1|GODSPELL line assignments
Godspell Line-Assignment Script
(On stage, as the audience comes in, the TECH CREW cleans up the ruined building’s site. They lower the
screen for the PowerPoint. As they raise the screen, The PHARISEES mill about the auditorium,
mindlessly shouting messages from well-known demagogues. Some APOSTLES sit in actual seats. There
is the sound of a horn and a LIGHT change, and the ACTORS crouch and freeze. From the rear of the
auditorium, JOHN THE BAPTIST’s voice rings out. As the song continues, the faculty, faculty children, and
APOSTLES join in as the PHARISEES leave.)
SONG #3: PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD
JOHN THE BAPTIST
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
(As APOSTLES join in singing, the PHARISEES stomp out.)
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
(During the end of this song, CHORUS A2 moves to side seats.)
Ye vipers’ brood! I baptize you with water, for repentance sake. . . but he who comes after me is
mightier than I. I am not fit to take off his shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!
(JESUS breaks away from the TECH CREW and walks up to him.)
JESUS
Okay!
JOHN THE BAPTIST
(In wonder.) Do you come to me?
JESUS
Yeah. (Grins impishly.) I wanna get washed up.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
(Kneeling.) I need rather to be baptized by you.
JESUS
(Raising him.) No, no. Let it be so for the present. We do well now to conform to all that God requires.
(He baptizes Jesus who then steps forward and sings.)
2|GODSPELL line assignments
SONG: SAVE THE PEOPLE
JESUS:
WHEN WILT THOU SAVE THE PEOPLE?
O GOD OF MERCY, WHEN?
NOT KINGS AND LORDS BUT NATIONS,
NOT THRONES AND CROWNS, BUT MEN!
FLOW’RS OF THY HEART, O GOD, ARE THEY.
LET THEM NOT PASS LIKE WEEDS AWAY.
THEIR HERITAGE A SUNLESS DAY.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
SHALL CRIME BRING CRIME FOREVER,
STRENGTH AIDDING STILL THE STRONG?
IS IT THY WILL, O FATHER,
THAT MAN SHALL TOIL FOR WRONG?
NO, SAY THY MOUNTAINS,
NO SAY THY SKIES.
MAN’S CLOUDED SUN SHALL BRIGHTLY RISE
AND SONGS BE HEARD INSTEAD OF SIGHS.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
WHEN WILT THOU SAVE THE PEOPLE?
O GOD OF MERCY, WHEN?
THE PEOPLE, LORD, THE PEOPLE,
NOT THRONES AND CROWNS, BUT MEN!
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE FOR THINE THEY ARE,
THY CHILDREN AS THY ANGELS FAIR.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE FROM DESPAIR,
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
COMPANY
O GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
JESUS
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE
COMPANY
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
ALL
WHEN WILT THOU SAVE THE PEOPLE?
O GOD OF MERCY, WHEN?
THE PEOPLE, LORD, THE PEOPLE,
NOT THRONES AND CROWNS, BUT MEN!
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE, SAVE US
FOR THINE THEY ARE, FOR THINE THEY ARE
THY CHILDREN AS THY ANGELS FAIR.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE
SAVE THE PEOPLE
FROM DESPAIR,
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
3|GODSPELL line assignments
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
O GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
O GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
(During the end of this song, CHORUS A3 and B1 move to side seats & A2 moves to Center seats.)
JESUS
Now do not suppose that I have come to abolish the Law and the prophets. I did not come to abolish,
but to complete. (Points to TOMMY.)
TOMMY
Gather ‘round, brothers and sisters. Because two men—I said, two men—
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Hallelujah!
TOMMY
Went off to the temple to pray. One, a Pharisee. . . (All cheer him.) And the other a tax collector. (All
boo him—except JOSEPH who cheers him, gets embarrassed, and switches to a boo.) The Pharisee, why
he just stood right on up and pra-a-a-a-a-yed thus—
PHARISEE (played by SYDNEY)
I thank thee, O God that I am not like other men. . . greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or— for that
matter—like that tax collector. I pray twice a week. Get that—twice a week! And I pay taxes on all that
I get. (All cheer.)
TOMMY
But the other kept his distance and would not even raise his eyes to the good Lord in heaven. (To the
tax collector.) I said the good Lord in Heaven.
TAX COLLECTOR/MADELYN
Amen, brother.
TOMMY
But beat upon his breast, saying
TAX COLLECTOR/MADELYN
O God, have mercy upon me, sinner that I am. (All boo. Jesus walks to the Collector.)
JESUS
But it was this man, I tell you—
PHARISEE/SYDNEY
You’ve got to be kidding—
4|GODSPELL line assignments
JESUS
--and not the other that God quitted of his sins.
TOMMY
For every man who exalts himself shall be humbled. (Shown by the Pharisee.) But every man who
humbles himself shall be exalted. (ALL cheer.)
(JESUS hands TOMMY the first red ribbon.)
JESUS
You have learned that they were told, do not commit murder. Anyone who commits murder must be
brought to judgment. But what I tell you is this. . .anyone who nurses anger against his brother must be
brought to judgment.
ANDREW
So he who abuses his brother must answer for it in the court!
SEILER
But he who sneers at his brother—must answer for it in the fires of Hell. (BACKGROUND CHORUS
becomes demons along with APOSTLES.)
FORREST
But what if you are bringing a gift to the altar and you suddenly remember that your brother has a
grievance against you?
JESUS
(To ANDREW.) Leave the gift where it is before the altar. Leave it. LEAVE IT!
ANDREW
Okay.
JESUS
First, go and make peace with your brother. Now go and offer your gift.
SEILER
But what if your brother sues you?
JESUS
You’d better settle with him quickly, or he’ll hand you over to the judge--and the judge to the constable
--and you’ll end in jail. And I tell you, you’ll not get out of there until you’ve paid the last penny.
(After this is enacted, JESUS hands out RIBBONS to ANDREW, FORREST, & SEILER. He then begins a rap
beat and tosses a mic to JOSEPH)
JOSEPH
There once was a king.
5|GODSPELL line assignments
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Yeah, yeah!
JOSEPH
Who decided to settle accounts with the men who served him.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Yeah, yeah!
JOSEPH
There appeared before him-APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Yeah, yeah!
JOSEPH
--a man whose debt ran into the millions!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
What?
JOSEPH
I said the millions!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Whoa!
JOSEPH
Since the man had no means
Of paying the money
To meet the debt
The king ordered him—
KING/TOMMY
--to be sold
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Oh!
JOSEPH
With his wife-APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
No!
JOSEPH
And his child—
6|GODSPELL line assignments
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Whoa!
JOSEPH
And everything he had!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Yo!
JOSEPH
So the man threw himself at his master’s feet-HANNAH
(Breaking rhythm.) Oh, be patient with me-JOSEPH
He said
HANNAH
And I will pay you in full. . . (Aside )just as soon as I __________________ (E.g., get my tax refund)
JOSEPH
And so moved by pity was the master
That he decided to free the man
And remit all his debt! (TOMMY ad-libs a speech freeing the debt.)
Let’s hear it for the master!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
(Cheer.)
JUDAS
Wait a minute. That’s not the end of the story. No sooner had the man gone out, then he met a fellow
servant who owed him a few dollars. (ANDREW plays the SERVANT. ) He gripped him by the throat and
said—
HANNAH
Pay me what you owe me!
JUDAS
The fellow servant threw himself at the man’s feet and begged—
ANDREW
B-b-b-be patient with me, and I shall p-p-pay you.
JUDAS
But the man refused and had him jailed until he should pay the debt.
7|GODSPELL line assignments
JOSEPH
The other servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened. They ran and told their
master the whole story!
TOMMY
You scoundrel!
JOSEPH
He said to him.
TOMMY
I remitted the whole of your debt when you appealed to me. Were you not bound to show your fellow
servant the same pity I showed you?
