West End favourites Ruthie Henshall, Ria Jones and Jenna Russell will be among the star names joining an online charity concert marking the 50th anniversary of Godspell next month.
Presented by Thomas Hopkins and Michael Quinn for Ginger Quiff Media in association with Hope Mill Theatre, the Godspell 5oth Anniversary Concert will stream worldwide on 27, 28 and 29 August 2020.
Directed by award-winning Michael Strassen, individual cast members’ performances will be filmed in their own homes and edited together with animation to form a unique concert version of the show. Musical direction is by George Carter with sound design by Cyrus Brandon and video design and editing by Ben Hewis,
Henshall (Chicago, Billy Elliott) and Darren Day (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) who featured on the well-received 1993 studio recording of the show will reprise their roles with Jones (Sunset Boulevard, High Society), Russell (Fun Home, The Bridges of Madison County) and newcomer Sam Tutty (Dear Evan Hanson) joining the line-up.
The cast will also include: Jodie Steele (Six, Heathers), Danyl Johnson (2009 X Factor finalist), Jenny Fitzpatrick (Tina, The Musical, Our House), Natalie Green (The Prince of Egypt; Hair), John Barr (The Story of Bart, Tommy), Sally Ann Triplett (Mamma Mia!, Viva Forever), Gerard McCarthy (Tina, The Musical, Beautiful Thing), Alison Jiear (Jerry Springer: The Opera), Shekinah McFarlane (Six, Hair), Lucy Williamson (The Fix, Judy & Liza), Ronald Brian (Beautiful, The Carol King Musical, Newsies) and Jerome Bell (Hairspray). They will be supported by an ensemble from Italia Conti.
Available for three days only, the concert will raise money for three charitable organisations: Hope Mill Theatre (A Factory of Creativity CIO), Acting for Others and the National AIDS Trust. Tickets cost £15 and are available at www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk.
Announcing the concert, Hope Mill’s artistic director Joseph Houston said: “We are so honoured to be collaborating on this online concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the musical Godspell and to be using this opportunity to support not only our own venue, but the incredible work that Acting for Others and the National AIDS Trust are doing during this time.
“The line-up of talent we have assembled is incredible and I know that this is going to be an online event not to be missed. We are also thrilled to be once again presenting a Stephen Schwartz musical and to share the musical genius of one of the world’s best musical theatre composers.”
Sharon Coleman, director of fundraising at National AIDS Trust, added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be one of the charities benefiting from the online concert marking Godspell’s 50th anniversary. It promises to be an exciting show, full of our favourite performers, so we hope lots of people buy a ticket and raise money to support our vital work tackling HIV stigma and discrimination.”
One of the most distinctive musicals of the 1970s, and based on the parables of Jesus recounted in the Gospels of St Matthew and St Luke, Godspell was written by multi-award winning composer Stephen Schwartz. With a glittering career that spans four decades and includes hit shows Wicked and The Prince of Egypt, Schwartz’s connection with Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre began with the venue’s successful production of Pippin in 2017.
Angela Thomas
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