Pittsburgh CLO's GODSPELL | Photo: Matt Polk

GODSPELL

Jul 12, 2022 - Jul 17, 2022

Benedum Center

Prepare ye for the timeless tale of friendship, loyalty and love based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew.

GODSPELL was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden), and it took the world by storm. Led by the international hit, "Day by Day," GODSPELL features a parade of beloved songs, including "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord," "Learn Your Lessons Well," "All for the Best," "All Good Gifts," "Turn Back, O Man" and "By My Side."

Boasting a score with chart-topping songs, a book by a visionary playwright (John-Michael Tebelak) and a feature film, GODSPELL is a sensation that continues to touch audiences. A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and hefty doses of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus' life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus' messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life.

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Cast

Roderick Lawrence (Jesus) is an actor, filmmaker and Blacktivist who recently founded Black Man Films. He created, produced and starred in the multi-award-winning short film Silent Partner, which premiered in August at the Oscar-qualifying RSF Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival and is currently on the festival circuit. A 2020 AUDELCO nominee, credits include Simba in Disney’s The Lion King National Tour, Floyd Barton in Seven Guitars (Arena Stage), Ramses in the Broadway-bound The Prince of Egypt, Othello in John Leguizamo’s Othello: The Remix and Guy in ONCE: The Musical. Comedy Central’s Broad City. BM, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. Love to Ma, Pope, Evan, Shelby, Auntie Cindy, Auntie Buffy, Granny, Cousin Gang, Vicky & HCKR. Grateful to God, to this creative team and PCLO for this opportunity. Representation Matters. RIP KJB @rodericklaw

Luke Wygodny (Judas/John the Baptist) PCLO Debut! As an actor he’s toured the country in Broadway musicals Once, American Idiot, and Soul Doctor. He was also seen in Hundred Days with The Bengsons at La Jolla Playhouse & David Cromer’s production of Rent in Chicago. He originated the role of “Jumping Jack the Acrobat” under the circus tent in Jahn Sood’s folk opera The Disappearing Man at St. Louis Rep. As a singer/songwriter he has several records out on all music platforms & plans on touring this summer with his folk band The Heartstrings Project. Check out socials for more info and tour dates: @LukeWygodny
@TheHeartstringsProject. Thank you to Gabe for this incredible opportunity, his manager Dave for always keeping him in the ring & fiancée Marina for all the love, light & music. This show is dedicated to the main hippie power house in his life… Mom.

Robert Ariza He/Him (Robert) Broadway: Spring Awakening (Revival). Off-Broadway: The Visitor (World Premiere), soot and spit (World Premiere), Spamilton. National Tours: Hamilton (Chicago), Les Misérables. Lincoln Center Concerts: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, I Am Harvey Milk. Regional: Music Theatre Wichita, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Hangar Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre Center. Original Cast Recording of Neil Bartram & Brian Hill’s The Theory of Relativity. TV: Girls5Eva (Peacock). Pose (FX). Graduate of LaGuardia Arts HS (the "Fame" school) and The University of Michigan, BFA Musical Theatre. Instagram: @robertariza, Twitter:
@bobertariza, Website: robertariza.com

Jacob Ben-Shmuel (Jacob) is so thankful to be back onstage for the first time since 2020! Jacob is an NYC-based writer, actor and composer who traveled the country as the standby for Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon. You can hear nine of his original musicals on his podcast, One Million Musicals, available wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with him on instagram: @jacob_benshmuel

Ben Cherington he/him (Swing) is honored to be back at Pittsburgh CLO where he has appeared in A Musical Christmas Carol. Other credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (ACT of Connecticut), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Tuesdays with Morrie (Clinton Showboat Theatre), Tiger at the Gates, Into the Woods (Carnegie Mellon School of Drama). BFA Carnegie Mellon University. bencherington.com @bencherington

Susana Cordón (Susana) is so grateful to be returning to Pittsburgh CLO after performing in A Musical Christmas Carol in 2021! Susana is earning her BFA in Musical Theatre at Carnegie Mellon University and recently performed at Forestburgh Playhouse in 2021. Recent credits include You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Sally) and Matilda (Miss Honey). Much love and gratitude!