JOSEPH
(In extreme, unintelligible street slang.) [And so angry was the master that he condemned the man to
torture until he could pay the debt in full.]
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
What?
JOSEPH
And so angry was the master that he condemned the man to torture until he could pay the debt in full.
(APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS CHEER.)
(JESUS gives a RIBBON to JOSEPH then kneels down by imprisoned HANNAH)
JESUS
And that is how my Heavenly Father will deal with you unless you unless you each forgive your brothers
and sisters from your hearts.
SONG: DAY BY DAY: HANNAH
HANNAH
DAY BY DAY, DAY BY DAY
OH, DEAR LORD, THREE THINGS I PRAY:
TO SEE THEE MORE CLEARLY,
LOVE THEE MORE DEARLY,
FOLLOW THEE MORE NEARLY
DAY BY DAY.
(ADD GIRL BACK-UP SINGERS.)
DAY BY DAY, DAY BY DAY
OH, DEAR LORD, THREE THINGS I PRAY:
TO SEE THEE MORE CLEARLY,
LOVE THEE MORE DEARLY,
FOLLOW THEE MORE NEARLY
DAY BY DAY.
8|GODSPELL line assignments
DAY BY DAY, DAY BY DAY
OH, DEAR LORD, THREE THINGS I PRAY:
TO SEE THEE MORE CLEARLY,
LOVE THEE MORE DEARLY,
FOLLOW THEE MORE NEARLY
DAY BY DAY.
DAY BY DAY, DAY BY DAY
OH, DEAR LORD, THREE THINGS I PRAY:
TO SEE THEE MORE CLEARLY,
LOVE THEE MORE DEARLY,
FOLLOW THEE MORE NEARLY
DAY BY DAY.
DAY BY DAY, DAY BY DAY
OH, DEAR LORD, THREE THINGS I PRAY:
TO SEE THEE MORE CLEARLY,
LOVE THEE MORE DEARLY,
FOLLOW THEE MORE NEARLY
DAY BY DAY.
(During the end of this song, CHORUS B2 moves to side seats & A4/B1 moves to Center seats.)
DAY BY DAY, DAY BY DAY
OH, DEAR LORD, THREE THINGS I PRAY:
TO SEE THEE MORE CLEARLY,
LOVE THEE MORE DEARLY,
FOLLOW THEE MORE NEARLY
DAY BY DAY.
(At the end of the song, JESUS gives a RIBBON to HANNAH.)
JESUS
If your right eye offends you, tear it out and fling it away.
GRETCHEN
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!
JESUS
It’s better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole of it to be thrown into Hell.
(BACKGROUND CHORUS become devils and create Hell for 3 counts) Now you can put her down!
TOMMY
I would, but. . .she’s got a weak back.
JESUS
Since when?
TOMMY
Uh. . .since about a week back.
JUDAS
Master, let me chastise the vixen.
9|GODSPELL line assignments
JESUS
Why don’t you just—
JESUS AND JUDAS
(In unison.) Get back there.
JESUS
Now if your right hand offends you, I want you to cut it off and fling it away.
GRETCHEN
O, c’mon!
JESUS
Look, it’s better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole of it to be thrown into Hell.
(BACKGROUND CHORUS become devils and create Hell for 3 counts) You’ve heard they were told-CHELSEA
(Like Dracula. )An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
JESUS
But what I tell you is this—never set against a man who wrongs you.
CALLIE
So if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn and offer him your left?
JESUS
That’s right.
JUDAS
That’s stupid. (JESUS slaps JUDAS across the face. All gasp and JUDAS angrily raises his hand to strike back.
He freezes with his hand in mid-air. Looking at his hand, he suddenly turns it into a “telephone” and pretends
to get a call.) Hello. (Pretends to listen; then to JESUS.) It’s for you. It’s your father. He wants you to friend
him on Facebook.
JESUS
Now if a man sues you for your shirt
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
CHARADES!
TOMMY
Before the show, those of you who were interested in participating in tonight’s performance signed up in the
lobby. Matt Hess—would you bring me the bowl and let me draw the names of the people performing with
us tonight? (Matt brings bowl with names. Tommy draws a red slip for Participant 1 and a green slip for
participant 2 and a yellow slip for Lazarus. He reads them, and returns the bowl to Matt.) So performing in
our Charades tonight are ________________ and ______________. Come on down! (Leads applause.
10 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
GEOFFREY goes to get the first participant and CALLIE gets the second—and seats him/her in the pit and stays
by him/her.)
JESUS
Now, if a man sues you for your shirt…(JESUS whispers answer to participant 1 who acts it out as the CAST
tries to guess.)
JOSEPH: Wrong answer 1
ANDREW: Wrong answer 2
TOMMY: Wrong answer 3
ERIK VOKOUN, ZACH AMATO, CORY LENTZ, STEWART BARNETT
(Standing and shouting ) Give him your coat as well! Duh!
JESUS
Yes! Give him your coat as well!
Geoffrey
Please give it up for _________________________. (Helps Participant 1 back to his/her seat, as...)
JESUS
Now, if a man in authority asks you to go one mile with him… (CALLIE bringS PARTICIPANT 2 up to play
Charades. JESUS whispers the answer.) Now, if a man in authority asks you to go one mile with him…
(PARTICIPANT 2 enacts the answer “Charades” style.)
TOMMY: Wrong answer 1
GEOFFREY: Wrong answer 2.
(JESSE Zickel, Daniel Spitza, and Will Thompson start across carrying construction supplies and stop to
watch.)
ANDREW Wrong answer 3
SEILER: Wrong answer 4.
STEWART BARNETT: Wrong answer 5.
JESSE: I know! Go with him two!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Yay!
TOMMY
Give it up for ___________________________________. (BACKGROUND CHORUS and BACKGROUND
CHORUS wave their hands to be called on. JESUS points to one.)
11 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
ROSALIE USHER
Give when you are asked to give. (Hand-waving. JESUS points to another.)
ERIK VOKOUN
And never turn your back-- (APOSTLES all turn backs on Jesus.)
JESUS
On one who wants to borrow. (DANIEL SPITZA—dressed like tech crew—continues across stage with
something that can be used as drums.) Hey, Daniel, can I borrow that drum? (Daniel looks confused, so
Jesus indicates the “drum.” DANIEL hands it to him.) Actually, let me borrow you as well. (JESUS shows him
how to play the “drum,” and Daniel takes off starting the beat. GRETCHEN dances center and begins.)
GRETCHEN
A man on his way to Jericho (SEILER)
Was set upon by robbers
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
(In rhythm) Oh oh oh!
GRETCHEN
They beat him
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Eek!
GRETCHEN
Stripped him
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Ick!
GRETCHEN
And knocked him on the head
And when they left
They left him for dead
Now it so happened a priest came by
And the poor broken man he spied
He said...
PRIEST/TOMMY
You're not an altar boy... (or some other priest-related ad lib)
GRETCHEN
And he passed on the other side.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
(Echoes) And he passed on the other side.
GRETCHEN
So too a judge happened on the man
12 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
But he barely broke his stride
He said...
JUDGE/ANDREW
Sorry, important case, Lindsay Lohan ... again! (or some other judge-related ad lib)
GRETCHEN
And he passed on the other side.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
He passed on the other side.
GRETCHEN
But then there happened upon the man
A poor and lowly...
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
... Samaritan!
GRETCHEN
First he took pity, then he took troubles
To bathe the man's wounds in oil and bubbles
APOSTLES
Bubble bubble bubble-BACKGROUND CHORUS
Bubble bubble bubble!
GRETCHEN
He bandaged his wounds and carried him—
He bandaged his wounds and carried him—( (break rhythm—then resume when Hannah moves him)
He bandaged his wounds and carried him—
Right to the nearest Holiday Inn
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
(Chants a well-known commercial hotel tune.)
GRETCHEN
And there he paid the Man's room and board
With two pieces of silver he couldn't afford
And said to the innkeeper...
