[astagedact109]

A local regional theatre held auditions for Godspell. i never performed or auditioned for them before, but I did audition and I got hte role of Jeffrey. I was about sixteen, and the other actors ranged from 19 - 40, and i was the youngest.

So anyways, when we were doing the songs, the director said that hte guy who was playing Lamar was going to be doing We Beseech Thee also, so they gave him my song. I asked why, and he said because he was a active actor in the theatre. I was so pissed off as I was the only actor who they stole a song from, and I never witnessed this in any other theatre.

Is this usual for Godspell?

[musicalmousie]

It isn't usual for Godspell in particular, but favoritism is usual for theatre in general. The only advice I can give is to just keep at it. =D

[MHoward]

As a second time director of Godspell, I find it necessary to cast the songs, not the characters. In fact, I form a creative team that revamps the entire script. We toss out all preconceived notions of the lines of particular cahracters, e.g Lamar or Jeffery.

I look at each parable, the revised jokes and figure out who is going to best execute my vision for the scene. I need to make sure the actor can show the image or feelign that I am looking for. It needs to translate with the audience. It must be organic, fluid, not forced.

In fact, I do not tell the cast which songs each will sing until we have met a few times. I find it important to make sure the person is right for the song.

Remember, in Godspell, the actors are not asked to act per se. They are asked to be themselves while playing character roles in each skit or parable.

As for your situation, it sucks. It is very unkool. If they were to revamp the song based on other issues, that's one thing. But the reason given is very unprofessional. Godspell is about building a community. It sounds like your director needs to take Godspell 101. How can you build a community when you are playing head games with your cast?

I would not worry too much about it. Chalk it up that you have found a director that is being an ass. By all means, show the director that you have alot to give to the show, regardless of his/her pettiness.

Good luck with it. Godspell should be about changing lives for the better. Building a cimmunity and growing as a theater.

Michael

[Hortonhearsawho]

when I directed the show a few years ago, it was very important to me to cast actors based on the music, I cast each actor with one song ( jesus with a few more obviously).
Godspell is intended for the director to make changes , updates and switches,
do I think you got ripped off a bit ? yeah but youre young, you should feel proud to know the director thought you could hold your own against an older cast.
directors quite often will cast with a favorite because they know their musical ability, it is a safeguard, you just have to let this director get to know you. next time you will be the vetren

[scottorr]

You think that's a slap in the face?

When I did a production of Godspell, I was the ONLY cast member who didn't at some point sing a solo.

And we re-assigned lines. I was slapped 3 times, and beaten up twice in that show. We did it many, many times.

30 slapp and 20 beatings later...[/u]

[what_the_heck013]

I think that the songs are very important to each character in their journey in the show. Every character has a song in the show (some more than others) and their song is really their moment where they commit to Jesus. One perfect example is "Day by Day". "We Beseech Thee" is equally important to your character in particular and in my opinion, changes the show entirely. You wouldn't have Mrs. Shinn sing "'Til There Was You" in The Music Man or have Madame Morrible sing "Defying Gravity" in Wicked.

[metaphor17]

[MHoward]

[MHoward]