Seth Eliser (Seth) is excited to be making his PCLO debut! As an actor, Seth was most recently seen as Ernst in the World Premiere of Punk Rock Girl. Seth has toured the country with The Music Man, The Lightning Thief, and internationally with Disney Cruise Line. Regional credits include various productions of ONCE (Bucks County, Weston Playhouse), Buddy Holly Story (NSMT, Mountain Playhouse), also Ring of Fire (Weston Playhouse), Hairspray (NCT). He can be heard playing drums and guitar for MT writers Joe Iconis, Rob Rokicki, and various university/conservatory programs. Seth can also be found in bars, barns, or backyards all over New England playing songs with his incredible fiancee . He would like to thank Allie, and his Louisiana/NJ family for their love and support. @seth_lsr

Zoey Johnson (Swing) is a Kansas City Native excited to be back at PCLO! Recent Credits: Player- 35 MM (CCM), Reza- Once (CCM), and Swing - A Musical Christmas Carol ‘21 here at PCLO! She will begin her Senior Year in CCM Musical Theatre this fall. Love to Ben & The Pimentals and her Family/Friends in KC.

Kiara Lee (Kiara) is a rising junior Musical Theatre Major at Carnegie Mellon University, and she is thrilled to be back performing in more shows with the PCLO this summer. Recent credits include a “Knight” in Camelot at The Muny, “Liesl” in Sound of Music at Virginia Arts Festival, “Onion Girl and Missy Watkins” in A Musical Christmas Carol at PCLO, “Lisa” in Mamma Mia and “Lead Diva” in Priscilla both at Clear Space Theatre. She would like to thank her family and friends, along with her teachers and professors who have helped her grow in theatre throughout the years. Kiara hopes you enjoy the show!

Angel Lin (Angel) is an actor, musician, and anything synonymous to the word geek. Select theatre credits: Once (Bway National Tour; Paramount Theatre), Cinderella (Paper Mill Playhouse), Interstate (NYMF), Riot Antigone (original cast album), workshops/concerts at Public Theater, NYTW, Atlantic Theater, Ars Nova, and more. VO Credits: "Nari" in Guillermo Del Toro's Wizards: TOA (Dreamworks/Netflix), Pinkalicious (PBS), Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon and more. Upcoming: World Premiere of Mr. Holland’s Opus (Ogunquit).
@its_AngelLin // www.angeldoesthings.com

Emily Lynne Miller (Emily) is thrilled to be back in DaBurgh this summer working alongside the best! LONDON WEST END: Savage (Ilse Paulsen, Arts Theatre), An Evening With Webborn & Finn (Featured Soloist, The Other Palace). LONDON OFF-WEST END: She Loves Me (Ilona), Vote For Me (Janet), Ordinary Days (Claire) REGIONAL: Children of Eden (Eve/Mama), Shrek (Fiona), Seussical (Gertrude), Beehive (Wanda). BFA: PSU ❤. Wholehearted gratitude to Mom (biggest fan) and Jon (trophy husband/Adora whisperer/2nd biggest fan).
@emilylynnemiller

Yael 'Yaya' Reich They/Them (YaYa, Dance Captain) is an ever-fluid, multi-hyphenate artist, inter-dimensional dreamer, co-creative inspirator. They aim to find collaboration and creative flow in everything they do. Warrior of truth and embodiment, creator of art spanning mediums and timelines; storyteller, healer, activator, advocator, collaborator, actor, singer, dancer, composer, producer, poet, philosophizer, etc. etc. etc. Current: HADESTOWN BROADWAY. ¥^¥^

Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Jamila) is a Filipinx-American activist, actor, and singer based in New York City. Theatre: Hamilton, Baby, Sweeney Todd, Hair, The Prince of Egypt, Rent, Miss Saigon, The King and I, Spamalot, In The Heights, Macbeth. TV/Film: Law & Order, Fugue, Helpsters. She is also the Co-Founder of the artist collective Justice Through Arts Music and Movement or J.A.M.M. @jamilajoy
@wearejamm

Steven Taylor Jr. (Steven) is ecstatic to share the spirit in Godspell! As a child he read parables as if they were bedtime stories, and he can't wait to share them on the stage! He is a rising senior at Carnegie Mellon University, and he thanks his teachers, and parents for cultivating spirituality through theatre in him.

