Okay, maybe not ALL Christian rock is bad.

I grew up Catholic, but like…liberal, Jesuit Catholic with a politically active Democrat dad and a witchy mom. The first time I saw this was in a CDC class she was teaching when I was around ten.

She, in turn, was exposed to the musical by her big sister, my Aunt Lisa, who performed it at a community theater and would come home and play it for my mom on a piano in their small town Texas home.

Lisa passed away last year and this movie still reminds me of conversations we had while she was alive as well as the time spent going through photos and newspaper clippings of her performances and writing with my mom and grandmother right after she died.

I haven’t really believed in God for a long time, but I definitely believe the spiritual powers of a Stephen Schwartz score, Aunt Lisa’s vast creative gifts and my mom’s ability to read auras.

Okay, maybe not ALL Christian rock is bad.

I grew up Catholic, but like…liberal, Jesuit Catholic with a politically active Democrat dad and a witchy mom. The first time I saw this was in a CDC class she was teaching when I was around ten.

She, in turn, was exposed to the musical by her big sister, my Aunt Lisa, who performed it at a community theater and would come home and play it for my mom on a piano in their small town Texas home.

Lisa passed away last year and this movie still reminds me of conversations we had while she was alive as well as the time spent going through photos and newspaper clippings of her performances and writing with my mom and grandmother right after she died.

I haven’t really believed in God for a long time, but I definitely believe the spiritual powers of a Stephen Schwartz score, Aunt Lisa’s vast creative gifts and my mom’s ability to read auras.

Alas alas for you lawyers and pharisees

Alas alas for you lawyers and pharisees

i'd like whatever the writers were on writing this

i'd like whatever the writers were on writing this

godspell asks the age old question, what if a bunch of youth pastors came together to make 70's devised theater bullshit? godspell is a fascinating look at the gospel of matthew and all of its teachings through these short scenes depicting each story. when watching it, its so obviously a piece of theater beyond anything else. the structure and all of the design elements lend themself to stage way more than screen. that being said, i really enjoyed that they used the medium of film to explore new york as the setting to the fullest extent, including the most content of the twin towers you've ever seen in one movie. i don't think you understand me fully: victor garbor and his cast of christian clowns sing and dance on top of the twin towers.

the actual gospel that is being explored is interesting enough. it chooses to follow numerous vignettes, depicted by the cast, as opposed to a more traditional story (i.e. jesus christ superstar following the passion of christ). because of this i don't think i was fully engaged with it. that being said, the music in this is incredible! i've said it before and i'll say it again: stephen schwartz can do whatever he wants forever! highlights for me include "turn back o man," "bless the lord," and "by my side." i love that everyone kind of has that 70's tone to their voice and that a lot of the songs were written for alto women.

godspell asks the age old question, what if a bunch of youth pastors came together to make 70's devised theater bullshit? godspell is a fascinating look at the gospel of matthew and all of its teachings through these short scenes depicting each story. when watching it, its so obviously a piece of theater beyond anything else. the structure and all of the design elements lend themself to stage way more than screen. that being said, i really enjoyed that they used the medium of film to explore new york as the setting to the fullest extent, including the most content of the twin towers you've ever seen in one movie. i don't think you understand me fully: victor garbor and his cast of christian clowns sing and dance on top of the twin towers.

the actual gospel that is being explored is interesting enough. it chooses to follow numerous vignettes, depicted by the cast, as opposed to a more traditional story (i.e. jesus christ superstar following the passion of christ). because of this i don't think i was fully engaged with it. that being said, the music in this is incredible! i've said it before and i'll say it again: stephen schwartz can do whatever he wants forever! highlights for me include "turn back o man," "bless the lord," and "by my side." i love that everyone kind of has that 70's tone to their voice and that a lot of the songs were written for alto women.

Bops for Easter

Bops for Easter