Love, compassion, kindness: After 50 years, ‘Godspell’ messages still resonate

The musical “Godspell” premiered off-Broadway 54 years ago. Consisting of parables from the Gospel according to Matthew, the pop-rock infused, hippie-era tuner is quaint by today's standards. But its messages of love, compassion, empathy, kindness and respect continue to resonate.

More quietly, perhaps, but they resonate nevertheless say theater artists involved with Music Theater Works' revival of the show by composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz and writer John-Michael Tebelak. Produced in partnership with Curt's Cafe, the production runs through Nov. 16 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

“This story is a reminder of what it means to be a community and how we accept others who are different from ourselves,” said cast member Kaitlin Feely.

With everything going on in the world, “community is all we can really rely on,” she added.

The Buffalo Grove actress found a community with her Music Theater Works colleagues, who she describes as one of “the most wonderful groups of people I've had the pleasure of working with.”

With the exception of the final scenes chronicling the Passion of Christ, “Godspell” unfolds not as a continuous narrative but as a series of moral and spiritual lessons, which some suggest are sorely needed.

To tell the story of strangers building a community, director Matthew Silar focused on finding a rhythm with the actors and building a community of artists. The result was five beautiful weeks of life imitating art said Silar, who discovered Schwartz's score as a 9-year-old theater kid. For six months, it became his musical obsession.

More than two decades later, the 32-year-old is still moved by the show, which produced a hit single “Day by Day” that peaked at 13 on 1972's Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“The music lives in a special part of my heart I haven't touched in a while,” he said of the production, which is set in a cafe — a “third place” where disparate people gather.

The production includes moments the South Elgin resident finds deeply personal. He hopes audience members feel the same.

Costume designer Kristen Brinati, who is marking her 19th consecutive production with Music Theater Works, says the revival comes at the right time.

“It teaches so many relevant lessons for people to put into practice right now,” said the Des Plaines resident. “A lot of the reviews say it's a risky show to do in this climate, but they love that we did it.”

Brinati describes a number where one of the characters performs in drag with the full support from Jesus, who's played by Eldon Warner-Soriano.

That expression of acceptance, of “loving every piece” of an individual, “is the prefect message for today,” Brinati said.

As Silar explains in his director's note, the characters' carefully crafted worldviews shatter when they “receive an invitation to a life of radical love” that requires them to lean into discomfort, accept criticism and be willing to change their minds.

No easy task, that.

As Feely points out, maintaining patience and grace — virtues the musical celebrates — can be challenging at a time when violence, hate and anger seem to consume so many.

“We are in desperate need of unity,” she said. “This show is an example of what community and unity looks like.”

“There's so much more that unites us than divides us,” she said.

“Godspell”

When: 2 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 16

Where: North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. (847) 673-6300 or musictheaterworks.com

Tickets: $19.50-$106