Pruis Hall presents a first-come first-seated presentation of"Godspell" with absolutely no price for admission for all. Thefamously positive-value-teaching musical will take place one nightonly on August 31, at 7:30 p.m.
This one-time showing is being brought to Ball State studentsand faculty by way of a private benefactor who wanted to share theenergy and positive teachings of the musical. The benefactor, whowishes to be unnamed, attended a summer performance of "Godspell"at Muncie Central High School and liked it so much he decided topay the entire cost to bring the production to the Ball StateCampus for all to see.
The musical is based on the New Testament book of Matthew anduses song and dialogue to teach key parables from the teachings ofChrist. However, though the inspiration is procured from some ofthe oldest historical stories, the musical itself is far fromarchaic and features Jesus Christ in a Superman costume throughoutthe performance.
Stacy Embry, director and producer of "Godspell" and the personinstrumental in initially bringing the musical to life at MuncieCentral High School, is an instructor in the English department atBall State and former artistic director at Muncie Civic Theatre.Embry has always enjoyed liturgical drama and finally found a waylast summer to fund "Godspell" and put on the performance at thehigh school.
Embry said the cast of ten is comprised of talented actorsincluding six Ball State students. Embry said she is grateful to beable to bring the show to the Ball State campus thanks to what shesaid was her "earthly benefactor".
"It was really gracious and out of nowhere," Embry said.
Assisting Embry in putting the show together is Emmett LeeBales, producer and cast member. Bales and Embry have workedtogether in the past and make a good team, Embry said.
Bales plays the role of Jesus Christ in the musical and teachesEnglish and Theatre at Muncie Central High School.
"Stacy Embry asked me if I would play the part," Bales said.
Bales also said that Matt Delong from Anderson was chosen toplay another main part and then the cast was developed fromthere.
"I was apprehensive because no matter what walk of life you comefrom, everybody has their own persona of Jesus -- of who he was orwasn't," Bales said.
Bales said he eventually decided to portray Jesus as sort of afun teacher, which parallels Bales' own life as a teacher.
The cast also boasts a high percentage of freshman cast members.Bales, a theater teacher and director at Muncie High School, saidhe had taught some of the cast members when they were in highschool and now everything has come full-circle and he had theopportunity to act side-by-side with some of his former students,which he said was a good experience.
"These young people are so talented. You're gonna be amazed,"Bales said.
Embry said she agrees, and she said she praises her cast,especially the freshman.
"Not often do you find people that are gifted that are thatyoung," Embry said.
The show features one intermission and is unique in that everyactor is onstage for the entire performance.
"It's an exhausting show. It's like a marathon," Embry said.
Bales said the musical is vocally demanding and active. However,he said it ranks among his favorite productions in which he hasbeen involved. One of his other memorable roles was playing Otto,the father of Anne Frank in the production by the same name, hesaid.
For the future, Bales plans to attend either New York Universityor the University of Madison Wisconsin to pursue a doctorate intheatre.
"I'm just thrilled to be doing what I'm doing," Bales said.
Bales lives by a philosophy similar to one of his favoritetheatrical lines--"Life without life has no reason or rhyme left,"spoken by Dolly Levi in "Hello Dolly."
Embry is currently working on her doctorate in English andphilosophy and has been an instructor at Ball State for threeyears.
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