"Original Godspell Cast on The Today Show"

[@katieotey]

I grew up in NYC seeing the original cast, and we played the original album to the bones. Lamar Alford was a true gem; hearing him sing, now that was a truly religious experience. I wish he had gone on the movie. Thank you , Godspell performers!

[@larkluster]

This was in July of 1971, a few months after we opened on May 17th. And, that's the great Lamar Alford for whom Steve wrote All Good Gifts. And, yes, we're all still in touch and still such great friends!

[@georgejenkins1242]

god bless you peggy and the cast,you guys made many hearts open up,,,,,,,thank you

[@dancingdog60]

Such a great story! I saw Godspell at the Wilbur Theater in Boston in 1971. So I imagine the Boston production was fast-tracked. As it was directed by Nina Faso. And it inspired me to take acting lessons all those years ago!☺

[@thebrutusmars]

Why was Stephen Nathan replaced by Victor Garber in the film? Same question for Lamar Alford. If you don’t mind answering, of course.

[@larkluster]

@@thebrutusmars Steve was shooting the film of 1776 (check out his heartwrenching solo Mama Look Sharp on youtube). The director had never directed a musical before. He felt both Lamar and Herby's performances were too "big" for film, so he cast Godspell actors from the Chicago (Merrill) and Boston (Jerry) companies whose performances were "smaller," or so the director said. I was having a "fun" summer with a painful tonsillectomy, so the director replaced me with my BFF Katie Hanley. Katie had actually been an incredible "Robin," clown, but she filled in for me beautifully. I'm so proud of her!

[@thebrutusmars]

@@larkluster Thank you for telling me! I’ve always been curious.

[@CandyKane1]

Robin Lamont is one of my all-time favorite vocalists.

[@stevienicks4405]

Yes mine too

[@patuberTV]

@@stevienicks4405 I did a recent interview with her! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmWYk2Ccmd2SsM0

[@AstralPixie]

Yeah, I really like her voice too.

[@patrickvecchio8138]

Robin was awesome.

[@ronniesapp4469]

Robin Lamont is amazing Her voice is genius and her performance on Day By Day resonates today. Extraordinary gift

[@robertsantos9554]

I was born in January of 1972, and this song, Day by Day was the very first song I've heard that i remember as a child... i have not heard that song for decades until i discover this song again in KZbin just last week

[@MarcoPolo7212]

The original cast of Godspell may be the most adorable group of people ever!

[@kinnygardner7697]

Well, how lovely to see this. I was in the second London Cast in 1975, and remained with the show and the UK tour for many years. It is a rare joy to se this documentation of what was a ground-breaking show.

[@hahni7501]

I am literally in tears after finding this. I'm a huge fan of Lamar Alford--that voice! I've never seen a clip of him performing til I clicked on this randomly. Thank you so, so much. He was marvelously talented. I love his voice soaring during the finale of "We Beseech Thee," too.

[@larkluster]

Yes, he was an absolute treasure. We loved him so much and still do!

[@katieotey]

Hello to another Lamar fan! I also love hearing his voice coming through in We Beseech Thee. His voice was stunning,

[@alicemchugh4241]

One of my favorite shows ,I saw Godspell on off Bway in NYC as a teen ager. I attended the show with a group of my friends and probably had student tickets. We came out of the theatre dancing. Great memories! Great cast and band!

[@Cgh525]

How marvelous to come across this priceless video, posted by an original Godspell cast member! What a treat.

[@paulhaffey738]

I fell in love with Robin Lamont when I first heard Day by Day on the radio. I was lucky enough to see Godspell in Toronto with Victor Garber as Jesus with Gilda Radner as a disciple. No play has ever affected me as much as Godspell!

[@7heRedBaron]

Paul Haffey Wasn’t it Katie Hanley from the movie cast on the soundtrack that made it to the radio?

[@dancingdog60]

@@7heRedBaron no the radio hit was from the Off Broadway cast which featured Robin Lamont. Although she was uncredited. It was just credited as " the cast of Godspell". But Robin was the lead vocalist.

[@billschuler8157]

Me too! No play has ever affected me as much as Godspell! A distant second is Jesus Christ Superstar. I watched it recently and sang along the whole movie. In fact I challenge you to watch it and NOT sing! lol Then I got powerfully convicted to tears, when it got to the parable of the sower. I hope someday to be in Godspell.