(The rhythm stops for the following line)
SAMARITAN/HANNAH
Look after him. And if you spend anymore, I will repay you on my way back.
13 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
(Starts drumming again)
JESUS
Now which of these three was a neighbor to the man?
The priest, the judge, or the Samaritan. (JOSEPH raises his hand, excited to “know” the answer.)
JOSEPH
The priest! (An older apostle knocks him in the head.)
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
The Samaritan!
JESUS
(Starts rhythm again. ) You win the prize!
Now all of you go and do likewise
(GRETCHEN holds her hand out for her ribbon, but JESUS teases her, pretending to give it and then snatching it away,
but he finally gives it to her and she dances around triumphantly, showing it off.
JESUS
You have learned that they were told—
ERIN REYNOLDS
Love your neighbor! (APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS show love to each other.)
CORY LENTZ
Hate your enemy! (APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS stage a fight. JESUS has to struggle to make
himself heard.)
JESUS
Freeze! But what I tell you is this—love—(STAIRS A strikes loving pose with partner)—love—
(Background Chorus Group Center strikes loving pose with partner) love--—(STAIRS B strikes loving
pose with partner)--your enemies! (JESUS walks over to JUDAS.) And pray for your persecutors.
JUDAS
You don’t mean. . ?
JESUS
I do. (JUDAS and FIGHT PARTNER reluctantly make up.) Only then can you be called Children of your
Heavenly Father—
SYDNEY
--who makes the sun rise –
(CORY LENTZ rises as the sun.)
and set—
(CORY LENTZ sets as the sun.)
on the good—
(REYNOLDS, VARGHESE, OLSEN, YOUNG, BARNETT, USHER, REILLY strike good-people poses)
14 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
and bad—
(K. GLASER, LENTZ, VOKOUN, AMATO, ERNSTBERGER, WALSH, KRAUTH strike bad-people poses)
alike—
(BACKGROUND good and bad people put arms around each other’s shoulders.)
FOREST
--and sends the rain on the honest—
(REYNOLDS and WALSH become the rain. Everyone in the background strikes honest poses except
BARNETT, VOKOUN, and AMATO.)
-- as well as the dishonest.
(BACKGROUND people glare at BARNETT, VOKOUN, and AMATO, catching them in dishonest acts.)
JOSPEH
If you greet only those who greet you—
(STAIRS A stand and wave to STAIRS B who wave back.)
--what reward can you expect?
(BACKGROUND CHORUS strikes shrug
pose.)
CALLIE
Even the tax collectors do as much as that!
TOMMY
And if you love only those who love you—
(STAIRS A stand and blow kisses to STAIRS B who catch the kisses back.)
--what is there extraordinary in that?
MADELYN
Even the heathen do as much!
JESUS
No, your goodness must no know bounds. . .just as your Heavenly Father’s goodness knows no limit.
ANDREW
Like this! (ANDREW shows off being holy. JESUS stops him.)
JESUS
But be careful not to make a show of your religion before men. (ANDREW looks abashed.)
ANDREW
Sorry. (HANNAH goes over and shows off comforting ANDREW.)
15 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
JESUS
When you do some act of charity— (BACKGROUND CHORUS stands up and gives a fanfare. JOSEPH
makes a big show of doing an act of charity and gives a ta-da.) --don’t announce it with a flourish of
trumpets. (JOSEPH & BACKGROUND CHORUS look abashed.) No, when you do some act of charity—
(takes out magic scarf)—don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. (Changes scarf. All
ooh and ahh.)
JUDAS
What Jesus means to say is (makes up a big story about God and secrets, such as “that when God tells a
little secret on us, angels write it down in a big book. . .)
JESUS
No, no, no! Your heavenly Father—who sees what is done in secret—will do what?
TOMMY: Dumb answer 1.
SEILER: Dumb answer 2.
JOSEPH: Dumb answer 3. (Finally JUDAS IMPATIENTLY says--)
JUDAS
Reward you! (Jesus indicates his approval which prompts JUDAS to attempt the next parable.)
There once was a rich man (MADELYN) who dressed in purple, and the finest linens, and ____(adds
some fancy brand names.)
RICH MAN/MADELYN
That’s me!
JUDAS
…and every day feasted in great magnificence.
MADELYN-- RICH MAN
I like my steak done medium well, if you can’t do that, you’re fired.
JUDAS
At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus...
TOMMY
Lazarus! _____________________ (3rd participant’s name.) Come on down! (They grab FACULTY MEMBER 3
and bring him/her on stage to portray Lazarus.)
JUDAS
...who would have been glad to have satisfied his hunger with the scraps from the rich man’s table. (Hands
him an index card with his line.)
FACULTY MEMBER 3
(Reading from notecards) Hi, I’m Lazarus. Would it be possible to have a scrap of bread from your table?
16 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
JUDAS
Even the doggy-doggies used to come and lick his open, running sores. (APOSTLES “lick” FACULTY MEMBER 3
and lift their legs to “pee” on him/her.)
JUDAS
But one day the poor man died—and was carried off by angels—to be with Abraham (FORREST).
(CHELSEA, HANNAH, & GRETCHEN appear as Charlie’s Angels and take LAZARUS to ABRAHAM.)
The rich man also died. . .and was buried among the demons in Hades. . . (Remaining APOSTLES &
BACKGROUND CHORUS become DEVILS.)
MADELYN
Hello.
DEVILS & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Hello.
JUDAS
. . .where he was in torment! (With a roar, the demons jump on RICH MAN and begin tormenting him.)
He looked up, and far away were the angels with Abraham with Lazarus close beside him.
MADELYN
Oh, Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my
tongue, for I am in agony in this fire.
ABRAHAM/FORREST
Remember, my child, that all good things fell to you while you were on earth, and the bad to _____
(Names actor’s real name for the actor who plays Lazarus.) And now it is he who has consolation here
and you are in agony. (To audience.) Now everyone give it up for _____________. (Names actor’s real
name for the actor who plays Lazarus.) But that ain’t all. There’s a great chasm fixed between us, and
no one from your side who wants to cross it can. . .and no one from our side who wants to cross it can. .
.either. (APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS laugh in an evil manner)
MADELYN
Then, Father Abraham, send Lazarus to my Father’s house where I have five brothers—(Male APOSTLES
become Brothers) to warn them so that they too may not come to this place of torment.
ABRAHAM/FORREST
They’ve got Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.
MADELYN
But if someone from the dead should rise, they would listen.
ABRAHAM/FORREST
Look, if they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they ain’t gonna listen to nobody, even if
somebody should rise from the dead.
17 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
ANDREW
Let’s hear it for Lazarus! (As audience applauds, Andrew leads Lazarus back to his seat.)
SONG: LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL—MADELYN
MADELYN
I CAN SEE A SWATH OF SINNERS SETTIN’ YONDER
AND THEY’RE ACTING LIKE A PACK OF FOOLS.
( APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS snap into fool pose)
GAZIN’ INTO SPACE, THEY LET THEIR MINDS WANDER
‘STEAD OF STUDYING THE GOOD LORD’S RULES.
( APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS snap into fool pose 2)
HEY! YOU BETTER PAY ATTENTION,
( APOSTLES & BACKGROUND GIRLS snap into attention pose)
BUILD YOUR COMPREHENSION,
(BACKGROUND GUYS snap into attention pose)
THERE’S GONNA BE A QUIZ AT YOUR ASCENSION,
( APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS snap into frantic quiz-flunking pose)
NOT TO MENTION ANY THREAT OF HELL,
( APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS snap into HELL pose)
BUT IF YOU’RE SMART, YOU’LL LEARN YOUR LESSON WELL.
( APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS snap into study pose)
EV’RY BRIGHT DESCRIPTION OF THE PROMISED LAND MEANT
YOU CAN REACH IT IF YOU KEEP ALERT.
LEARNING EVERY LINE AND EVERY LAST COMMANDMENT
MAY NOT HELP YOU, BUT IT COULDN’T HURT.
