|
The Gospel at ColonusOpening Date: September 12, 1985
Closing Date: September 29, 1985 (dates reflect American Music Theater Festival run) Air date: Nov 8, 1985 Medium: TV Where to watch: DVD (as an affiliate I may earn income from purchases made through this link) |
Stage Production Notes
The Gospel at Colonus is a re-telling of Sophocles’ Oepidus at Colonus through a pentecostal sermon. The production featured gospel music and the award-winning Institutional Radio Choir.
The Gospel at Colonus began life at Washington Square United Methodist Church at the ReCherChez Studio for the Avant-Garde Performing Arts in December 1981.
The show was received its official premier at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where it played for four and half weeks as part of the Next Wave Festival in November and December 1983.
The production later transferred to Broadway, opening at the Lunt-Fontane Theatre on March 24, 1988. It was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. The Broadway production played for a total of 61 performances before closing on May 15, 1988.
The Gospel at Colonus has been widely performed around Europe and the United States, and continues to be produced.
In 1996, the original cast celebrated the 1000th performance of the show at Carnegie Hall.
The Public Theater and Onassis Foundation USA presented a 35th anniversary 6-performance-concert at the Delacorte Theater in September 2018. The cast included Rev. Dr. Earl F. Miller (the Messenger), the Blind Boys of Alabama (Oedipus), the Legendary Soul Stirrers: Willie Rogers, Ben Odom, Gene Stewart (Choragos), Wren T. Brown (Theseus), Greta Oglesby (Antigone), Shari Addison (Ismene), J.D. Steele (choir director), Tina Fabrique (soloist), Jeff Young (soloist), Sam Butler Jr. (balladeer), Jay Caldwell (Creon), Kevin Davis (Polyneices), Carolyn Johnson-White (choir soloist), and Josie Johnson (chorus).
The Gospel at Colonus is available for licensing through Samuel French.
The Gospel at Colonus is a re-telling of Sophocles’ Oepidus at Colonus through a pentecostal sermon. The production featured gospel music and the award-winning Institutional Radio Choir.
The Gospel at Colonus began life at Washington Square United Methodist Church at the ReCherChez Studio for the Avant-Garde Performing Arts in December 1981.
The show was received its official premier at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where it played for four and half weeks as part of the Next Wave Festival in November and December 1983.
The production later transferred to Broadway, opening at the Lunt-Fontane Theatre on March 24, 1988. It was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. The Broadway production played for a total of 61 performances before closing on May 15, 1988.
The Gospel at Colonus has been widely performed around Europe and the United States, and continues to be produced.
In 1996, the original cast celebrated the 1000th performance of the show at Carnegie Hall.
The Public Theater and Onassis Foundation USA presented a 35th anniversary 6-performance-concert at the Delacorte Theater in September 2018. The cast included Rev. Dr. Earl F. Miller (the Messenger), the Blind Boys of Alabama (Oedipus), the Legendary Soul Stirrers: Willie Rogers, Ben Odom, Gene Stewart (Choragos), Wren T. Brown (Theseus), Greta Oglesby (Antigone), Shari Addison (Ismene), J.D. Steele (choir director), Tina Fabrique (soloist), Jeff Young (soloist), Sam Butler Jr. (balladeer), Jay Caldwell (Creon), Kevin Davis (Polyneices), Carolyn Johnson-White (choir soloist), and Josie Johnson (chorus).
The Gospel at Colonus is available for licensing through Samuel French.
Filmed Production Notes
The Gospel at Colonus was filmed during its run at the American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia.
The taping was aired PBS’ Great Performances on WNET/Thirteen in 1985. In reviewing the television program for the New York Times, critic John J. O’Connor noted that “The Gospel of Colonus survives the transformation [from stage to screen] with its unique spirit remarkably intact.”
To the delight of fans, New Video released The Gospel at Colonus on DVD in 2008 (as an affiliate I may earn income from purchases made through this link). It was also briefly available to watch on BroadwayHD.
The Gospel at Colonus was filmed during its run at the American Music Theater Festival, Philadelphia.
The taping was aired PBS’ Great Performances on WNET/Thirteen in 1985. In reviewing the television program for the New York Times, critic John J. O’Connor noted that “The Gospel of Colonus survives the transformation [from stage to screen] with its unique spirit remarkably intact.”
To the delight of fans, New Video released The Gospel at Colonus on DVD in 2008 (as an affiliate I may earn income from purchases made through this link). It was also briefly available to watch on BroadwayHD.
