Music Makers: “Operatizers,” female composers and “Godspell,”
Fall under the spell of “Godspell” this weekend courtesy of Silvermoon Children’s Theatre.
Silvermoon’s young players present the Stephen Schwartz-composed musical at 7:30 p.m. tonight, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday at the Silvermoon. It’s a beloved musical about parables from the Bible.
“This play was originally written in the ’70s. We are doing the 2012 revival version from Broadway. The orchestrations are updated and the stories are updated a little bit. But the fun about this show is the cast really got to do some brainstorming about the storytelling,” said Silvermoon’s Susannah Morriss Linnett, noting each “Godspell” is a bit different because of actor input.
The actors put their own touch to these stories from the Gospel of Matthew. “It’s a really good, solid script, and has been thrilling crowds since the ’70s,” Linnett said. What makes it so popular?
“It’s a story that a lot of people know and it makes it more real to them,” Linnett said. It’s a way to see stories from the Bible in a manner that’s more real. “The way that Jesus related to people. And it’s not just for people of faith,” she said about lessons where many others also find a connection.
“They found a common thread in the show that’s universal,” Linnett said about Broadway crowds of different faiths.
As well, as director she has teen performers tackling a show written for adults. They’re doing the full show, too, with an intermission. Linnett recommends the musical for ages 6 and up.
“They are blowing it out of the water. These harmonies are gorgeous and difficult,” Linnett said, explaining that
“It’s a story that a lot of people know and it makes it more real to them.”
—Susannah Morriss Linnett
her young actors have really gelled as a family. Many in this cast have worked together on the Silvermoon stage before but there are newcomers, too.
“They work really well together,” the director said, describing it as a show where the actors have to rely on each other to make the storytelling happen. In all, she has 14 actors on stage. The age range is 12 to 17 years old.
Silvermoon typically performs junior versions of shows, but this full-length version runs about two hours.
When it comes to the set and style of the show, Silvermoon chose to make this production a bit more urban, Linnett said. They’re sporting tie-dye T-shirts to promote the show, but the set has fences up, curtains taken down. “Just the feeling of we could be anywhere, we could do this anywhere,” the director said.
The play explores themes like working together—“together for a common goal, loving each other, no judging,” Linnett said. They’re universal themes that fit well with Silvermoon’s mission of “life training in disguise.”
“This play really works with our mission, as well, that you need to be watching, watching for things in your life that you can learn from,” Linnett said. Her actors are at the age where they can understand this, put it into action and help others.
“For this play we’re also partnering with Mission Texarkana, which was formerly the Friendship Center, and we’re asking that people who come to the show bring donations for them, socks and ponchos and things that they need,” Linnett said. Monetary donations are welcome, too.
This past week’s dress rehearsal also welcomed those who are served by Mission Texarkana, which seeks to help people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
“Godspell” is part of a 2018 season for Silvermoon that includes “The Wizard of Oz” in April and “Annie” in November. The 2018 lineup marks the group’s fifth season.
(Tickets: $10. Get tickets online at SilvermoonKids. com. Silvermoon is located at 217 W. Broad St. in downtown Texarkana. More info: 903278-9077.)