FIRST YOU GOTTA READ’EM,
THEN YOU GOTTA HEED’EM.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU’RE GONNA NEED’EM.
JUST AS OLD ELIJAH SAID TO JEZEBEL:
YOU BETTER START TO LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
( APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS snap into study pose)
JESUS
THE LAMP...
OTHERS
… LAMP…..LAMP…
JESUS
...OF THE BODY...
OTHERS
…BODY, BODY….
JESUS
IS THE EYE.
OTHERS
…EYE…EYE…EYE…EYE…EYE...
18 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
JESUS
IF YOUR EYE…
OTHERS
…EYE…EYE… EYE…
JESUS
…IS BAD…
OTHERS
...BADDY...BADDY...
JESUS
...YOUR WHOLE BODY WILL BE DARKNESS.
OTHERS
…WHOLE BODY WILL BE DARKNESS-NESS-NESS-NESS-NESS-NESS...
JESUS
AND IF DARKNESS IS ALL AROUND....
OTHERS
DARKNESS ALL AROUND….
JESUS
...YOUR SOUL….
OTHERS
…SOUL...SOUL...SOUL...
JESUS
...WILL BE DOUBLY UNBRIGHT.
OTHERS
….DOUBLY UNBRIGHT...
JESUS
BUT…
OTHERS
…BUT...BUT...BUT…
JESUS
...IF YOUR EYE…
OTHERS
…EYE IS SOUND...SOUND...
JESUS
...YOUR WHOLE…
OTHERS
… WHOLE…
JESUS
...BODY WILL BE...
OTHERS
…BODY WILL BE…
JESUS
...FILLED WITH LIGHT.
OTHERS
…WITH LIGHT...
JESUS
YOUR WHOLE BODY WIL BE FILLED WITH LIGHT.
OTHERS
...WHOLE BODY WIL BE FILLED WITH LIGHT.
JESUS
YOUR WHOLE BODY WILL BE FILLED……
OTHERS
…FILLED, FILLED, FILLED, FILLED, FILLED,
19 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
FILLED, FILLED, FILLED, FILLED, FILLED,
FILLED, FILLED, FILLED, FILLED, FILLED...
JESUS
WITH LIGHT.
OTHERS
…LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT,
LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT...
MADELYN
I CAN SEE A SWATH OF SINNERS SITTIN’ YONDER
AND THEY’RE ACTIN LIKE A PACK OF FOOLS.
(During the end of this song, CHORUS B2 moves to Center seats & A5 moves to side seats.)
OH! GAZING INTO SPACE, THEY LET THEIR MINDS WANDER
‘STEAD OF STUDYIN’ THE GOOD LORD’S RULES.
YOU BETTER PAY ATTENTION
BUILD YOUR COMPREHENSION
THERE’S GONNA BE A QUIZ AT YOUR ASCENSION.
OTHERS
…LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
MADELYN
NOT TO MENTION ANY THREAT OF HELL!
OTHERS
…LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL
MADELYN
JUST AS OLD ELIJAH SAID TO JEZEBEL:
YOU BETTER START TO LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
GROUP 1
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
GROUP 2
GROUP 1
GROUP 2
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
YA BETTER START TO
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
YA BETTER START TO
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
YA BETTER START TO
LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
MADELYN
YOU BETTER START TO LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL!
(JESUS gives a ribbon to MADELYN.)
JESUS
Now no one can be the slave of two masters.
YA
20 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
CHELSEA
Either he will love the first. . .
(BACKGROUND CHORUS divides into groups of three. The middle person hugs Person 2)
and hate the second—
(BACKGROUND CHORUS: The middle person glares at Person 3.)
CALLIE
. . .or be devoted to the second. .
(BACKGROUND CHORUS: The middle person hugs Person 3.)
.and think nothing of the first.
(BACKGROUND CHORUS: The middle person pushes Person 2 away.)
JESUS
No man can serve God—
BACKGROUND CHORUS and Apostles
What?
JESUS
. . .and money. (JESUS points at CALLIE who narrates the parable.)
CALLIE
There once was a rich man whose land yielded heavy crops.
(BACKGROUND CHORUS become various crops popping through the earth into full growth.)
STAIRS A
Fruit!
CENTER BACKGROUND
Veggies!
STAIRS B
Grain!
CALLIE
He cared not for the people who tended his crops—
(BACKGROUND MEN stand and become farmers)
though they worked long hours—
(BACKGROUND MEN work hard.)
and were paid a fraction of the rich man’s salary.
(BACKGROUND MEN show displeasure at the little amount of money.)
He debated with himself—
RICH FARMER (TOMMY)
(TOMMY plays a schizophrenic person performing both sides of the argument until. . .) Oh, what shall I
do? I have not enough room to store all my—(names 7 different vegetables and grains and BARNETT,
VOKOUN, AMATO, HOMMRICH, MEYER, NEWTON, & LAMPPIN pose as each one. He gets an idea.)
BACKGROUND CHORUS and APOSTLES
21 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
Bing!
TOMMY
Ahh, this is what I will do-- I will tear down my storehouses and build them bigger. (SEILER AND FOREST
play the torn-down and bigger storehouses and OTHER APOSTLES build them bigger.) I will collect in
them all ______and ___________ (Names 7 foods such as Dorritos and BARNETT, VOKOUN, AMATO,
HOMMRICH, MEYER, NEWTON, & LAMPPIN become each one. MADELYN, SIDNEY, GEOFFREY
GRETCHEN, CHELSEA, JOSEPH, & ANDREW move them through the entrance. ) And then I will say unto
myself, “Man, you have plenty of good things laid by you—enough to last you many years.”
ERIN WALSH
Take life easy!
CORY LENTZ
Eat.
KATHERINE GLASER
Drink!
MEREDITH ERNSTBERGER
Enjoy yourself!
CALLIE
But then God said to the man—
JESUS
You fool! This very night you must surrender your life. You have made your money. Who will get it
now? (He gestures to CALLIE to continue.)
SONG: O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL— CALLIE
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL.
HIS GRACE TO THEE PROCLAIM.
AND APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS THAT IS WITHIN ME JOIN
TO BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL!
HIS MERCIES BEAR IN MIND!
FORGET NOT APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS HIS BENEFITS—
THE LORD TO THEE IS KIND.
APOSTLE GIRLS:
HE WILL NOT ALWAYS CHIDE.
HE WILL WITH PATIENCE WAIT.
HIS WRATH IS EVER SLOW TO RISE—
CALLIE
AND READY TO ABATE
AND READY TO ABATE
AND READY TO
AND READY TO ABATE
MEN
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
AND READY TO ABATE
GIRLS
AND READY TO ABATE
22 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
CALLIE & OTHER GIRLS
HE PARDONS ALL THY SINS
PROLONGS THY FEEBLE BREATH
HE HEALETH THY INFIRMITIES
MEN
ALL THY SINS
FEEBLE BREATH
CALLIE
AND RANSOMS THEE FROM DEATH.
GIRLS
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL.
CALLIE
OH YEAH!
MEN
O, BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL.
CALLIE & OTHER GIRLS
HE CLOTHES THEE WITHHIS LOVE
UPHOLDS THEE WITH HIS TRUTH
AND LIKE AN EAGLE HE RENEWS
MEN
WITH HIS LOVE
WITH HIS TRUTH
CALLIE THE VIGOR OF HIS YOUTH
CALLIE & OTHER GIRLS
HE CLOTHES THEE WITH HIS LOVE
UPHOLDS THEE WITH HIS TRUTH
AND LIKE AN EAGLE HE RENEWS
MEN
WITH HIS LOVE
WITH HIS TRUTH
CALLIE
THE VIGOR OF THY YOUTH.
CALLIE AND APOSTLE GIRLS
THEN BLESS HIS HOLY NAME
WHOSE GRACE HAS MADE THEE WHOLE:
WHOSE LOVE AND KINDNESS CROWNS THY DAYS.
