April 30, 2024: Godspell (1971) and Bernstein's Mass (1971)

Class Preparation

Recommended Reading: 

• Broadway: The American Musical: There is no explicit chapter on Stephen Schwartz's early works, but for information about the changes happening on Broadway with the arrival of the "rock musical," you could read "'The Age of Aquarius': Hair and the Rock Musical" (pp. 304-309)
• Carol de Giere's Defying Gravity (2nd edition, 2018): Chapters 1-3 deal with Schwartz's childhood and education. Chapters 4-6 deal more with Godspell and Mass. If you read any of it, focus on pages 53-80.
• If you have access to a Christian Bible, sample some of "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" (the first book of the New Testament). This document is the source of Godspell's "libretto." In particular, look for the Sermon on the Mount and the various parables.
• Class 1 Selected Lyrics (Godspell plus one song from Mass​)
• ​Handout of Key Class 1 slides

Links & Playlists

 Playlists:

• Godspell (Original 1971 Off-Broadway Cast Recording)
• Godspell (2011 Broadway Revival Cast Recording)
• Godspell Film Clips (14 musical numbers from the 1973 film, in the order they appear on the DVD)
• Class 1 Videos (plus a few extra goodies)