[@matthewgray469]

I think Andrea Martin of SCTV fame was also in that cast

[@w9gb]

The Toronto cast of “Godspell” was ALL-STAR. Victor Garber; Gilda Radner; Eugene Levy; Martin Short; Andrea Martin; and Paul Schafer as Music Director.

[@larkluster]

It's was exactly what John Michael Tebelak envisioned. That's why he handpicked us. We'd all worked with him before and we were all so close that the chemistry he wanted was already there. But, this show has a tendency to create life long friendships. Glad to hear you made a few!

[@ScottyWig]

I was lucky enough to see the original "Godspell" at the Pensacola Bayfront auditorium way back there in the early 70's. Mom bought the album and I wore it out, the music and show just has a certain "joy" that was contagious. Christ's spirit is right there in the middle of it, a different way of presenting Him but He's there.

[@tritom1955]

Live and excellent...powerful and compelling voice....well done!

[@villabalboa]

Hi Peggy. This is Jeffrey's brother, Sean. I remember my whole family watching this when it came on TV. I was 8 at the time. Thanks for posting this. It's so nice to hear people's comment about Godspell and the love that people have for Jeff. He has funny little ways of popping in and saying "hi". Be well and take care!

[@gravityseducer]

We miss Jeffrey. 😭 What a beautiful soul!💟💕❣️💖

[@larkluster]

We were on The Today Show, performing, for two full hours; but, they were only able to provide us with this edited version, so you don't see our full interview answers! As for Katie, she filled in so beautifully for me in the movie (I was recuperating from a wicked tonsilectomy). I'll share your praise with her!

[@lucinda2329]

❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️

[@shyman99]

I was wondering why it looked so clumsily edited. Really a shame they could not offer the entire appearance. Would have especially enjoyed the interview segments as I'm sure all of you were so excited about what was happening. 50 years later, you have so much to be proud of. God bless you.

[@manofmanyinterests]

Even in this edited version, the beauty shines through. Thank you to everyone involved for giving us this happiness.

[@Trasea]

No song gives me more chills than hearing Robin sing Day by Day... I was 12 when the song first came out. I also love hearing Merrell Jackson sing All Good Gifts, wish he was in this video!

[@Hyphenated08]

I was in one of Lamar Alford's plays at Morehouse, and worked in King Chapel with him. Gone too soon. Rest in Peace, Lamar.

[@alexvokoun9272]

Seeing this is a treasure. I practically grew up on this show, even as a kid growing up in the 90s, listening to it on a cassette tape, over and over again. This show was a big part of me aspiring to be an actor. So this original cast is really special to me.

[@eowyn1964]

Ohhhh, thanks for uploading this. I recently saw the show done locally in professional theatre, and it brought back such lovely memories. My college produced it back in the 1970's, and toured it through various Baptist churches, so it couldn't have been *too* controversial. Such a joyful show.

[@Basssinger86]

Ah Lamar Alford. I always said that he was so wonderfully out of place. Out of place because his voice belongs in a totally different genre, but he's so great that it adds to the uniqueness of the original Godspell. Hearing his song and hearing his booming voice in the background was always something that I remembered fondly from the original album.

[@paladin313]

I can't understand how this caused so much controversy. It was a great show. "By My Side," almost always brings me to tears every time I hear it.

[@dneslls1849]

I 100% agree. We think we have problems today with "so called" Closed Culture" with people flaking about being offended. These individuals could have been examples of evil back then. We cannot judge, but we do know that all people who profess to be Christians are not (so said Jesus). / I will have to confess I never knew them. "/

[@stefan-anamericaninrussiaa6683]

Back in '74, near the end of High School, I was asked to join a St Pete, Florida dance school's "dance adaptation" of Godspell (they needed more guys in the group).. Of course at that time the rights weren't available to do a full on production.. I more or less played Jerry Stroka's character.. I had the hair, the hat, and the overalls.. I embroidered the "Godspell" logo on the front.. Half the time I climbed the fence for the crucifixion near the end, I was weeping with joy.. Putting the makeup on onstage, dancing in the aisle, carrying Jesus out of the place - It was one of the joys of my life I still remember fondly.. I even got to do "All For The Best" for the HS drama class final exam.. Good memories..

[@milkchaser]

Peggy, thanks to you and Jay for that brilliant song. I listened to it over and over when the soundtrack came out.