CALLIE
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
MEN
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
MY SOUL, MY SOUL
GIRLS
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
MY SOUL
CALLIE & 2 OTHERS
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
CALLIE
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
GROUP 1
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE
GROUP 2
O BLESS THE LORD
BLESS MY SOUL
O BLESS THE LORD
BLESS MY SOUL
23 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
(During the end of this song, CHORUS C moves to side seats.)
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD
MY SOUL!
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS OTHERS
BLESS THE LORD
BLESS THE LORD
BLESS THE LORD
BLESS THE LORD
BLESS THE LORD
BLESS THE LORD
O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL!
(At the end of the song, JESUS gives CALLIE the ribbon.)
JESUS
Therefore I bid you—put away anxious thoughts of food and clothes. Surely life is more than food and
the body is more than clothes—
TOMMY
(Indicates GRETCHEN) Her body is more than clothes. Look—I’ll show you—
JESUS
Consider the lilies of the field. (BACKGROUND CHORUS form lilies)
ANDREW
They don’t work--(BACKGROUND CHORUS look like guilty lilies)
HANNAH
they don’t even spin—(BACKGROUND CHORUS look like even guiltier lilies)
JESUS
-- and yet I tell you, Solomon in all his splendor was not attired like one of these.
MADELYN
Now if that’s how God clothes the grass—
JOSEPH
--which is here one day—
(BACKGROUND CHORUS and APOSTLES spring up to become grass.)
and gone the next—
(BACKGROUND CHORUS and APOSTLES wilt quickly.)
JESUS
Will God not all the more clothe you? How little faith you have! So don’t go around anxiously asking,
“What am I to eat? What am I to drink?”
SEILER
What are we to eat?
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Don’t ask that!
24 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
JESUS
So don’t worry about tomorrow.
GIRLS IN BACKGROUND CHORUS
Tomorrow will take care of itself.
JESUS
Each day has problems of its own. (APOSTLES begin ad-libbing problems.) Group Jeopardy! Category—
Beatitudes. ( The Musicians ad-lib the Jeopardy theme. Suddenly HANNAH’s hand shoots up. JESUS calls
on her.)
HANNAH
Master! Master! For two hundred--Blessed are the poor in spirit
JESUS
What is—(gestures to Background Chorus.)
BACKGROUND CHORUS
“For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
FORREST
For $400--Blessed are they that mourn.
JESUS
What is—For they shall be—
BACKGROUND CHORUS AND JESUS
Comforted!
CHELSEA
For 600--Blessed are the meek—
JESUS
What is--For they shall—
BACKGROUND CHORUS AND JESUS
Inherit the earth!
MADELYN
For 800--Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice—
JESUS
What is--For they shall be—
BACKGROUND CHORUS AND JESUS
Filled!
25 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
GRETCHEN
For a thousand--Blessed are the merciful—
JESUS
What is--For they shall have—
BACKGROUND CHORUS AND JESUS
Mercy!
SYDNEY
For two thousand--Blessed are the pure in heart—
JESUS
What is--For they shall see—
BACKGROUND CHORUS AND JESUS
God!
SEILER
For ten thousand--Blessed are the peacemakers—
JESUS
What is--For they shall be called—
BACKGROUND CHORUS AND JESUS
The children of God!
JOSEPH
For sixty-seven gazillion five hundred and thirty two dollars and sixteen cents--Blessed are they who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake—
JESUS
What is--For theirs is the Kingdom of—
BACKGROUND CHORUS AND JESUS
Heaven!
JUDAS
(Points to Jesus.) Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil
against you falsely—(During this, the light turns red. GROUP is upset—this is the first dark moment in
the show. JESUS gestures the lights to change back, and then speaks to break the tension.)
JESUS
Did I ever tell you that I used to read feet? No, it’s true. Some people read palms or tea leaves. I read
feet. (Picks up ERIK’s front row foot.) Look what this foot says. It says, “Rejoice!”
26 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
ERIK VOKOUN
No! It says Ree-bok!
JESUS
No, no, rejoice and be exceedingly glad. For great is your reward in—(Pauses and coaches the OTHERS
to respond.)
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS BUT NOT JUDAS
Heaven!
SONG: ALL FOR THE BEST-- JESUS, JUDAS
JESUS
WHEN YOU FEEL SAD AND UNDER A CURSE,
YOUR LIFE IS BAD, YOUR PROSPECTS ARE WORSE.
YOUR WIFE IS SIGHING, CRYING, AND YOUR OLIVE TREE IS DYING—
TEMPLES ARE GRAYING, AND TEETH ARE DECAYING, AND CREDITORS WEIGHING YOUR PURSE—
YOUR MOOD AND YOUR ROBE ARE BOTH A DEEP BLUE.
YOU’D BET THAT JOB HAS NOTHING ON YOU—
DON’T FORGET THAT WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN, YOU’LL BE BLESSED.
YES, IT’S ALL FOR THE BEST.
JUDAS
SOME MEN ARE BORN TO LIVE AT EASE, DOING WHAT THEY PLEASE,
RICHER THAN THE BEES ARE IN HONEY.
NEVER GROWING OLD, NEVER FEELING COLD,
PULLING POTS OF GOLD FROM THIN AIR.
THE BEST IN EV’RY TOWN, BEST AT SHAKING DOWN,
BEST AT MAKING MOUNTAINS OF MONEY—
THEY CAN’T TAKE IT WITH THEM, BUT WHAT DO THEY CARE?
THEY GET THE CENTER OF THE MEAT, CUSHIONS ON THEIR SEAT
HOUSES ON A STREET WHERE IT’S SUNNY,
SUMMERS AT THE SEA, WINTERS WARM AND FREE
ALL OF THIS, AND WE GET THE REST—
BUT WHO IS THE LAND FOR? THE SUN AND THE SAND FOR?
YOU GUESSED—IT’S ALL FOR THE BEST.
JESUS
WHEN YOU FEEL SAD
AND UNDER A CURSE,
YOUR LIFE IS BAD,
YOUR PROSPECTS ARE WORSE.
YOUR WIFE IS SIGHING,
CRYING,
AND YOUR OLIVE TREE IS DYING—
TEMPLES ARE GRAYING,
AND TEETH ARE DECAYING,
AND CREDITORS WEIGHING YOUR PURSE—
JUDAS
SOME MEN ARE BORN TO LIVE AT EASE
DOING WHAT THEY PLEASE,
RICHER THAN THE BEES ARE IN HONEY.
NEVER GROWING OLD,
NEVER FEELING COLD,
PULLING POTS OF GOLD FROM THIN AIR.
THE BEST IN EV’RY TOWN,
BEST AT SHAKING DOWN,
BEST AT MAKING MOUNTAINS OF MONEY—
THEY CAN’T TAKE IT
WITH THEM,
BUT WHAT DO THEY CARE?
27 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
YOUR MOOD AND YOUR ROBE
ARE BOTH A DEEP BLUE.
YOU’D BET THAT JOB
HAS NOTHING ON YOU—
DON’T FORGET THAT
WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN,
YOU’LL BE BLESSED.
YES, IT’S ALL FOR THE BEST.
THEY GET THE CENTER OF THE MEAT,
CUSHIONS ON THEIR SEAT
HOUSES ON A STREET WHERE IT’S SUNNY,
SUMMERS AT THE SEA, WINTERS WARM AND FREE
ALL OF THIS, AND
WE GET THE REST—
BUT WHO IS THE LAND FOR?
SUN AND THE SAND FOR?
YOU GUESSED—IT’S ALL FOR THE BEST.
IT’S ALL FOR THE BEST.
JESUS
Now, how can you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye when all the time there’s this great big plank in your own?
JUDAS
I don’t know. How can you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye when all the time there’s this great big plank in
your own?
JESUS
Or how can you take the speck of sawdust out of your brother’s eye when all the time there’s this great big plank in your own?
