Published September 14. 2026 03:16AM<\/p>\n
\u201cGodspell\u201d is a musical based on The Bible\u2019s New Testament \u201cGospel of Matthew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since it opened Off-Broadway in 1971, it has become one of the most popular musicals performed by community groups.<\/p>\n
It has spawned two films: \u201cGodspell\u201d in 1973, and \u201cYou Had to Be There,\u201d a documentary about the 1972 Toronto production that featured four future members of SCTV, as well as future \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d\u2019s Gilda Radner, and Paul Shaffer as musical director.<\/p>\n
The \u201cGodspell\u201d production by MunOpCo Music Theatre, through Sept. 20, Between the Lines Studio Theatre, Allentown, continues the tradition with a fast-paced, intimate show performed without microphones. The sold-out Sept. 11 opening night performance was seen for this review.<\/p>\n
Generated in the early 1970s, \u201cGodspell\u201d has a hippie, Jesus Movement vibe. The players are dressed in clothes that are as brightly colored as possible, with Jesus (Ryan Zickafoose) wearing a Superman T-shirt.<\/p>\n
The musical was controversial when it first opened, but it is unlikely to offend any but the most rigid believers in this century.<\/p>\n
As usual for \u201cGodspell,\u201d there is no set. Directors and performers usually design their own props and various ways to bring in modern references.<\/p>\n
For example, in the MunOpCo production, John the Baptist (Colin Sergent, who also plays Judas), makes his entrance with a shopping cart.<\/p>\n
During one song, the cast sings in hip-hop style, with Lisandra Espiritusanto Marte providing vocal beats.<\/p>\n
Just as there is no set, there is also not really much of a plot to \u201cGodspell.\u201d Mostly, the cast acts out Jesus\u2019 parables, and alternates them with songs. The simplicity offers a chance to be creative with the stories, making them relevant to today\u2019s world in the retelling.<\/p>\n
The acting is very good, with Zickafoose standing out for his earnestness as he delivers his message. But the best part is the singing, in solos and group.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Marsh-Gilkeson and Moriah Faith produce soaring vocals.<\/p>\n
The cast members include Lori Sivick, Tracy Weaver, Deb Jacoby and Matt Redline<\/p>\n
This is the final stage show that Rody Gilkeson will direct. His first time directing for The Pennsylvania Playhouse was for \u201cGodspell\u201d in 1993. It\u2019s a fine way to say farewell.<\/p>\n
\u201cGodspell,\u201d 7 p.m. Sept. 11, 12, 18, 19; 2 p.m. Sept. 13, 20; MunOpCo Music Theatre, Between the Lines Studio Theatre, 725 N. 15th St., Allentown. 610-437-2441, https:\/\/our.show\/4b8ywjth6s<\/p>\n
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO\u201cGodspell,\u201d MunOpCo, Between the Lines Studio Theatre, Allentown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Published September 14. 2026 03:16AM \u201cGodspell\u201d is a musical based on The Bible\u2019s New Testament \u201cGospel of Matthew.\u201d…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285590,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[119,121,120],"class_list":["post-285589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-allentown","tag-allentown","tag-allentown-headlines","tag-allentown-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=285589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=285589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}