For New Cast Album, Hunter Parrish and the "Godspell" Cast "Save the People"

www.playbill.com/multimedia/video Playbill is back in the recording studio with composer Stephen Schwartz and the cast of the Broadway revival of "Godspell." In our second look at the making of the new "Godspell" cast album, we check out Hunter Parrish and the troupe singing "Save the People."

[@Paint]

Love this version! Their voices are like butter. xD

[@Ayden_B]

What’s up Jon

[@hehehehehhe3867]

Paint wyd here 🤨

[@paularnold1641]

agree 100%

[@kokoken1]

I could listen to Hunter sing all day.

[@freejie11]

I thought I was the only one

[@dakotabooher9424]

This show doesn't get enough love

[@paravecchiavince9685]

A...g...r...e...e...d!!!!!!!

[@Bobzilla8735]

Uzo!!! At 1:07 I was like, "Hey, that woman kind of looks like uzo." And it IS her!!!! Crazy Eyes!!!

[@samsali12]

oh. my. god. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE TO SOUND THIS PERFECT. I have no words... like my ears are crying out of pure happiness. I cant even.. its like I'm eating a chocolate chip cookie while petting a puppy while watching Godspell live with Hunter Parrish looking me in the eyes and Aaron Tveit is sitting next to me. LIKE THAT PERFECT. I love this.

[@getoverit2789]

This is pretty accurate. 😊

[@VanillaRazzed]

Oh my. He has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard! Ugh, I was just cast as Jesus in Godspell at my college... this makes me sooo nervous!! Haha, he's soooo awesome!!

[@jakeyboy7779]

How did it go?? I’m sure you were great!

[@VanillaRazzed]

@@jakeyboy7779 I didn’t expect a comment on something from 9 years ago, but it made me smile coming back to this memory so thank you. Our production was fantastic and it was my favorite show that I have ever been in. People actually cried in the audience! I’m sure I wasn’t as amazing (or handsome) as Hunter Parrish, but I did a pretty good job!

[@katayy]

He gets so passionate when he sings this, it's fantastic to watch.

[@allysoncashdollar1119]

This show is so underrated. I was in it in high school and then I saw this wonderful revival. I think this is my favorite song. It has a place in my heart forever

[@lexellcassini]

It's the best cast for Godspell ever. And the best musical arrangment too.

[@Jolly4jc]

"Flowers of Thy heart, O God are they, Let them not pass like Weeds away..." I see what you did there, Silas!

[@Caitybee199]

I LISTENED TO THIS AT LEAST TEN TIMES!

[@bethabrand]

No surprise that the critics were like the Pharisees. This version is perfection.

[@Sweetest57]

Cried at the end of the play but did a workshop with my class with nick and Telly and they were awesome and then got picture with nick hunter and Anna and the entire casts autographed love Hunters voice and nicks I loved it all!!!!

[@freejie11]

Chills

[@Jesusandbible]

I play this over and over, its great

[@yogapunk]

Hunter is gorgeous i love this version. A good update but without ruining the original.

[@ABoldChoiceTheater]

This cast is unbelievably talented.

[@princepeterwolf]

Love this musical! The music is so gorgeous

[@PhireJoy]

ohhhh i would do ANYTHING to see this in person every week again

[@mselbit]

Beautiful new harmonies and chord changes.

[@toughangel17]

I really really loved this musical why did they take it awayyyy

[@onemercilessming1342]

I have the original Broadway cast recording on vinyl (yes, that long ago). I usually only collect the ORIGINAL cast recordings, but I think I'll make an exception for this cast recording.

[@Beeadora]

I HEART THIS SONG

[@princepeterwolf]

dear lord I wasn't expecting that voice!!! Damn you Hunter for being so greatXD

[@screamer4charlotte]

1:52 - 1:54, excellent display of passion and desire for accuracy.

[@joaopaulocastilhoherrera876]

Congratulacions!!!!

[@911krazygurl]

my feelings for this musical are UHHH. i cant even. Hunter Parrish is perfect. xoxoxox

[@Jacintof1]

Que preciosidad de música

[@DonnaBrooks]

Is that Crazy Eyes?! She can sing, too?! Wow, that chorus sounds fantastic together!! I've listened to some of the other new arrangements and like them, but not as much as the originals, but I think I might like this one better than the original!

[@GrainneMhaol]

Her version of By My Side is so gorgeous

[@billypfan]

I may be going next weekend... yaaay Corbin yaay me!

[@Jolly4jc]

I grew up loving the original Godspell soundtrack, and i still do, but these updated versions sound awesome - especially "Save the People", "Light Of the World", and the new version of "Beautiful City"! The only downer is everyone's favorite: "Day By Day" - the new version adds nothing interesting to the original. But the rest are great. The 70's were a great time for music, but that doesn't mean that the arrangements for Godspell need to stay stuck there. Stephen's songs stand the test of time!

