[safetyorange]

Hi,

I'm directing a production of Godspell this winter (I'm sure I'll be full of questions over the next few months). I've done the show as an actor before, but now I'm taking it on as a director (and it's the first show i've ever directed )

Anyhoo... I KNOW I'm going to have more females audition than males. Out of the male roles, (Jeffrey, Lamar, Herb) which could be filled by female actors? Has anyone done it with their productions? How did it work, vocally?

TIA

[Buff Daddy]

The production I was in had the same issue. The only males were Jesus, John/Judas and Herb (me!). The rest of the roles were played by females.

We also had an ensemble (about 5 people) which included another 2 guys. Fortunately all the guys were very strong singers so covering all the parts was not a problem.

Buff

[DramaRobin2002]

I'd say the only one that really should be played by a guy is Herb. You already have the female "class clown" position filled by Gilmer and Herb makes some suggestive comments about Sonia. But if you decide to tweak those things, then any of the characters could be played by women. We had a female Jeffrey in the production I was recently in and it worked well. I've found that 'We Beseech Thee' can be pretty difficult for a female though, so she'd really have to be a strong singer for that.

[Beagle On Stage]

I think all of the characters can be either/or, except for Jesus, Judas and Peggy. Jesus and Judas because, I don't care how progressive it is or how many times it's been done successfully, I think it comes across as awkward and tacky to have them be women. And Peggy because she has the adulteress scene...it's a historical event and a religious image that would have the same results for me as the female Jesus/Judas if you were to try switching it up. Other than that, they're all pretty versatile. I was personally born to do the Joanne role.

On another note, women could easily sing a lot of the tenor parts in group numbers if it's an issue of having the voices to fill the cast. Sonia has a low D anyway, so there's at least one who should be able to cover if you need it.

[Salome]

Ive seen productions with a female Jesus..not for lack of male actors but for concept reasons.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

I've never seen a male Turn Back O Man yet, but i think it could work.

And as far as Peggy needing to be the female, but I've seen it where another girl is the adulterer, and Peggy is the harmony line on the song.

[jackissensational]

I'm usually strongly against switching the gender of a role, but this show is an exception.
The only ones I can see being played by females are Jeffery and Lamar. I'm pretty sure you'd find some women who could handle the music.

[Brother Marvin Hinten, S.]

Let's ask Tom. After all, didn't some guys cover female parts in the show, Tom?

[songbird8710]

[Beagle On Stage]

I'm sure you didn't intend it to, but that really came across as confrontational and overly defensive. I am not ignorant and uneducated on the subject. I have seen it done, and did not care for it. Both times, it has come across as awkward and tacky, which are the words I used to describe my feelings on it. That has been my experience with the practice. It isn't as though I'm saying Danielle is doing poorly in your production. It sounds like she's doing great! I'm glad it's working with your particular cast. But I think that for you to accuse me of ignorance on a subject I am informed on, just because your case differs from cases I've experienced, is in itself quite ignorant.

Maybe something a little more like, "Okay, I can see how it might not always be the best way to go, but it can work! Right now, I'm in a production with a woman cast in the Jesus role, and she's really doing an excellent job. She has a powerhouse voice and she can really move us emotionally, especially in the Crucifixion scene." You can offer an alternate experience and the viewpoint that comes from it without mischaracterizing my qualifications to form an educated opinion on it.

[SallyE]

hi,

I just finished directing Godspell -- an amazing, soul-nourishing experience. We had a woman do the "Jeffrey" part, and it worked beautifully. I would have had great difficulty with a woman as either Jesus or Judas. I think our audience would have, too. While God is neither/both male and female, Jesus was male. So was Judas. Because the other characters are not historical disciples, I don't think it matters. But the dynamic between Jesus and Judas is better served, I believe, by having them both be men. As far as other choices, I would miss the fun flirtation between "Herb" and "Sonia" if their genders were different. While "Peggy" could be a man, the transition from woman caught in adultery into By My Side is very powerful. I would hate to lose that by having "Peggy" be a man. I love my cast. Even though we closed a month ago, we're all meeting for dinner tomorrow night. Godspell creates a community. You will be changed.

[Beagle On Stage]

That's the magic of Godspell. I love seeing people around here say how their cast feels like a family even though the production was ages ago. There is something so positive and affirming about the show having the same effect on every cast.

[Baker]

Jesus, Judas, and Sonia should remain their respective genders. With a few reassignments of the lines in the cases of Herb and Peggy, the others could pretty much be played by either gender. In my opinion.

[Beagle On Stage]

You're probably right about Sonia. It would take a VERY special person to be able to play the role as a man and not have it turn into Angel from Rent.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Freddie Mercury. That's who.

[Beagle On Stage]

No, he would fail, too.

I meant myself, but I was too classy to say it on my own behalf.

[Baker]

I forgot to mention that when I played Judas, we had a girl play Lamar. We called her Lana. It works out fine, the only thing that's off is the balance of guys to girls.

[what_the_heck013]

When I directed Godspell, I decided that I would completely throw out the genders of all the characters and just cast whoever was perfect for each role and fit best in the group dynamic.