JUDAS
I don’t know. How can take the speck of sawdust out of your brother’s eye when all the time there’s this great big plank in your
own?
JESUS
You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye so you can see clearly how to take the speck of sawdust out of your
brother’s.
JUDAS
Wait a moment! That’s no answer to the question.
JESUS
Did I promise you an answer to the question?
JESUS & MEN
WHEN YOU FEEL SAD
AND UNDER A CURSE,
YOUR LIFE IS BAD,
YOUR PROSPECTS ARE WORSE.
YOUR WIFE IS SIGHING,
CRYING,
AND YOUR OLIVE TREE IS DYING—
TEMPLES ARE GRAYING,
AND TEETH ARE DECAYING,
AND CREDITORS WEIGHING YOUR PURSE—
YOUR MOOD AND YOUR ROBE
ARE BOTH A DEEP BLUE.
YOU’D BET THAT JOB
HAS NOTHING ON YOU—
DON’T FORGET THAT
WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN,
YOU’LL BE BLESSED.
JUDAS & WOMEN
SOME MEN ARE BORN TO LIVE AT EASE
DOING WHAT THEY PLEASE,
RICHER THAN THE BEES ARE IN HONEY.
NEVER GROWING OLD,
NEVER FEELING COLD,
PULLING POTS OF GOLD FROM THIN AIR.
THE BEST IN EV’RY TOWN,
BEST AT SHAKING DOWN,
BEST AT MAKING MOUNTAINS OF MONEY—
THEY CAN’T TAKE IT
WITH THEM,
BUT WHAT DO THEY CARE?
THEY GET THE CENTER OF THE MEAT,
CUSHIONS ON THEIR SEAT
HOUSES ON A STREET WHERE IT’S SUNNY,
SUMMERS AT THE SEA, WINTERS WARM AND FREE
ALL OF THIS, AND
WE GET THE REST—
BUT WHO IS THE LAND FOR?
SUN AND THE SAND FOR?
YOU GUESSED—IT’S ALL FOR THE BEST.
28 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
YES, IT’S ALL FOR THE--
IT’S ALL FOR THE –
JESUS
You must never be distressed!
OTHERS
YES, IT’S ALL FOR THE—
JESUS
All your wrongs will be redressed.
OTHERS
YES, IT’S ALL FOR THE—
JUDAS
Someone’s got to be oppressed!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YES, IT’S ALL FOR THE BEST!
(During the end of this song, CHORUS C moves to Center seats & D moves to side seats.)
(JESUS gives JUDAS the ribbon at the end of the song.)
(At the end, GRETCHEN stands up and starts to give a sexy rendition of the song. JESUS stops her gently and starts away. She
does it again. JESUS again stops her and starts away. TOMMY, imitating her, starts dancing and singing in her voice. JESUS
whirls around angrily expecting to find her, but everyone laughs as he discovers the actual singer.)
JESUS
Judge not, that you yourself be judged. For whatever you deal out to others— (SEILER and JOSEPH do a
bit showing action and equal reaction.) --shall be dealt back to you. A sower went to sow some seed—
(Points to SYDNEY)
SYDNEY
A sower went to sow some seed. . .and as he sowed, some seed fell along the footpath—
(FRONT ROW OF SEATED CHORUS & some APOSTLES are the seed.)
where it was trampled on—
(2nd ROW OF SEATED CHORUS pretends to trample on it as the front row pretends to suffer.)
and the birds ate it up.
(2nd ROW OF SEATED CHORUS are birds as the front row pretends to suffer. Freeze in place. )
Some seed fell on rock—
(STAIRS A OF SEATED CHORUS & some APOSTLES are the seed.)
and—after coming up—
(STAIRS A OF SEATED CHORUS & some APOSTLES start to grow.)
--withered for lack of moisture.
(STAIRS A OF SEATED CHORUS & some APOSTLES wither painfully. Freeze in place.)
Some seed fell in among weeds. . .
(3rd and 4th ROW OF SEATED CHORUS fall to the ground as seeds.)
. . .and the weeds grew up with it
(3rd [seeds] and 4th [weeds] ROW OF SEATED CHORUS grow. VARGHESE moves back to be a weed.)
29 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
. . .and choked it.
( 4th ROW chokes 3rd ROW. Freeze in place.)
And some of the seed fell into good soil.
(JOSEPH—representing the GOOD SEED—is busy chatting with the people on STAIRS B. None
of them pay attention. Louder.)
Some of it fell among good soil. (Nothing happens. STAIRS B starts to gesture to JOSEPH to pay
attention. VERY LOUDLY.) SOME OF IT FELL INTO GOOD SOIL-JOSEPH & STAIRS B
Hey, that’s us!
SYDNEY
And it grew and it yielded a hundredfold!
(JOSEPH & STAIRS B grow very large.)
(JESUS gives SYDNEY the ribbon.)
JESUS
Do you know what the seed is?
JOSEPH
A baby!
JESUS
No. The seed is the word of God.
ZACK AMATO
(Discovering the idea.) And that seed which fell along the footpath represents those who hear the
Word—(ROW 1 acts this out.)
MEREDITH ERNSTBERGER
. .but then the Devil comes and carries them off for fear they should believe and be saved. (ROW 2
attacks ROW 1 again.)
KATHERINE GLASER
(Discovering the idea.) And that which fell upon rock. . .uh. . .uh. . .uh-ERIN REYNOLDS
(Gets an idea and waves his wand to be called on.) --they receive the Word with joy when they first hear
it, but they have no root, so in time of testing, they desert!
CORY LENTZ
And that which fell among the weeds, they hear the Word, but their further growth is impaired by
cares—(ROWS 3 and 4 act these things out )—and wealth—and pleasures of the world.
JESUS
30 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
But that which fell among good soil—(Nothing happens.) GOOD SOIL!
JOSEPH
That’s us! (JESUS gestures for him to continue. He thinks—and then he gets it.) We hear the word with a
good and honest heart, and through our perseverance, we yield a harvest.
(STAIRS B toss candy all over the stage.)
SONG: ALL GOOD GIFTS
JOSEPH
WE PLOW THE FIELDS AND SCATTER THE GOOD SEED ON THE LAND,
BUT IT IS FED AND WATERED BY GOD’S ALMIGHT HAND.
HE SENDS THE SHOW IN WINTER, THE WARMTH OF SWELL THE GRAIN,
THE BREEZES AND THE SUNSHINE AND SOFT REFRESHING RAIN.
ALL GOOD GIFTS AROUND US ARE SENT BY HEAVEN ABOVE.
THEN THANK THE LORD,
O THANK THE LORD,
FOR ALL HIS LOVE.
CALLIE
So don’t store up your treasures on earth where it grows rusty and moth-eaten and thieves break in to
steal it.
HANNAH
No, store up your treasure in heaven where there are no moths and no rust and no thieves.
JESUS
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
ALL(except JESUS)
WE THANK THEE, THEN, O FATHER, FOR ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND GOOD:
THE SEED TIME AND THE HARVEST, OUR LIFE, OUR HEALTH, OUR FOOD.
NO GIFTS HAVE WE TO OFFER FOR ALL THY LOVE IMPARTS—
BUT THAT WHICH THOU DESIREST—OUR HUMBLE, THANKFUL HEARTS.
(Add Jesus) ALL GOOD GIFTS AROUND US ARE SENT BY HEAVEN ABOVE.
JOSEPH
OTHERS
SO THANK THE LORD,
AH
O THANK THE LORD
FOR ALL HIS LOVE.
I REALLY WANT TO
THANK YOU, LORD
(During the end of this song, CHORUS D moves to Center seats & E moves to side seats.)
I WANT TO
THANK YOU, LORD.
THANK YOU FOR ALLYOUR LOVE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, LORD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, LORD.
OH, THANK YOU, LORD.
ARE SENT FROM
HEAVEN ABOVE
ALLGOOD GIFTS
AROUND US.