[@chuchuminmin24]

the feeling is mutual. :)

[@violet-fl9ve]

Crazy Eyes!

[@TheMellow26]

love hunter.

[@marciagarland307]

Hear our plea please Lord, and save the people

[@laurieholey5379]

I need this version available via iTunes - there's one version but not this particular one which I'm quite fond of & would like to buy via iTunes thou' not sure why but beautiful city sounds like this particular recording session on the iTunes availability list ...

[@stephanevincent7773]

Oh yes my Lord, save the people because men can't do that alone...!😢

[@LiliLion1997]

I was stage manager for this show at my school. i wouldn't have mind if he were the jesus in our play and i had to help him with his lines :3

[@sofithropp9803]

I see Lindsay Mendez!! :)

[@billypfan]

I cant BELIEVE who they repaced him with!

[@MoriceParis]

LOVE THIS

[@GisellePatrice]

Jon Cozart, you should cover this song, your voice would sound amazing in this i think! :D

[@billypfan]

omg when?

[@123456789iscoolman]

I can't find this version anywhere

[@DerekHartley]

It's the 2011 Broadway cast album. I'm even offered it at the top of this video.

[@crazymelvis5877]

The 2001 Save The People is so much better than any other version.

[@Jesusandbible]

This was so good. BUT when I listened on iTunes to buy it, the mics were not protected from the glitches and shrill sounds produced without proper mufflers, and the mixing was wrong, yet the performance was good. So disappointed. Wish I could get this version tho. This mix is FANTASTIC! It is ruined on iTunes. How was that mistake POSSIBLY MADE? such a good song and performance deserves answers. On itunes it is ruined.

[@JodiMcClure]

Having played the original album easily a few hundred times in my life, this took some getting used to. I liked it in that it was different and interesting, but at the same time, it seemed off pitch in some places when the original is in your mind. Strange. But Lord, Hunter Parrish is a beautiful man! :)

[@DonnaBrooks]

I understand what you mean. When he sings, "Save. The. Peo. ple... From. des. pair," it kind of grated on me b/c I'm singing, "SAVE the people"... FROM despair," with a drop in pitch on the last syllable of each phrase. It's so hard to communicate the difference w/o audio!! Think of it like morse code. I was expecting: "...-" "-.-" and the guy sang, "----" "---". I just expected something a little less stilted. But the chorus sounded FANTASTIC together! If you loved the original version, you'll understand what I mean about the lack of rhythm in those lines from the lead singer.

[@Caitybee199]

Hunter Parrish at the end :)

[@samuelrugg5511]

Anyone know what kind of microphone Hunter is singing into?

[@robby935]

An expensive one?

[@PatinhaBoavistaCunha]

Light kisses from Brsil. God bless you. I already put youn link at my facebook page.

[@leya10089]

pretty sure i have given this video 6,000 of its views.

[@chuchuminmin24]

omg!!!

[@lifestraight]

Why is it "AND the cast of godspell"? They're all the cast of Godspell.

[@coralmhill]

It's Crazy Eyes from Orange is the New Black!

[@911krazygurl]

OMG

[@jrssjdca]

Sounds like Windham Hill in a couple of spots, maybe a George Winston or Scott Cossu flavor, or even some Vince Guaraldi styling (not inferring borrowing since Schwartz has lots of musical ideas in his head). Nice touch. A bit of a departure than the original, but it's interesting and cool. I'm old school with the 1973 Soundtrack, but music is always about exploring newer flourishes since it's very subjective. Some opinions on other videos (99% of the time it's old school that detests modern music) suggest "this sucks" or "that sucks", but it's always about attitude. Musical expression doesn't always jive with one's perceptions of the performance or musical direction (the thumbs up/thumbs down bear this out), which is okay and even expected, but one man's "piece of junk" might be another one's Opus.

[@sorellehattori2466]

God I love Lindsay Mendez

[@pal0oz]

ohhh the things hunter parrish does to me

[@911krazygurl]

OMG my favourite hannah montana character is in this musical !! 111!!! WUT i didnt know she could sing !! :ooooo she couldnt sing on hannah montana

[@jadetiger88888]

ok thanks

[@jadetiger88888]

i wonder how much stephen schwartz made changes to the original

[@billypfan]

I can NOT believe Corban Bleu replaced him. scratch my plan to buy tickets

[@ISwearInItalian]

Is that crazy eyes?!

[@canuckleful]

I thought so anyway. It's not bad, but it's hard to sing along most of the time, they sort of... diva'd it up if you will.