[@mkupgrl1]

Thanks for sharing this! I was born just after this show came out and learned the musical when my high school did it. I made the mistake of not auditioning though I can sing. By My Side was always the one I would've wanted to sing had I done the show. What a beautiful song. What's so crazy about this show is it just makes me happy.

[@melaniexoxo]

I love this. Must be amazing to be such a part of history, Peggy. Thank you.

[@larkluster]

@blbeachgoer2 Several of us continued acting careers through the 1980s until marriage and children intervened. Gilmer is a teacher; Robin a novelist, Joanne works at a health oriented facility, Steve Nathan went on to Exec. produce many successful tv shows, currently Bones. Herby owns a successful costume shop. I write songs for film and theater as well as screenplays and plays. We lost Lamar and Jeffrey to AIDS and David to a brain tumor. Peggy Gordon

[@spideraxis]

I love the song, loved the movie, miss those days. I was most impressed with Jeff Mylett. Ironically he died 35 years ago today.

[@davidjohnson1654]

Robin Lamont is gorgeous! I love her voice! So, I was just this week listening to the Top Billboard 100 Songs of 1972, and "discovered" "Day By Day" and fell in love with it! And Robin is pretty easy on the eyes, too. ;)

[@larkluster]

It caused controversy because it was John Michael's desire to strip Jesus' story of any and all Church dogma and ritual by beginning the exploration into who he might have been from the unbiased, innocent perspective of a pre-adolescent child. Thus, his choice of a child's playground and children's iconic characters: clowns and a comic-book styled superhero clown as Jesus. So, we were considered sacrilegious by various churches.

[@Silent_Ghoul]

When people are born into slavery it is always a good thing to show how happy they are.

[@xendava7217]

Those who would consider this sacrilege are those who wish to control the spiritual narrative. To me, lost on these poor souls is what Jesus did on the cross. I believe he will enter our hearts as uniquely as the person who heart he reaches. To me, Jesus sidelined the church. They hate that. Anything that shows that will be admonished. Like Godspell. A great piece that shows the way is through Jesus. Not necessarily the church. Jesus is in us. Is he in the church? Maybe. Maybe not. I think the only way to know for sure, is to ask him. XENDAVA

[@thepracticinggardenerwilli4072]

Actually, his choice of clowns was inspired by the Feast of Fools.

[@mckenna8663]

@@Silent_Ghoul ... have a seat

[@GraemetheGuiriLordHaHa]

You all created something truly beautiful and wondrous. It inspires me in my faith today, 'day by day'. There was pure love in this, it was of it's time and belongs to all time.

[@lynnstewart2326]

I can’t stop watching the film. I only just discovered it winter 2020. I think I’ve watched it 20 times now. I am in love with the music and the cast. It makes me feel so good. I am addicted, lol.

[@davshaw5]

This original cast and album was the best by far…..

[@MrDjh66]

Never gets old only better

[@katbozues]

Peggy...thank you SO much for this gem! I always loved your voice :) Saw this twice at Ford's Theatre in DC in the 70's when I was a child and was mesmerized...wore the album OUT TWO TIMES...finally got to be in a production of it in 2000 and was "Robin"...this show is a joy and such a part of my youth and forming my love for musical theatre. Funny when people say it's blasphemous bc it's actually directly from scripture...those are the people who don't know the show and are missing out on a beautiful telling of Christ's story.

[@MC_Elie]

Thank you so much for uploading this! I'm just out of words seeing the original cast of my all time favorite musical. I auditioned and got the solo for All Good Gifts back in 1990. And it is also because of Lamar Alford that I was inspired to study music in college. May God bless you and keep you safe.

[@Fredvii2002]

Met Lamar on stage. He gave us wine! Met him later on at Morehouse. What a voice!

[@larkluster]

@McPrfctday I'm Peggy Gordon, composer of By My Side and the one sitting next to Jeffrey at the end of Day by Day. No, I wasn't in the film. A wicked case of tonsillitis and resulting surgery took me out of shooting; so, Katie Hanley, who'd been a Robin clown replacement filled in for me! You can see more of the original cast on video clips from our 10th anniversary reunion shoot on my youtube channel!

[@mrsmullins1151]

Hi, Peggy! I LOVE Day By Day! It's my number one favorite song from Godspell, and it's a beautiful song! I remember watching the 1973 movie in high school!

