YSU Theater will Present a Personal ‘Godspell’

YOUNGSTOWN – University Theatre will continue its season with the “Godspell,” which will open a two-weekend run on Friday, Nov. 11.

The show will mark the Youngstown directorial debut of Adam Day Howard, who joined the YSU theater faculty this semester.

“Godspell” is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Mathew. The parables are interspersed with music primarily from traditional hymns.  

 “Each production of ‘Godspell’ is idiosyncratic and personal,’’ Howard said. “I feel this mirrors the many ways people feel about its main character, who, despite being a basis for the world’s largest religion, was also a man, a historical figure, a political figure, and a philosophical one as well. In our production, one can’t help but notice he was also particularly creative and funny.”  

Howard is an American-born, British-trained actor, director, playwright and musician. A graduate of the Masters of Musical Theatre program at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he has worked in six countries on three continents, including the touring productions of “Dreamboats and Petticoats” and “Fame.”

A playwright and composer, his new play “Snow White and The Seven Dorks: A Texas Holiday Panto” will premiere at Stages Repertory Theater in Houston next month.

Howard is a full-time lecturer of musical theater and directing at YSU.

Performances of “Godspell” will be at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, in Ford Theater, lower level of Bliss Hall, on the YSU campus.

The cast includes John Bearss, Kyle Hudson, Samantha Gurd, Torrance Bajusik, Ryan Bedi, Sam Law, Natalie Horvath,  Lauren Ladd, Mitchell Sharp and Anna Colgrove.

Adult tickets are $16 ($9 for non-YSU students, YSU faculty and staff with valid ID, YSU alums, senior citizens, Penguin Club members, and groups of eight or more). YSU student tickets are free with a valid ID. To purchase in advance, call 330 941 3105 or go to www.ysu.tix.com. 

The cast of Youngstown State University’s production of “Godspell.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.