Editing Godspell (section)

{{Short description|Musical}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{about|the musical|the musical's album|Godspell (1971 Off-Broadway Cast){{!}}''Godspell'' (1971 Off-Broadway Cast)|the movie and its soundtrack|Godspell (film){{!}}''Godspell'' (film)}}
{{Infobox musical
|name        = Godspell
|image       = Godspell.jpg
|caption     = Original cast recording
|music       = [[Stephen Schwartz]]
|lyrics      = Stephen Schwartz
|book        = [[John-Michael Tebelak]]
|basis       = [[Gospel of Matthew]] (primarily)
|productions = {{ubli | '''1971''': {{hlist|[[La MaMa]] & Off-Broadway | Melbourne (Playbox Theatre) | London (The Roundhouse)}}|'''1972''': Toronto (Royal Alexandra Theatre & Bayview Playhouse)  | '''1976''': Broadway (Broadhurst Theatre) |'''1981''': La MaMa | '''1988''': Off-Broadway (Lamb's Theatre) | '''2000''': Off-Broadway (York Theatre) | '''2001''': US tour | '''2007''': UK tour | '''2011''': Broadway (Circle in the Square Theatre) | '''2012''': US tour|'''2022''': Spain (Teatro del Soho) [[#Prod Hx|''more'']] }}<!-- Professional productions only please-->
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
|awards      = 
}}
'''''Godspell''''' is a [[musical theatre|musical]] in two acts with music and lyrics by [[Stephen Schwartz]] and a [[Book (musical theatre)|book]] by [[John-Michael Tebelak]].<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofmu00ganz_1/page/780/mode/2up?q=Godspell|title=The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre |edition=Second |volume=II|first=Kurt|last= Gänzl|author-link=Kurt Gänzl|chapter=''Godspell''|publisher=[[Schirmer Books]]|year=2001|pages=780–782|isbn=978-0-02-865573-4 }}</ref> The show is structured as a series of [[parable]]s, primarily based on the [[Gospel of Matthew]], interspersed with music mostly set to lyrics from traditional [[hymn]]s, with the [[passion of Christ]] appearing briefly near the end.

''Godspell'' began as 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, Manhattan|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 play|one-act]] version of the musical designed for performers aged 18 and under also exists, titled ''Godspell Junior''.<ref name="SSGodspellJr">{{cite web|url=http://www.stephenschwartz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/godspell-jr1.pdf|title=''Godspell Jr''.|website=Stephen Schwartz|access-date=August 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812212158/http://www.stephenschwartz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/godspell-jr1.pdf|archive-date=August 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Several [[cast album]]s have been released over the years. "[[Day by Day (Godspell song)|Day by Day]]", from the original cast album, reached #13 on the pop singles chart [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the summer of 1972 and #7 in Canada's [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']] 100 Singles chart.<ref>Spreadsheet of [[Pop 100]] charts through 2013, available for download as [[RAR (file format)|RAR]] from [http://bullfrogspond.com/ Bullfrogs Pond]</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+17-No.+26-August+12%2C+1972.pdf| title=RPM 100 Singles |magazine=RPM Magazine |date=August 12, 1972 |page=15 |volume=17 |number=26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619094106/http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+17-No.+26-August+12%2C+1972.pdf |archive-date=19 June 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>