Creative Team

GABRIEL BARRE (Director) is an internationally acclaimed director who directed Amazing Grace on Broadway. Off Broadway credits include the original productions of The Wild Party (by Andrew Lippa), Summer of ’42, john & jen and Almost, Maine. National Tours include Amazing Grace, Pippin, and Cinderella. Regional theater credits include the original productions of Memphis, as well as Billy Elliot, Sweeney Todd, Finian’s Rainbow and many new musicals at Goodspeed Musicals in CT. Among the many countries he has worked in are: China (recent production Sound of the Silk Road), Mexico (Mexican premiere of Billy Elliot), Japan (Japanese co-ed premiere of The Scarlet Pimpernel), Korea (world premiere of the new musical, Tears of Heaven) Germany, and numerous shows in the Czech Republic (including Carmen, Jesus Christ Superstar and the new Czech musical, Holmes, The Legend). As an actor, he has been nominated for a Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical. As a writer, he is also co-author of Here You Come Again, a new musical featuring songs by Dolly Parton, which he co-wrote with Bruce Vilanch and his wife, Tricia Paoluccio (who is playing Dolly in the show), and which he is directing the world premiere of in September of this year.

JON RUA He/Him (Choreographer) The Co-Creative Director/Choreographer of the sold out 2019 Madison Square Garden NYE PHISH concert, Jon continues to innovate movement on stage & screen. With such work as West Side Story at Milwaukee Rep, The Hombres at Two River Theater, The Muny’s Aida & Jesus Christ Superstar, Isn’t It Romantic, Coheed & Cambria (“Old Flames”), Lawrence ("More") at Terminal 5, Prudential International Conference, Live Lab Theatricals, Travelers Insurance, ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap, NYMF, and Broadway Bares. He is the Co-Choreographer for individual production numbers in Broadway’s The Cher Show, SpongeBob Squarepants, SpongeBob Musical Live on Nick. Jon Rua’s acting career crosses the stage & screen. With four Tony Nominated Broadway shows under his belt, originating such roles as "Charles Lee & Featured Ensemble" in the Tony & Grammy Award Winning hit musical Hamilton, where he also served as the “Hamilton” Standby, “Patchy the Pirate” in Spongebob Squarepants, and ‘Jesus Pena’ in the docu-based musical Hands on a Hardbody. Other theater credits include “Sonny” & Graffiti Pete” in Broadway’s In the Heights, "Beto" in Two River Theater's The Hombres, “Rooster” in The Muny’s Annie; Matthew Lopez’s Somewhere at the Old Globe, nominated for a Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play; Kung Fu at the Signature Theater; Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Second Stage Theater. On the screen, Rua has guest starred on Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Law & Order, and in films such as Hamilton, Fall to Rise, First Reformed, and Isn’t It Romantic.

KEITH LEVENSON (Music Director) is thrilled to be back at the PCLO having conducted Tommy slightly less than a million years ago. In the meantime, he has conducted Broadway and National Touring productions of Annie (with Nell Carter and Sally Struthers), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (with Ann-Margret), Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, Annie Warbucks, Chess, Peter Pan (with Cathy Rigby), She Loves Me and the National Tour of Dreamgirls. He was the Musical Director/Conductor of the first National Tour of The Bridges of Madison County, and Amazing Grace. He is currently Musical Director and Conductor for The Who Hits Back! Tour 2022 with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey. Keith serves as principal conductor and arranger of The British Rock Symphony, and is proud to have worked with Kiss, Yes, Alice Cooper, Paul Rodgers, Billy Preston, Eric Burdon, Darlene Love, Peter Frampton, Thelma Houston, Ann Wilson, Jon Anderson, Alan Parsons and Nigel Kennedy. His classical performances include The New York Philharmonic, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Melbourne Symphony and The Chicago Symphony, The Boston Pops, The Sydney Symphony, and The Chicago Symphony. Keith’s work as a composer/lyricist includes the musicals Starcrossed with Jeanine Tesori, Winchell with Martin Charnin, The City Suite, Off-Broadway’s In Persons with Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, and Broadway’s The Flowering Peach. Keith is a proud member of the AFM, ASCAP, The Dramatist Guild, and MFM (Musicians for Musicians) Thanks always to Gabe, Betsy and Kyra. Keithlevenson.net