[@pem1974]

😢

[@jonathanbrantley8908]

I love your song! I used it in a presentation I made for Mary Magdalene.

[@2004mojo]

So happy to find this. Hello Peggy. By My Side is one of my favorite songs of the many I love from this show & film.

[@edwardanna7541]

Thanks very much for letting God use you to create 'By My Side' ... spent a lot of time on getting my head around that song, & trying to get my spirit in tune with it.

[@leannehaddock6254]

This is so awesome! Lamar has an awesome voice!! Robin sings really great!! You, Jeffrey, and Gilmer are adorable. They're my favorite characters throughout the entire thing! Anyways, I love this so much! Thank you for sharing! PS. I love your song "By my side", It's so beautiful!

[@monicamuro7471]

I am 59. When I was a child, I saw the movie. I think this and the TV series Kung Fue with David Carradine along with a bunch of shows with animals shaped my convictions. It's been a long and hard journey but I wouln't change a thing.

[@mje2k]

God bless the Godspell casts. Thank you for keeping this show alive for 40 plus years! Thank you for the joy you have given the world. I have worn out several versions of the show on vinyl before CD's came along.

[@rebeccawhite5128]

My dad brought this record home for us when we were kids and I played it practically till the grooves fell off. My dad had been a music major and had operatic training and I when I heard Lamar I figured it had to be my dad singing. Loved it then, love it now!

[@ericanderson8886]

Always nice to see Robin live and rare. She has a beautiful voice.

[@johnflood6656]

No one can sing this song like Lamar! Brings tears to my eyes

[@lynneperrigo7551]

Looking for Lamar is what brought me here.

[@johnflood6656]

Me too!

[@katieotey]

Yes! Lamar's voice is so rich and deep, it is regal. The beauty of the song's message comes through. I think later versions were too soft, in tone, and high, in key.

[@AndrewOrtizAO]

Awesome! Doing this show had a big impact on my teenage years. It helped me through some rough times. Finding your channel with all these clips of the original cast is exciting. God bless you.

[@davidh9844]

Jewish kid from the suburbs, always loved the song "Day by Day", to the point that I finally did a KZbin search for it, and SHAZAM!, all of Godspell came up, 50 years later. I never got into the city to see it, now much to my regret. The shear talent of listening to the presentation of the story, the quality of singing (can you imagine, they cast actually SANG, had amazing voices, didn't need to scream or babble in rap to make an impression on us, they were all capable of dancing TOGETHER) Still, it is a tragedy. So many of those smiling kids went onto an early AIDS death. The flower power naivete of the show ultimately brought us to todays politics. The future did not exactly work out the way they had hoped it would. Truly a grossly under appreciated piece of theater.

[@larkluster]

In Wikipedia, the film's director David Greene is quoted saying he and JMT began in collaboration on the screenplay; but, parted ways. So, the final result was David Greene's. John Michael's reason for conceiving Godspell had EVERYTHING to do with this scene because Jesus chose love over Moses's law when he saved my life. David changed the scene entirely for the movie losing John Michael's point by making the song one of comfort for Jesus. As for the pebble, Dare, it's always on the walk of life

[@ajogg]

Thanks for uploading this Ms. Gordon. I saw the show on Broadway and loved it. The songs have been stuck in my head off and on all these years.

[@HalfLifeAMD]

why do I have this urge to tie dye my t shirt and put on rose colored sunglasses.

[@kenkelling5556]