The Gospel at Colonus PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Annenberg Center, Philadelphia
Producer: David Horn, Yvonne Smith, John Walker, Liza Lorwin
Book: Lee Breuer
Music and Lyrics: Bob Telson
Arrangements and Conductor: Bob Telson
Director: Lee Breuer, Film: Kirk Browning
Scenic Design: Alison Yerxa
Costume Design: Ghretta Hynd
Lighting Design: Julie Archer Film: Ralph Holmes
Sound Design: Shelton Lindsay, Film: David Hewitt, Bob Telson
Hair and Wig Design: Annie DeMille
Make-Up Design: Toy Russell
Stage Manager: Sal Rasa
Cast:
Morgan Freeman (The Messenger), Clarence Fountain (Oedipus), Isabell Monk (Antigone), Carl Lumbly (Theseus), Robert Earl Jones (Creon), Jevetta Steele (Ismene), Kevin Davis (Polyneices), Martin Jacox (Choragos)
Clarence Fountain and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama
Bobby Butler, J.T. Clinkscales, Rev. Olice Thomas, Joseph Watson
J.J. Farley and The Original Soul Stirrers
Jackie Banks, Ben Odom, Willie Rogers, Martin Jacox
The J.D. Steele Singers
Frederick Steele, Jearlyn Steele-Battle, Jevette Steele
The Institutional Radio Choir
Carl Williams, Jr. (Director), J.D. Steele (Guest Choir Leader), Carolyn White (Soloist), Vincent Haddock, Jr. (Little Boy)
Abductors
Carl Williams, Jr., Hadrick Seay
The Colonus Messengers
Sam Butler (Guitar/Vocals), Butch Heyward (Organ), Lincoln Schleiffer (Bass), John Leventhal (Slide Guitar), Leroy Clouden (Drums), Bob Telson (Piano, Synthesizer), John Hagen (Bari, Alto, Soprano Saxophones), Bob Malach (Alto, Tenor Saxophones), Marc Johnson (Trombone), Guericke Royal (Trumpet)
Theatre: Annenberg Center, Philadelphia
Producer: David Horn, Yvonne Smith, John Walker, Liza Lorwin
Book: Lee Breuer
Music and Lyrics: Bob Telson
Arrangements and Conductor: Bob Telson
Director: Lee Breuer, Film: Kirk Browning
Scenic Design: Alison Yerxa
Costume Design: Ghretta Hynd
Lighting Design: Julie Archer Film: Ralph Holmes
Sound Design: Shelton Lindsay, Film: David Hewitt, Bob Telson
Hair and Wig Design: Annie DeMille
Make-Up Design: Toy Russell
Stage Manager: Sal Rasa
Cast:
Morgan Freeman (The Messenger), Clarence Fountain (Oedipus), Isabell Monk (Antigone), Carl Lumbly (Theseus), Robert Earl Jones (Creon), Jevetta Steele (Ismene), Kevin Davis (Polyneices), Martin Jacox (Choragos)
Clarence Fountain and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama
Bobby Butler, J.T. Clinkscales, Rev. Olice Thomas, Joseph Watson
J.J. Farley and The Original Soul Stirrers
Jackie Banks, Ben Odom, Willie Rogers, Martin Jacox
The J.D. Steele Singers
Frederick Steele, Jearlyn Steele-Battle, Jevette Steele
The Institutional Radio Choir
Carl Williams, Jr. (Director), J.D. Steele (Guest Choir Leader), Carolyn White (Soloist), Vincent Haddock, Jr. (Little Boy)
Abductors
Carl Williams, Jr., Hadrick Seay
The Colonus Messengers
Sam Butler (Guitar/Vocals), Butch Heyward (Organ), Lincoln Schleiffer (Bass), John Leventhal (Slide Guitar), Leroy Clouden (Drums), Bob Telson (Piano, Synthesizer), John Hagen (Bari, Alto, Soprano Saxophones), Bob Malach (Alto, Tenor Saxophones), Marc Johnson (Trombone), Guericke Royal (Trumpet)
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- Dan Dietz, The Complete Book of 1980s Broadway Musicals, Rowman & Littlefield (2016)
- Helene P. Foley, Reimagining Greek Tragedy on the American Stage, University of California Press (2012)
- Amy S. Green, The Revisionist Stage: American Directors Reinvent the Classics, Cambridge University Press (2006)
- Barbara Goff, Michael Simpson, Crossroads in the Black Aegean: Oedipus, Antigone, and Dramas of the African Diaspora, Oxford University Press (2007)
- Simon Goldhill, How to Stage a Greek Tragedy, The University of Chicago Press (2007)
- Elizabeth W. Scharffenberger, “Oedipus at Colonus,” in Eds. Rosanna Lauriola and Kyriakos N. Demetriou, Brill’s Companion to the Reception of Sophocles, Koninkliijke Brill (2017) -
Articles
- Kenji Fujishima, "Public Theater to Present 35th Anniversary Run of The Gospel at Colonus," (TheaterMania) July 24, 2018
- Robert Hurwitt, “'Gospel at Colonus' a joyful tragedy,” San Francisco Gate (Feb 26, 1997)
- Joe Klein, “Raging Glory,” New York Magazine (Feb 27, 1984) pp.76-77
- Deborah Klugman, “A Legendary Oedipus Gospel Musical Comes to West Adams,” LA Weekly (June 26, 2015)
- John J. O’Connor, “'THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS,' ON 'GREAT PERFORMANCES’” New York Times (Nov 8, 1985)
- Tim Page, “THE MUSIC THEATER FESTIVAL, A MERE IDEA IN 1983, STARTS SECOND BIG SEASON,” New York Times (Sept 15, 1985)
- Nelson Pressley, “Sing out, Oedipus! ‘Gospel at Colonus’ looks its Sunday best,” The Washington Post (March 1, 2017)
Websites
- The Neglected Books Page, ““The Gospel at Colonus” now available on DVD,” Accessed via: http://neglectedbooks.com/?p=247
- Playbill, “The Gospel at Colonus,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/the-gospel-at-colonus-lunt-fontanne-theatre-vault-0000005030
- Samuel French, “The Gospel at Colonus,” Accessed via: http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/16902/gospel-at-colonus-the
Written by Luisa Lyons (October, 2017; updated June 2020)