BRITTON MAUK (Scenic Designer) has designed for regional theatres Portland Center Stage (Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Rent), Long Wharf Theatre (I am My Own Wife), Cardinal Stage, and Mixed Blood. Closer to home, he has designed for City Theatre, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Front Porch Theatricals, CLO Cabaret, Prime Stage, and Quantum Theatre. Britton is a member of the USITT IDEAS Committee and is the coordinator for the USITT Gateway Program and owner and partner of Uncommon Craftsmen LLC.

PAUL MILLER (Lighting Designer) 6th Season for PCLO. Broadway: Amazing Grace, The Illusionists, Legally Blonde, Freshly Squeezed, Laughing Room Only. More than 30 Off-Broadway shows as well as productions at more than twenty major Regional Theatres, Internationally in London’s West End, Vienna, Milan (Teatro alla Scala), South Africa, China, Iceland, and São Paulo. Paul has been the Lighting director for the New Year’s Eve / Times Square broadcast for 24 years.

VANESSA LEUCK (Costume Designer) Select Off-Broadway: Emojiland (The Duke on 42nd Street); Outer Critics Circle Honoree, Drama Desk Nominee, Midnight at the Never Get (The York); Disenchanted! (Westside Theater); Henry Hewes Award Nominee. Recent Designs: Wonderland (Tuacahn), world premiere of Squirrel Screams (Madison Theater) Upcoming: new adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Other designs include Disney on Ice, and Broadway Backwards. Love to Ethan & AJ. vanessaleuckcostumes.com

JOE SPINOGATTI (Video Designer) Pittsburgh CLO: 2021 Summer Under the Stars - The Wizard of Oz and Pittsburgh CLO'S 75th Anniversary: A Broadway Musical Celebration; Once and Game On. A Few Good Men (Pittsburgh Public Theater) The Rose Elf and Soldier Songs (Pittsburgh Opera); The Hard Problem (Quantum Theatre); The Who’s Tommy (Pittsburgh Playhouse); Holmes and Watson, The Christians (Kinetic Theatre). JoeSpinogatti.com

LISA LEIBERING (Puppet Designer/Craftsperson) is a freelance theatrical designer/builder, an active member of IATSE Local 787 Wardrobe Union, and an Assistant Professor of Costume Design and Technology at Seton Hill University. Her recent credits include designing/building mascots for Allegheny County Parks Services, designing/building puppets for Tuacahn Center for the Arts, and serving as production designer for Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks.

BOBBIE ZLOTNIK (Hair, Wigs and Makeup Designer) a former summer intern (‘08) and children’s chorus member (’98/’99/'01); Bobbie is ecstatic to make his PCLO design debut! Recent credits include Wonderland (Tuacahn), Emojiland (Off-Broadway/Tour - *Drama Desk Nomination*), Fairycakes (Off-Broadway), Getting Curious w/ JVN (Netflix), The Gilded Age (HBO), and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon). www.BobbieZlotnik.com

BRIANNA MERCADO She/Her (Associate Choreographer) is honored to join PLCO this summer. Credits include West Side Story at Milwaukee Rep, The Muny, Phish NYE at MSG, and her own TEDx talk. She is a dance artist, choreographer, educator, speaker, and proud graduate of UC Berkeley, currently working on her Masters in Mind-Body Medicine. She expresses infinite gratitude to her friends, family, and dog for their love and support. bripositive.com @BriPositive