Peggy Gordon, Thank you for uploading this small clip from the Today Show. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I have known Godspell since it first came out when I was a teenager. The cast album was one of the first LPs I ever bought and have enjoyed it immensely ever since. In many ways, I liked the music in the film a bit better, but it is all a matter of taste, I guess. However, the one constant for me is that my favorite song has always been "By My Side". A college friend and I used to sing it at small college group gatherings or just together for ourselves. It says everything required in a true believer and follower. The late Jeff Mylett's singing of "We Beseech Thee" was fantastic and I was very disappointed in its being left out of the film. Jeff was an incredible talent. I also learned that his two songs written for the original production were also left out of the later show entirely after Stephen Schwartz took over the musical aspects. I understand the why, I just feel bad that so much of the world has been deprived of his music. Are there any recordings or videos of his music? Would love to hear them if there were. I know he copyrighted a few songs over the years such as "The Singer and the Song" in 1974, but would have the least knowledge of how to locate any of those songs whether recorded or in sheet music form. I have never seen the show on the stage, much to my misfortune. I only learned recently about the "Prologue" sequence when listening to a later studio recording done in London in 1993 by Stephen Schwartz who went back to a performance setting more like the early stage performances - more folk and less rock, and with a cast of new young talent. I am now going to be looking for a stage performance to see the show as it was meant to be seen. I feel like the versions I have heard and seen have more patches than some of the outfits for the show. Crossing picket lines in western Illinois to see both "Godspell" and "Monty Python's Life of Brian", I learned a very valuable lesson at a very young age. The people protesting could not possibly have seen the films!! Although there was a lighter, less serious air in the first and comedy in the second, they both remained respectful to Christianity and the Word of God. Much of Godspell was taken directly out of the Psalms, the Gospel of Matthew and the "Common Book of Prayer" used by the Episcopalian Church. These lessons stayed with me when I explored some of the more pentecostal forms of Christianity and helped me to expose some of the charlatans. When I crossed the "Iron Curtain" in the 1980s, it helped me to see behind the facades. I owe a great debt to the faith and truth of Godspell. Godspell was unusual in its presentation - but then again, Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem being hailed as "King of the Jews" was one of the most radical events of all time and had to be seen by many of his contemporaries as the ultimate of the absurd!!

[@larkluster]

@Hyphenated08 Those clips are from our 10th anniversary reunion shoot in 1981. Lamar, Robin, Joanne and Sonia were in New York and were unable to do this in LA, where it was shot; so, four actors who'd understudied them in our original production filled in: Bob Garrett, Patti Mariano (who did Robin's role in both the Washington, D.C. and S.F. companies), Marley Sims and Jeannie Lange, respectively. The rest of us were from the original cast! Peggy Gordon

[@dcdrew3]

Peggy, Thank You for sharing this Today show with all of us. It seems like whenever they ask Robin a question...the answer was cut or they moved on to another question. Not sure what happen there. But just wanted to say that I loved By My Side...It was the best song in the movie, And Katie did do a fantastic job on it. But i played it on the LP cover too, & I knew that you wrote the song. So thank you again & the best of luck to you!

[@petematthews9346]

Still one of my all-time favorite shows. I collect the recordings, Original Cast, Movie Cast, Revival Cast. Don't have the more recent revival. I'll say that I can never get enough of "By My Side" - one of the most beautiful ballads every written for musical theatre.

[@larkluster]

Thank you Pete. I wrote that when I was 17-years-old and only knew about seven chords on my guitar. I know more now! Check out the By My Side youtube on my channel of our 10th anniversary shoot that we did for Sony. It has all the original members who created that moment together: me, Steve Nathan, David Haskell, Gilmer McCormick and Jeffrey Mylett.

[@petematthews9346]

@@larkluster If I may ask, how old were you when you first got involved with Godspell? Was just watching Stephen Schwarz on Vevo's video talking about the composition of Godspell and its beginnings on the Lower East Side. In 1973, '75, and '76 I was on the staff at the Episcopal church camp of the Diocese of Olympia (Washington) and by then the songs of Godspell were an integral part of the camp experience. Yeah, some of it was pride in the Episcopal origins of half the songs, but simply it was the pure joy of the musical. We used folk music for most worship, but Godspell's tunes sneaked in as well (Day by Day, of course, but the others, too).

[@larkluster]

@@petematthews9346 La Mama rehearsals began in January of 1971. I was 20-years-old. Steve came into the process at our 2nd professional location: Cherry Lane. Before then we only had 8 songs in total. I added By My Side and Jeffrey added one, which Steve subsequently dropped. Mine was the only one kept from the original show, thanks to Steve's generosity. He was all of 23-years-old; so, to let another songwriter share in his first major Broadway success was a testament to his nature.

[@petematthews9346]

@@larkluster Thank you for your insights and comments. My daughter started college in musical theater eventually switching to acting & directing (BFA, Rockford University, 2015). My wife and I have attended live theater since long before our kids came along and we raised Susie and her sister Sarah with musical theater and it rubbed off on Susie. Proud dad that I am, I can’t list all the shows she’s been in, but after going to London for her semester aboard, she came back a huge Shakespeare devotee. She’s acted in and directed several. With COVID her career has stalled as have so many, she’s been substitute teaching and working in daycare although she’s continued directing kids theater in Lafayette, CO. Forgive my rambling-again thank you for the conversation.

