, local music teacher and audience favorite (The King and I, The Glass Menagerie, Quilters), is the Musical Director. “I just love this show, and I’m so excited to be working on a production of it for our audiences here in southeastern Oklahoma. It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Minshall.    

The tickets for Godspell will go on sale each night at the door at 6:30pm, one hour before showtime. Seating is first come, first served, with the doors opening at 7pm. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under, and free to all Eastern students and employees (with ID). Those wishing to bring large groups (10 or more) may reserve a block of tickets in advance by contacting Heath-Lee. Group rates are available. For more information call Melissa Heath-Lee at 918-465-1758.

Caption info:

You are the light of the world! People from various walks of life come together to form a community of believers in Theatre Eastern’s musical Godspell, (with Music and New Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz). The high energy ensemble show is based on the Gospel of Matthew and plays October 9, 10, and 11 at 7:30pm at Mitchell Auditorium on the Wilburton campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College. The family-friendly play stars Ethan Shaffer of Hartshorne as Jesus and Robert Miller of Vian as John the Baptist and Judas. The entire cast is pictured (L to R standing) Miller; Tiffany Price of Hartshorne; Shaffer; Rebecca Herron of Pittsburg; Kari Herron of McAlester (kneeling) Corey Seeley of Krebs; Joshua Billie of Hartshorne; Callie Bush of Wilburton (sitting) Tia Young of Red Oak; and Boomer Lowrie of Smithville. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free to Eastern students and employees. Tickets are sold at the door one hour before performance, but Group tickets are available in advance at a discount. For more information call director, Melissa Lee at 918-465-1758.
Ethan Shaffer (center) of Hartshorne plays Jesus in the Eastern Oklahoma State College Theatre production of Godspell, a musical based on the gospel of St. Matthew. The musical with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz plays in Mitchell Auditorium October 9, 10, and 11, at 7:30pm. The show which is Theatre Eastern’s entry in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, stars (clockwise from bottom left): Kari Herron of McAlester, Rebecca Herron of Pittsburg, Joshua Billie of Hartshorne, Boomer Lowrie of Smithville, Tiffany Price of Hartshorne, Corey Seeley of Krebs, Robert Miller of Vian, Tia Young of Red Oak, and Callie Bush of Wilburton. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free to Eastern students and employees. Tickets are sold at the door one hour before performance, but Group tickets are available in advance at a discount. For more information call director, Melissa Lee at 918-465-1758.

The cast of Eastern Oklahoma State College’s fall theatre production practices a musical number for their upcoming performances October 9, 10, and 11 at 7:30pm in Mitchell Auditorium on the Wilburton campus. The musical, Godspell, is based on the gospel of St. Matthew and is the college’s entry in the American College Theatre Festival. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free to Eastern students and employees. Tickets are sold at the door one hour before performance, but Group tickets are also available in advance at a discount. For more information call director, Melissa Lee at 918-465-1758.