NICHOLAS F. DOYLE (Props Coordinator) is delighted to be back as Props Master for CLO's productions of PUFFS, Kinky Boots, & Godspell. Notable credits include Fulton Theatre’s Treasure Island, Pittsburgh CLO’s Spamilton, Double Threat Trio, The Book of Merman, The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum’s The Music Man. With a Bachelors of Fine Arts: Drawing & Painting degree from Ohio University’s School of Art & Design, Nicholas is an Associate Scenic Charge at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center and is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Reservist for the 911th Airlift Wing. Instagram: @scenick_art

RENÉE RIMLAND (Production Stage Manager) is so happy to be back for another fantastic summer at Pittsburgh CLO! Broadway: Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret, Fosse, Jekyll & Hyde, Steel Pier. National Tours: 42nd Street, Beauty…, Les Misérables, Joseph ... Dreamcoat, The Phantom of the Opera, Savion! Footnotes, Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, Evita, Bye Bye Birdie. PSM for over 11 seasons at PCLO. For JRR, always! Proud AEA member.

HEATHER ANKLEY (Assistant Stage Manager) has been in the theater arts in Pittsburgh for over 20 years having the opportunity to work in a variety of entertainment mediums including Opera, Dance and Rock n’ Roll. Credits include: CLO’s 75th Anniversary Summer Season, Titanic, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, In The Heights, Brigadoon, Disney’s Newsies, Choir Boy, Scottsboro Boys, Wig Out!, Merchant of Venice, The Double-Threat Trio (World Premiere), Peter Pan, Once, Falstaff, Dead Man Walking, and Magic Flute.

KELLY HAYWOOD (Assistant Stage Manager) Pittsburgh CLO: Wizard of Oz, 75th Concert Celebration, In the Heights, Peter Pan, Mamma Mia, Million Dollar Quartet, Aida, Damn Yankees, South Pacific, Shrek, Monty Pythons Spamalot, A Musical Christmas Carol and 42ndStreet. Pittsburgh Public Theater: Slow Food, Barefoot in the Park, Little Shop of Horrors, Born Yesterday, Noises Off and True West Kelly has also done several productions with the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet.

JZ CASTING - Geoff Josselson, CSA and Katja Zarolinski, CSA are New York-based casting directors, handling productions for theatre, film and television. Recent work includes productions for Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Baltimore Center Stage, Cape Playhouse, Denver Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Irish Repertory Theatre, Merrimack Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Round House Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Theaterworks Hartford, Weston Playhouse. For more information, please visit www.jz-casting.com

JOHN-MICHAEL TEBELAK (Book, Original Director) originally wrote Godspell as his Masters Thesis project at Carnegie-Mellon in 1971. Subsequently, he directed productions of Godspell at La MaMa Theatre, the Cherry Lane Theatre, the Promenade Theatre, and on Broadway. He received the 1971 Drama Desk award for Most Promising Director. In 1972, Mr. Tebelak directed the play, Elizabeth I on Broadway, and off-Broadway staged The Glorious One in 1975 and Ka-Boom in 1980. He is also co-writer of the 1973 film of Godspell with David Greene. He was dramaturg for the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York and staged liturgical drama there, and the church's theatre bears his name. John-Michael Tebelak died April 2, 1985 of a heart attack in New York City.

STEPHEN SCHWARTZ (Music and New Lyrics) wrote the music and lyrics for the current Broadway hit WICKED, and has also contributed music and/or lyrics to GODSPELL, PIPPIN, THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER’S WIFE, WORKING (which he also adapted and directed), RAGS, and CHILDREN OF EDEN. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein’s MASS and wrote the title song for the play and movie BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE. For children, he has written songs for two musicals, CAPTAIN LOUIE and MY SON PINOCCHIO. He has also worked in film, collaborating with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney’s ENCHANTED as well as the animated features POCAHONTAS and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and writing the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. His first opera, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, was produced at Opera Santa Barbara and New York City Opera. A book about his career, “Defying Gravity,” has been released by Applause Books. Mr. Schwartz has been inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Awards include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a tiny handful of tennis trophies.