[@MyricaeGamePlay]

the black girl is crazy eyes from "orange is the new yellow" !!! xD

[@Jesusandbible]

I was so very impressed with this rendering I went to buy it on iTunes, but when I heard it on iTunes the recording was not nicely balanced as this recording is, it was badly mixed, that is it was too loud and shrill on the voice, not the singers fault, the mixing, so I never bought it. I would rather buy this video. I dont like Godspell's imagery but some songs are great.

[@billypfan]

just what I need before I rehurse hair spray all night.. sheer happiness

[@maddiewashburn915]

the guy playing jesus is fineee

[@Philoishness]

@not3but1 that really isn't a very inventive comment

[@monkcat6235]

Glee does Godspell . What is it about contemporary musicians and singers that thy seem be be void of soul or expression . The film cast were amazing in the performance of each song .

[@davidthaler7018]

+DR FEELGOOD Audiences change after several decades. Look at the phenomenon that "Hamilton" has become and rumor has it that producers are capitalizing on the concept to give us a hip-hop version of "Oliver!"; I don't like the idea of Fagin possibly rapping to "Reviewing the Situation", but if it's what gets folks into the seats....

[@justinm2697]

+David Thaler A rapping Fagin? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Though it could work. But producers please don't do it because of Hamilton. Not a Hamilton fan, I know I'll come around eventually. It took me years to appreciate In The Heights. And I've seen the doco Hamilton's America numerous times, and love it. Probably more cos I'm an American history buff (I'm Australian) I can thank Lin Manuel for that. But if Broadway cashes in on the Hamilton phenomenon, it will fail. Having said all that, Oliver is a fantastic show and maybe they can work it so as not to get the Hamilton similarities.

[@mediocrio]

djdjdjdjdjdj elitist "iT WAS BETTER B E FO RE THESE MEDDLING MILLENNIALS" geeks are my favourite thing ever,,, there are preferences, there are interpretations; don't be so dogmatic and stuck up about yours. no one version is better than the other. just different.

[@tomadams5582]

I agree with ya Kevin , However , the harmony is right on , and I do like some of the musical qualities . But they needed that 70's sound to it . This modern stuff takes away from the magic .

[@davidthaler7018]

+Tom Adams I've seen the 70s film versions of some of these songs and the tempo seems slow and labored to me, almost like the cast has to drag themselves through the songs. I like these versions better, and I agree with you about the harmony.

[@thestarry098]

is it bad that im starting to ship jesus and judas? urm

[@rjclaw9716]

Great music. Should cause people to turn back to God and receive Jesus!

[@leeoreilly8505]

It is more of ironic turn because of gods absence of modern times, this song be taken in many different lights, such as how Jesus Christ Superstar question the resurrection but can be considered a great testament to it . And if you want people to turn back to god, when this 'god' stops all the war, violence and arrogance caused by religion ill run to church on sunday:)

[@MackLeeGreen]

Actually 93% of all wars have been non-religious in nature. Seven percent have been religious but over half of those that are religious in nature were Islamic. In other words to suggest that Christianity is somehow responsible for all the wars is to say the least short-sighted. Plus it ignores the fact that when there are people in need Christians are pretty much always the first ones to respond with help.

[@justinm2697]

+MackLee When it comes to the charity of religious folk I would agree. But what has been debated over and over again, they only do it because their leaned religion mandates that they do it. Which makes me wonder......if religious texts didn't demand charity, would religious people do it?

[@Jesusandbible]

Jesus banned war. No flesh would be saved, because of people who wont listen, but Jesus returns to save the world from physical destruction.

[@iansrandomopinions6823]

Cassie Brewer AMEN!

[@xpeacex16]

@not3but1 If you don't like Godspell don't comment

[@jadetiger88888]

really?

[@xXxWillowsxXx]

Is it okay to be having these feelings about Jesus....

[@blanchefan]

Because Hunter's a STAH, dahling, and it's show business:)

[@canuckleful]

It borders on unrecognisable.

[@canuckleful]

@Paint They clog your arteries? XD Sorry.

[@terrydonald6332]

Like the original cast recording better. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[@911krazygurl]

bollocks

[@Userick10]

Too rushed. The singing is great but the tempo ruins the song.

[@ArcaneCowboy]

Wow. That's...awful. Totally stripped of the angst in the original.

[@johnstark7609]

Too technical, no heart.

[@albertperson4013]

I'm sorry. Only 50% as good as the original. Sorry, forgive me, but no.

[@HimJimRimDim]

Godspell sucks... then and now.

[@thesithdarkseeker7417]

you have no taste

[@PapagenoMF]

It sucks so bad that not only do you watch the video but you leave a comment. What a slug.

[@PapagenoMF]

***** "Gospel?" Lol. You can't even spell. How are people going to take your first grade opinion seriously?