[@bobscruggs8886]

The song Day By Day keeps going through my mind I love it !

[@comactortony]

THANK YOU for posting this OLD GEM W/ Baba WaWa & thank you for saying NO (to So Afr) and thank God they chose this song for their appearance. Not, just because of that BIG BEAUTIFUL voice, but, because this is one of the most beautiful songs ever to come out American Theatre

[@jjs499]

Robin is sooo beautifull and what a voice... my God its so emotional, beautiful, everything, pure and meaningfull.....Improve your relationship with the lord! Amen

[@stevienicks4405]

YES ROBIN LAMONT : BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ALSO VERY INTELLIGENT AS SHE BECAME A LAWYER DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRIVATE DETECTIVE AND AUTHOR

[@Suri-o7w]

Always been a fan of this song especially Merrell Jackson's version I didn't see him in the video. I guess he was much too young then my secret crush RIP my dearest of darling's

[@larkluster]

Merrell wasn't in the original cast. This is a full year before the movie. THIS is the original cast that created the show with John-Michael Tebelak and Steve Schwartz. Merrell was in the Chicago company and did the movie because Lamar was unavailable.

[@Suri-o7w]

@@larkluster oh I see well all I know is that Merrell Jackson was at least 15-20 years older than me so I was very young back when he was around all I know is I didn't discovered who Merrell was until 16 years ago they showed godspell the movie and that's when I laid eyes on this once beautiful man I just thought he was so gorgeous but later on in life I found out he didn't like women maybe as friends it was heartbreaking but when I found out how he died and what caused his death and how he died so young I cried so long it was just devastating and I didn't even know the man personally.

[@richardhicks9075]

I had forgotten about the song “Day by Day” until recently. The song is beautiful and inspiring and sung so well by Robin Lamont. It makes me so happy to hear it again…

[@larkluster]

Great question! There were three consecutive workshops that created this show out of John Michael's ideas, and the original ten of us did co-create this show through improvisation. We also choreographed all of it; so, I know this show inside and out the way John Michael intended. I don't have any plans to do that but I certainly wouldn't ever rule it out!

[@airviper3457]

Robin was one of my first teenage crushes (kinda still is!!)

[@larkluster]

She's still adorable. I'll tell her.

[@pastelskies8466]

Robin Lamont put Day by Day on the longevity map. The song has a similar style and time frame reminiscent of Carole King, who was still riding the airwaves of Tapestry.

[@Maxkustrap]

I LOVE LAMAR'S VOICE!!!!!

[@mkupgrl1]

I actually started crying in happiness the other night watching Telly Leung of the revival cast singing All Good Gifts. I find this show so moving though I am not interested in the subject matter. That's really a beautiful thing. I will be exploring more of your channel for sure.

[@MrSweeneyTodd01]

Jeff was always my favorite, when I saw the movie as a kid, I automatically loved him, and when I heard We Beseech Thee, I was like... Why would they cut this out of the movie?! It's genius! A theatre in my hometown just recently did this show, and it was extremely brilliant, we saw it countless times, and each time was more powerful than the other.

[@jrbaskind]

I was amazed at how many of these cast members ended up in the movie! 😃😎👍

[@melindakinnaird]

I didn't know Sonia Manzano from Sesame Street was in the original cast. Cool!

[@larkluster]

Yes, she was and she was amazing!

[@billlarson4636]

Wonderful! Thank you.

[@clintonearlwalker]

Wow. I had a K-Tel record back in the 70's with the song "Day by Day". I always thought the female singer had a powerful voice and I'm just now trying to find out who she was. I guess Robin Lamont? I have to install a new dryer in our house today, but I'd like to spend the whole damn day looking up just what was going on back in the age of Aquarius. I remember one particularly religious family making up their own lyrics for the song "Jesus Christ Superstar", making them "more religious". Thanx for the upload.

[@lev1977uk]

Aha! Many thanks Peggy - just seen it on your channel. :D With the added context (just after the stoning scene) I think the lyrics have clicked into place for me. Clown Jesus having dared the crowd into stoning Clown Peggy on the basis of their own innocence, find that none can do so. They depart, leaving their stones behind. I wonder, is it one of these stones that Clown Peggy picks up, names 'Dare' and puts in her shoe? If so, the stage version adds more meaningful context and symbolism.

