Godspell
What began as a Theatre 4 project, quickly grew to become strong show that looks at Theatre for Social Justice where we looked at the legacy that we wanted to leave behind at our school. By looking at a wide spread of topics including Women’s Rights, Children’s Mental Health, Immigration Laws, etc, we formed a show that built a powerful message of equality, love, and peace in our society.
First, the vision.
What was the original idea for Godspell? How did we stay true to the original vision whilst updating it through the entirety of the process?
How do we achieve the themes of Social Justice?
By utilizing publicity and also the costumes themselves, we were able to illustrate to our audience immediately what topics we were trying to make them aware of. By using current day newspapers with parallels between our topics and current events, we were able to show all of the topics with these photos.
Product
As the costume and newspaper designer for this production, what did the product look like in order to accomplish this theme?
Costume Design
With a total of 12 different and unique overalls, they each symbolized a different theme. With some of the phrases being “Equal” or “Change”, this was one of the many ways we illustrated these social justice topics to the audience.
Sound Design
At the opening of the show, we wanted something to capture our audience immediately and express what we were trying to do with Godspell. The opening soundscape is compiled of interviews, speeches, and news reports that all surround the topics shown in our revised version. These audio clips are both current and past recordings that include speakers such as Zohran Mamdani, Harvy Milk, Greta Thunberg, and more. Every clip is used to express the need for change while also stating the current issues we are facing.
Finished Product
By putting all of the elements together, we were able to execute a personable and powerful show to make a better future.