ONE GIRL
LOVE
31 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
(At the end of the song, JESUS awards the final RED RIBBONS to CHELSEA. The APOSTLES are
now functioning as a unit.)
HANNAH
Once upon a time there was a man who had two sons, and the younger said to his father
APOSTLE 3 (ANDREW)
Father, give me a share of the property
HANNAH
So the father divided everything between them. (ZACH AMATO runs up and hands JOSEPH a “Property
of” sign which JOSEPH tears in half).
BACKGROUND chorus
Rrriiiiipppppp!
HANNAH
A few days later, the younger son turned the whole of his share into cash—
BACKGROUND chorus
Ka-ching!
HANNAH
and left for a distant country, where he squandered it on reckless living. After he spent it all—
BACKGROUND chorus
(Makes the sound when someone goes bankrupt on Wheel of Fortune.)
HANNAH
a severe famine fell upon the country,
(TECH drops FAMINE “rock” from the grid.)
and he began to feel the pinch.
(BARNETT runs up and pinches ANDREW.)
ANDREW & BACKGROUND CHORUS
Ouch!
HANNAH
So he decided to attach himself to one of the local landowners
BACKGROUND CHORUS
(Makes sucking sound.)
HANNAH
--who set him on the farm to mind the swine.
32 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
ANDREW
Swine?
BACKGROUND CHORUS
Pigs!
(Meyer, Vokoun, Barnett, Amato, Carnes, Newton, RENBARGER, WILLIAMS, and Mahesh
become swine.)
Oink!
HANNAH
He would have been glad to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating—
(SOME PIGS rear up and taunt ANDREWS with something they’re eating, like “taco wrappers.” )
ELI MEYER
(Scrap 1)
STAIRS A
Yum! (APOSTLES & OTHER BACKGROUND CHORUS MEMBERS pretend to be eating it.)
SAM NEWTON
(Scrap 2)
CENTER BACKGROUND CHORUS
Ummmm! (APOSTLES & OTHER BACKGROUND CHORUS MEMBERS pretend to be eating it.)
ZACH AMATO
(Scrap 3)
STAIRS B
Nummy num num! (APOSTLES & OTHER BACKGROUND CHORUS MEMBERS pretend to be eating it.)
HANNAH
But no one gave him anything. Then he came to his senses—(MICHAEL HOMMRICH runs out and hits
him with a huge mallet.)
BACKGROUND CHORUS
Boing!
HANNAH
and said—
ANDREW
How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to
death. I will set off, and I will go to my father and I will say—
STAIRS A
(led by SYDNEY while ANDREW moves his mouth and gestures.)
Father, I have sinned against God and against you.
33 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
CENTER CHORUS
(led by GRETCHEN while ANDREW moves his mouth and gestures.)
I am no longer fit to be called your son.
STAIRS B CHORUS
(led by CALLIE while ANDREW moves his mouth and gestures.)
Treat me as one of your paid servants.
HANNAH
So he set off—
BACKGROUND CHORUS
(Begin to sing a traveling song.)
HANNAH
but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him—
BACKGROUND CHORUS
(Make air raid sound.)
HANNAH
and his heart went out to him. (PORTER MCHENRY runs up and pulls a heart out of JOSEPH’s shirt and
tosses it to ANDREW.) The son ran to meet the father—
BACKGROUND CHORUS
(Begin to hum “Chariots of Fire” theme.)
HANNAH
--threw his arms around him, and said-STAIRS A
(led by SYDNEY while ANDREW moves his mouth and gestures.)
Father, I have sinned against God and against you.
CENTER CHORUS
(led by GRETCHEN while ANDREW moves his mouth and gestures.)
I am no longer fit to be called your son.
STAIRS B CHORUS
(led by CALLIE while ANDREW moves his mouth and gestures.)
Treat me as one of your paid servants.
HANNAH
But the father called out to his servants—
FATHER/JOSEPH
Quick, fetch me my robe—the best one. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet, and bring the
fatted calf and kill it. And let us have a feast to celebrate his day, for my son was lost and now is found.
34 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
HANNAH
So the festivities began! (APOSTLES create festivities)
But the elder son was out working on the farm.
(Meyer, Vokoun, Barnett, Amato, Carnes, Newton, McHenry, HOMMRICH, RENBARGER,
WILLIAMS, and Mahesh become farm animals.)
And on his way back to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called to one of the servants.
TOMMY (ELDER SON)
What does this mean?
HANNAH
And the servant said—
SERVANT/CHELSEA
Your brother’s come back home, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has your brother
back safe and sound.
HANNAH
The elder brother was. . .irritated. (ELDER BROTHER shows ferocious anger.) Upset?
TOMMY
Oh, c’mon!
HANNAH
He was pretty damned mad! He refused to go into the house. The father came out and pleaded with
him, but he retorted, saying—
TOMMY
You know I’ve worked for you all these years, and I never once disobeyed your orders, yet you have
never given me so much as a lamb for a feast with my friends. But when this son of yours turns up after
running through your money with riotous living, you kill the fatted calf for him.
FATHER
My son—
HANNAH
--said the father—
FATHER
You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. So how could we help but celebrate this happy
day, for your brother who was dead—
BACKGROUND CHORUS
(Makes dead sounds.)
35 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
FATHER
-- has come back to life—
BACKGROUND CHORUS
Huh?
FATHER
--metaphorically speaking. Your brother who was lost is now found! (The FATHER tries to reconcile the
BROTHERS, but each time—at the point of reconciliation—the ELDER enacts comic violence on the
YOUNGER. Zach Amato, Cory Lentz, Erin Walsh, Rosalie Usher, Cameron Williams, Steve Renbarger, and
SAM NEWTON call out “encouragement. Finally Jesus steps in and indicates TOMMY & ANDREW need to
reconcile.)
TOMMY
No, I don’t want to. Please don’t make me, Jesus. Oh, all right! (They reconcile, and then APOSTLE 1
begins the song.)
SONG: Light of the World (Solos by Apostles 1, 2, 3, and 4)
TOMMY
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
TOMMY
BUT IF THAT LIGHT’S UNDER A BUSHEL, IT’S LOST SOMETHING KIND OF CRUCIAL.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YOU’VE GOT TO STAY BRIGHT TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
JOSEPH
YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.
JOSEPH
BUT IF THAT SALT HAS LOST ITS FLAVOR, IT AIN’T GOT MUCH IN ITS FAVOR.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YOU CAN’T HAVE THAT FAULT AND BE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.
SO LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE,
SO THEY MIGHT KNOW SOME KINDNESS AGAIN—
WE ALL NEED HELP TO FEEL FINE—
36 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
ANDREW
SO LET IT SHINE!
(During the end of this song, CHORUS E moves to Center & F/G move down aisles to pit.)
GEOFFREY
YOU ARE THE CITY OF GOD.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YOU ARE THE CITY OF GOD.
GEOFFREY
BUT IF THAT CITY’S ON A HILL, IT’S PRETTY HARD TO HIDE IT WELL.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YOU’VE GOT TO STAY PRETTY IN THE CITY OF GOD.
SO LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE,
SO THEY MIGHT KNOW SOME KINDNESS AGAIN—
WE ALL NEED HELP TO FEEL FINE—
ANDREW
SO LET IT SHINE!
FOREST
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
FOREST
BUT THE TALLEST CANDLESTICK AIN’T MUCH GOOD WITHOUT A WICK.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YOU’VE GOT TO LIVE RIGHT TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
(MUSIC segues into instrumentals; ACTORS begin free form dance, moving off. JESUS picks up a mic.)
JESUS
We’re gonna take a little break now, but in the meantime we’d like to invite
you all up on the stage for a little (wine.) Or go out in the lobby, use the facilities,
get some fresh air. We’ll be back in ten minutes and thank you all very much for coming! If you smoke...quit.
(This is officially the end of Act One. But CHORUSES E-G WILL STAY ON STAGE DURING INTERMISISON TO
HAND OUT REFRESHMENTS.)