[@lizschneider3195]

I saw Godspell with my CYO group off Broadway. It was stunning

[@feralbluee]

Brings back the feeling of the '60's - the camaraderie and hope for the future. we really thought we could end war - (well, we learned that lesson pretty quick.) but still, with all the problems both personal and societal, it was the best time - and Godspell expresses that feeling even if you are not religious - doesn't matter in the least.

[@larkluster]

@SongsJerome Lamar was truly ADORABLE, in every sense of the word!

[@writer125]

Still love the movie, thought it was great. A musical that I thought was very powerful in its message. Thanx for posting this.

[@nancyhendrickson515]

Original Godspell Cast on the Today Show. "Robin Lamont, Peggy Gordon, Gilmer McCormick, Joanne Jonas, Sonia Manzano, Stephen Nathan, David Haskell, HERB BRAHA, Jeff Mylett, Lamar Alford"

[@richardmendoza1692]

I had a drama teacher take us to see off broadway. It was a small theatre so every seat was awesome. The explosion of color in the opening seen was great.it was the first show i ever saw on or off broadway.

[@JuanCabrer]

This is great! I saw this movie during Christmas. Thanks for posting. Best Regards

[@larkluster]

Actually, the main controversy was that we did this as a clown show. It was considered blasphemous by a segment of the Christian community. Also, John Michael didn't include the resurrection deliberately. He wanted the emphasis placed on Jesus' life, not afterlife; so, he had us carry him off the cross and sing Long LIve God and Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord, in tandem, as an affirmation that his life's message would continue through his followers.

[@chantelwade3299]

I remember the controversy. It took place within my own family. My uncle was a preacher and Mom was telling him about how Godspell had touched her soul. He immediately told her it was a blasphemous caricature of Jesus Christ and his teachings. However, he affirmed Jesus Christ, Superstar, while my mother found it offensive. I have yet to watch Jesus Christ Superstar because of my mother's feelings about the show. She said the controversy was due to Godspell not being traditional in its portrayal; similar to the controversy of the King James Bible vs The New International Version Bible. I don't care, Godspell and the music touched me deep within my soul.

[@michealpersicko9531]

@@chantelwade3299 If anything i highly highly highly highly suggest at least listening to the Concept Album of Jesus Christ Superstar. I honestly think i saw the movie once and went meh(i'm an atheist so that might be part of it.) IDK it was a good movie and it was a decent if over simplified and dramatized version of the last supper. Although it's worth seeking out the King Herod scene from the movie due to how absurd it is having Zero Mostel's son throwing bagels at Jesus telling him to get out of his courtroom.

[@BrooklynNYguy]

I was in Catholic elementary school in Brooklyn back in '71 when the play came out. When the movie came out a few years later, the nuns were mostly thrilled about it bec they were in tune with the spirit of the 60's and 70's and saw it as an excellent way to connect Christianity to a younger and hipper generation. They meant well, of course, but judging by the sparse crowds I see at mass on Sundays, even on Christmas a few days ago, I don't think it worked. Most of the people in church these days are my age , 61, or above. It seems to me that Very few young people have any use for religion these days.

[@ajogg]

I saw this at the Cherry Lane many years ago as a kid, I loved it, especially how the actors/singers interacted with the audience.

[@larkluster]

Definitely by the end of this year. Just making sure that AEA is okay with it. We're allowed to upload videos for promotional purposes, just not the whole show... so stay tuned because his video of We Beseech Thee and Jeff and Herby doing The Prodigal Son will be worth the wait!

[@claudezach]

Thanks for posting this. :)

[@blbeachgoer]

It's hard to believe that people found this show offensive. I've always loved the show. I saw a touring company of Godspell around 1972 or 1973 when I was around 12. I can't believe how soft spoken Robin is during the interview. Since the album was just released around the time of this interview, I wonder if anyone expected "Day by Day" to be the big hit it ended up being.

[@14DaveHunter]

Andy Williams did a great version of "Day By Day".

[@sinjyn66]

It certainly was not offensive - just different and incomplete. Jesus wears clown make up, John and Judah are composited, women were included as disciple's and there's no resurrection scene - one of the most powerful aspects of Christianity. As an artistic endeavor its awesome.

