GODSPELL

Charleston Light Opera Guild, the Official Musical Theatre of West Virginia, will present Godspell on July 31, August 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, 2026. Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winning composer and lyricist Stephen Swartz (Wicked, Pippin) and it took the world by storm. Led by the international hit, Day by Day, Godspell features beloved songs that include All Good Gifts, Turn Back, O Man, By My Side, Learn Your Lessons Well, Beautiful City, and Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord. Godspell is credited as the first of over 50 years of continual summer young adult and youth filled musical theatre by CLOG and was previously produced in 1975, 1994 and 2014. Godspell replaces the previously announced Once Upon A One More Time.

Godspell was conceived and originally directed by John Michael Tebelak. A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide range of storytelling techniques that include clowning, pantomime, charades and vaudeville. Godspell offers a unique reflection on the life of Jesus Christ with a message of kindness, tolerance and love. This production will be the revised 2012 version that incorporates the changes and updated references used in the 2011-2012 Broadway production.

AUDITIONS

FRIDAY MAY 29th at 7:00 PM OR SATURDAY MAY 30th at 4:00 PM

Auditions at Guild Theatre

Prepare a musical selection; dress to dance, move and improvise; accompanist provided

FIRST REHEARSAL – SUNDAY MAY 31st at 7:00 PM

DIRECTION

Director/Choreographer

Nina Denton Pasinetti

Musical Director

Christa Navy

Accompianst

John Patrick

Dance Assistant

Shakira Martin

Technical Director

Thomas P. Pasinetti

Board President

Tim Whitener

CHARACTERS

(ages 16-30s, 10-12 characters)

The musical was originally conceived for an ensemble cast of ten (5 men and 5 women), however the Guild’s 2013 production had an expanded cast of twelve (6 men and 6 women). Each character must sing, stand out as an individual and perform as an ensemble. Actors must be able to move well and improvise. All are involved in numerous songs and dance-movement stagings.

JESUS – High energy, charismatic leading character, tenor (Vocal range top G#4, bottom Db3)

JOHN THE BAPTIST/JUDAS – Must show attributes of both Biblical figures, charismatic, with an overt revolutionary way; masculine with a good sense of physical comedy (Vocal range top E4, bottom C3)

MALE – Comedian, class clown type, able to do different voices and imitations; sings Light of the World (Tenor/Baritone)

MALE – Impish and playful; in the original played recorder & guitar; sings We Beseech Thee (Tenor/ Baritone)

MALE – Must possess an innocence about him; not the brightest of the group; sings All Good Gifts (Strong Tenor)

FEMALE – Open and sweet; may be the youngest of the group; a bit of a tomboy; sings Day by Day

FEMALE – A show-off; very confident; the first one to volunteer; sings Bless the Lord (Mezzo)

FEMALE – Shy with an ‘earth mother’ warmth; sometimes a little slow to get things; begins By My Side

FEMALE – Sassy and slightly cynical; performs Turn Back O Man in the manner of Mae West (Alto)

FEMALE – Class clown type; goofy and a cut-up; may play stringed instruments; sings Learn Your Lessons Well

Report abuse