The youthful exuberance necessary to bring Stephen Schwartz’s musical based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew should be in ample supply this weekend at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts. That’s because this is the 28th annual production for Cincinnati Young People’s Theatre, an organization that has involved more than 2,000 young performers from Greater Cincinnati in theatrical experiences. Many of them have gone on to careers in theater, music, dance, broadcasting and backstage endeavors, so every summer this is a great chance to scope out talent for the future.
For CYPT’s production of Godspell on Cincinnati’s West Side, the cast brings together more than 85 teens from 40 different schools across Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. Godspell was a big hit in the spring of 1971 at an off-Broadway theatre, and several of its catchy melodies became popular hits, especially “Day by Day.” (It was the first show for composer Stephen Schwartz, whose big recent hit is Wicked.) The show’s good-natured storytelling of parables and lessons is well suited to a young cast, so this promises to be an entertaining evening of summer theater. Through Aug. 2. $10-$14.
Get show details and read Rick Pender's review here.