[@edsphoto]

I love it!

[@rjmcallister1888]

1971 was light years ago. People had problems connecting with any but the traditional vision of Jesus. Not that religious myself, but hearing Robin Lamont sing "Day By Day" is still three-and-a-half minutes of pure joy, all these light years later.

[@simplethings474]

That was beautiful

[@jamessimms415]

Went to DC & NYC on a Youth Church Trip in March 1977. We were able to see Godspell just off Broadway (?) & throughly enjoyed it. Over time I’ve had the cassette tape of the Soundtrack & ‘Day By Day’ just came up randomly came up on my KZbin feed. seeing that & this video has piqued my interest in the musical & will be looking for the Godspell CD & possibly the DVD also.

[@UniversityGreenways]

Peggy, thanks so much for sharing these videos. It's inspiring to realize that you're all part of my own heritage as a CMU alum, and I'm so sad to learn how many of the cast members were also gay through their having passed away from HIV. ;-(

[@larkluster]

Not only the best friend ever, but, along with Herby, our best acrobat! Every actor cast after him had to have his skills AND had to play guitar, recorder and the concertina. Jeff was also an amazing composer in his own right. So, stay tuned!

[@annieAnDnicky]

I Love this !!!

[@JP5466]

Robin's voice was awesome. Piano player drops the ball at 2:12 - yikes!

[@L.Fontein7]

It's called live music.

[@Singingtater24]

Oh trust me, i'm sure they will be!! We love seeing everyone in the original, but especially Jeffrey! He's so great!

[@patrickballoonman]

Since I've seen the movie many times, I'm pretty sure that I know who's who in this clip at 3:07. Let me guess. From left to right is Sonia, David, Gilmer, Lamar, Joanne, Robin, Stephen, Peggy, Jeffrey and Herb. Anyone know how many out of ten I have right?

[@larkluster]

Perfect!!!

[@daviddemar8749]

Fyi I saw the movie Easter vacation of 1972 or 1973 with my Dad and lil sis in Manhattan then saw the show spring of 1974 at the Promenade theater Broadway and 76th street (now gone) on my first real date! the tix were a bar mitzvah present from friends of my parents along w tix to pippin!! I still have the LPS to both.i have all seen the broadway revivals of both.i hope to see Wicked soon.thank you and God bless you Mr.Schwartz. most importantly I self-identify and live as a Christian now partially bc of Godspell in all of its incarnations (lol) over the years :-)

[@rayjeske6564]

I'd love to hear more of your story.

[@Roanirock]

Peggy, I'm Brazilian I'm 20, I met Godspell at age 13, won in 15 years, the film on DVD, I never had the pleasure of meeting so deeply these stories that I read the reviews and was shocked to see that the movie has many actors who come from the original Broadway, I think it makes the movie very special, I'm ecstatic to know that you participated in the composition of the song "by My Side '. Godspell will surpass more generations and can trust, depend on whether me, it will. haha

[@524sbth]

awesome to see this! thank you!

[@MrSweeneyTodd01]

I can't wait for that day! Make sure to share it with me when you do, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks for taking the time to reply to me!

[@larkluster]

Jay Hamburger wrote the lyrics; I wrote the music. His inspiration for that phrase and that action had to do with creating a sort of courage exercise; something you'd literally DO to overcome fear. Since fear can be an abstraction, Jay created this lyric to give my character a way to show her Jesus that she would indeed DO something to gain the necessary strength to follow him, since he just saved her life, after all!

[@snurfbee58]

I was today years old when I realized Victor Garber from Legends played Jesus in Godspell. I saw that movie when it first came out and thought he was so cute.

[@IDONTFEELNOPAINNOMO]

That is AWESOME!!!!

[@feralbluee]

oh thank you so much - i never saw the original on Brdwy. i did see Pippin though! My favorite Stephen Schwartz

[@larkluster]

@Hyphenated08 We just found some of the most amazing still photos of our performance on The Today Show. There's one of him that's just quintessential... his childlike goodness and infinite capacity to love is what always shone through. Yes, he had the voice of God but it was his openheartedness when he sang that makes it difficult to listen to our cast album of All Good Gifts. We miss him so!

[@Basssinger86]

Also just to add, this video is totally priceless!!! :)