The North Riverside Recreation Community Theater
Presents
Godspell
Directed by Synoma Hays
Limited Engagement Opens September 30, 2005

… Godspell Offers Divine Entertainment…

North Riverside, IL – Prepare Ye for North Riverside Recreation Community Theater’s (NRRCT) production of Godspell. A musical hit with audiences of all ages, Godspell touches people on a personal level, leaving everyone with a positive message to take home.

Conceived and written by John Michael Tebelak with lyrics and music by Stephen Schwartz, Godspell follows the story of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. The show features some of the best-loved songs from modern musicals, including Day By Day, Turn Back O Man, and All for the Best. Godspell originally opened at the Cherry Lane Theatre on May 17, 1971, and opened on Broadway in 1976.

“Godspell is a unique show because this show can be placed anywhere, anytime, and can be cast with different numbers of people,” said NRRCT director Synoma Hays, who chose to set the show in a modern-day diner. “The only thing that should stay the same is the actual scripture passages, but anything else can be changed. This offers a director and cast a lot of creativity.”

NRRCT’s diverse cast of 12 includes veteran players and newcomers. Each cast member is featured in a song, and the entire cast is on stage for the majority of the performance. “A unique challenge to the show is there is not a true storyline,” says Hays. “It is a group of people acting out parables. Our challenge is to create a storyline, showing the growth of the characters through the course of the show and how they were all touched during this show.”

John Siracusa, who plays Jesus, suggests that this show offers more than a religious message. “I think it shows people how easy it is to fall into the ‘same thing every day’ mentality,” he said. “Many people experience times where they feel they are of no use to anyone and are constantly looking for someone or something to believe in. This show brings everyone back to family, growth, and, most importantly, love.”

The cast includes John Siracusa from Franklin Park, Holly Striska from Riverside, Frank Barone from Bellwood, Megan Dieschbourg from Park Ridge, Nell Fisher-Agnew, Bruce Moore, and Cheryl Silver from Oak Park, Bob Foote and Lori Laboy from Chicago, and Scott Kelley and Staci Singer from Schaumburg.

Godspell opens on Friday, September 30th and continues through Sunday, October 9th at the North Riverside Village Commons located at 2401 S. Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois. Evening performances will be Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Ticket prices are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and students with ID, and $6 for children under 12. For tickets, call Jeff at 708-567-3572.

The North Riverside Recreation Community Theater (www.nrrct.com) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1989 with the goal of expanding appreciation of the arts by presenting quality theater at affordable prices. Since its inception, the group has produced 27 shows, ranging from time-honored classics such as Hello, Dolly! and The Music Man, to modern shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Little Shop of Horrors, to six original scripts written by NRRCT members.