Land O’Frost KidStage presents Godspell, Jr.
Summer Musical Theater Part of Children’s Theater Workshop
Center on the Square and their partner in the arts Land O’Frost announce the musical theater production Godspell, Jr. as part of the KidStage summer children’s theater workshop. The production is the culmination of a four-week long children’s theater workshop and will be presented Thursday through Saturday, June 24-26, at 7 pm each evening. Primary sponsor of the program is Land O’Frost and associate sponsors are Beth Patterson Pediatric Dentistry, Searcy Children’s Clinic, and Families, Inc.
Godspell, Jr. boasts a string of recognizable songs, led by the international hit, "Day By Day." Based on the Gospel of St. Matthew, Godspell, Jr. is a celebration of the life and teachings of Christ. It explores the issues of faith, character, communication, and tolerance often through familiar parables. The original Broadway show was conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak with music and new lyrics written by Stephen Schwartz. The music of the junior version was adapted by John Higgins.
Godspell, Jr. is upbeat in tone and has been an excellent workshop piece for the 26 children who have met weekdays since June 1 to rehearse it. The workshop has been taught and the show directed by Heather Stringfellow and Hali Free, both experienced in the field of children’s theater. In addition to the morning performance class of second through twelfth-graders who make up the cast of the show, an afternoon technical theater class of the older students was responsible for the backstage aspects of the show. “This summer's KidStage participants were given a real hands-on learning experience. The set design, makeup design, and all prop and costume creation was handled not by theater professionals, but by the students themselves. It's been a real collaborative effort,” says director Heather Stringfellow. “We've learned what it means to take a lot of good ideas and work together to create a unified concept for the stage.”
This unified concept sets Godspell, Jr. in the traditional 'flower child' milieu, with sets and costumes that feature such elements as tie-dye, peace signs, and face paint. Students have described the overall effect as “so much fun,” which is sure to result in a fun time for the audience as well.
“I've also been very fortunate to be given a cast with a great amount of talent,” Stringfellow continued. “All I had to do was give music to our soloists and told them to be ready to come back and put it on stage. And they've done it. These students are all gladly giving their free time this summer to study lines and lyrics. You can't ask for more than that as a director.”
Tickets for the show are $8 in advance and $10 at the door and are available at the Tangerine Turtle, Quattlebaum Music, and by calling 501-368-0111. Performing Arts Center on the Square is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the expansion and appreciation of the performing arts in the region. Contributions are welcome and are tax-deductible. Center on the Square is supported in part by the Arkansas Arts Council, a division of the Arkansas Department of Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Center on the Square is handicapped accessible for all performances and interpretation for the deaf is available at the Thursday evening performance of the show by request.