37 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
ACT TWO
(During the intermission, CHORUS A1-2, B, and APOSTLES drift back on stage. As the lights go to half,
DAVID DUNAWAY, KATHERINE GLASER, MEREDITH ERNSTBERGER, AND JASMINE YOUNG sing their
“LEARN YOUR LESSONS WELL REPRISE.” As soon as this is finished, lights go dark. GRETCHEN whistles or
finds another way to grab attention and then signals to the BAND to start her song.)
SONG: LEARN YOUR LESSONS REPRISE
SONG: Turn Back, O Man (GRETCHEN, Jesus, and Company)
GRETCHEN
TURN BACK, O MAN, FORSWEAR THY FOOLISH WAYS.
OLD NOW IS EARTH, AND NONE MAY COUNT HER DAYS—
DA-DA-DA-DA-DA.
YET THOU, HER CHILD, WHOSE HEAD IS CROWNED WITH FLAME
STILL WILL NOT HEAR THINE INNER GOD PROCLAIM—
TURN BACK, O MAN—
Well, good evening, sir. How’s your seat?
TURN BACK, O MAN—
This is my good side.
TURN BACK, O MAN—
So is this one!
TURN BACK, O MAN—
FORSWEAR THY FOOLISH WAYS.
See you later—I’m going to that side of the thee-ay-ter.
EARTH MIGHT BE FAIR, AND APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS MEN GLAD AND WISE.
AGE AFTER AGE THEIR TRAGIC EMPIRES RISE.
DA-DA-DA-DA-DA.
BUILT WHILE THEY DREAM, AND IN THAT DREAMING WEEP.
WOULD MAN BUT WAKE FROM OUT HIS HAUNTED SLEEP.
TURN BACK, O MAN—
Oh, I’d like to see thee more clearly.
TURN BACK, O MAN—
For the first time, I’m feeling wicked!
TURN BACK, O MAN—
TURN BACK, O MAN—
FORSWEAR THY FOOLISH WAYS.
JESUS
EARTH SHALL BE FAIR, AND APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS HER PEOPLE ONE.
38 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
NOT TILL THAT HOUR SHALL GOD’S WHOLE WILL BE DONE.
NOW, EVEN NOW, ONCE MORE FROM EARTH TO SKY
PEALS FORTH IN JOY, MAN’S OLD UNDAUNTED CRY.
EARTH SHALL BE FAIR, AND APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS HER PEOPLE ONE.
GRETCHEN
Come on, Jesus, I have something to show you!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
TURN BACK, O MAN, FORSWEAR THY FOOLISH WAYS.
OLD NOW IS EARTH, AND NONE MAY COUNT HER DAYS—
GRETCHEN
DA-DA-DA-DA-DA.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
YET THOU, HER CHILD, WHOSE HEAD IS CROWNED WITH FLAME
STILL WILL NOT HEAR THINE INNER GOD PROCLAIM—
TURN BACK, O MAN—
TURN BACK, O MAN—
TURN BACK, O MAN—
FORESWEAR THEY FOOLISH WAYS!
(During the applause after the song, the lights suddenly change to red. The cast—except JESUS—
freezes.)
JESUS
This is the beginning.
(LIGHTS change back. THE PHARISEES march in and surround JESUS. Looking alarmed, DANCERS run off
(Madelyn and Chelsea cower on front steps. The rest of the CAST cowers.)
JACKSON
By whose authority are you acting like this?
HAYES HAGAN
Who gave you this authority?
JESUS
Well, I have a question to ask you. Answer it, and then I’ll tell you by whose authority I act. The baptism
of John—was it from God or was it from man?
HOUSTON HART
(PHARISEES huddle.) If we say, “From God,” he will say, “Then why did you not believe?”
ALEX UNDERWOOD
But if we say “From Man,” the people will be angry for they took John as a prophet.
PHARISEES
(To JESUS in unison.) We do not know.
39 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
JESUS
Then neither will I tell you by whose authority I act—but I have a story for you. (JUDAS acts out all the
roles.) A man had two sons. He went to the first and said— “My son, go work in the vineyard today.”
“I will go,” said the boy. . .but he never went. Then the father said to the second son—“Go, my son, and
work in the vineyard today.”“I will not go,” said the second son—--but later he changed his mind and
went. Now which of these two did as his father wished? (PHARISEES huddle to take a vote and come up
with an answer. ROSS is empowered to answer for them)
ROSS VESSELS
The second.
JESUS
And I tell you, tax gatherers and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven, because when John
came and showed you the right way to live, you didn’t believe him, but the tax gatherers and prostitutes
did. And even when you saw this, you didn’t change your minds and follow him. (PHARISEES huddle to
come up with a question to trick JESUS.)
TAYLOR LAWSON
Master, you are an “honest” man. (PHARISEES snicker.) Give us your ruling on this—
SAM FITZGERALD
Are we—
CONNOR DOSCH
--or are we not—
SAM FITZGERALD
--permitted to pay taxes to the Roman emperor?
JUDAS
(Lunging at them—but JESUS restrains him.) You hypocrites!
JESUS
(TO PHARISEES.) Show me the money in which the tax is paid.
DANIEL SPITZA
(Calls to catwalk). Money!
CATWALK
Money! (Drops bag of money. A PHARISEE takes it to JESUS.)
JESUS
Whose head is on here? Whose inscription?
JARED BONE
Caesar’s.
JESUS
Then pay Caesar what is due Caesar, but pay God what is due God. (PHARISEES huddle to come up with
a question to trick JESUS.)
40 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
JACKSON
Master, what is the greatest commandment of them all?
JESUS
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul. This is the greatest
commandment. And the second is like it—You shall love your neighbor as yourself!
(The PHARISEES start to close in angrily, but JESUS turns to the
audience. They try to stop his speaking, but the APOSTLES grab sticks and other pieces of
garbage to use as weapons and form a circle around JESUS, protecting him.)
Pay attention to the words of the Pharisees, but do not follow their practices for they say one thing and
do another. And you must not call any man “Master,” for you have only one Master and He is in
heaven.
A3-5 and B, Center Background Chorus
Sam—Geoffrey
Jackson—Tommy
Stairs A
Stage
Right
Sitters
—aisles
and pit
Houston Hart—Seiler
Hayes Hagan--Forest
SIDE
Connor –Joseph
SIDE
Taylor Lawson--Chelsea
PIT
Connor --Joseph
Michael Hook—Sydney
PIT
Spitza--Gretchen
Ross Vessels----ANDREW
FRONT STEPS
Alex Underwood—Madelyn
Daniel James--Hannah
SONG: ALAS FOR YOU (Jesus)
JESUS
ALAS, ALAS FOR YOU, LAWYERS AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES THAT YOU BE!
SEARCHING FOR SOULS AND FOOLS TO FORSAKE THEM, YOU TRAVEL THE LAND, YOU SCOUR THE SEA.
THEN WHEN YOU’VE GOT YOUR CONVERTS, YOU MAKE THEM TWICE AS FIT FOR HELL
AS YOU ARE YOURSELVES!
ALAS, ALAS FOR YOU, LAWYERS AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES THAT YOU ARE!
(CHORUS A3-5 and B creep back in and surround PHARISEES from behind.)
SURE THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AWAITS YOU, YOU WILL NOT VENTURE HALF SO FAR.
OTHER MEN WHO MIGHT ENTER THE GATE YOU KEEP FROM PASSING THROUGH,
DRAG THEM DOWN WITH YOU.
YOU SNAKES, YOU VIPER’S BROOD—YOU CANNOT ESCAPE BEING DEVIL’S FOOD.
I SEND YOU PROPHETS AND I SEND YOU PREACHERS, SAGES IN RAGES AND AGES OF TEACHERS.
NOTHING CAN MAR YOUR MOOD.
(CHORUS C and D creep back in and surround PHARISEES from behind.)
Stairs B
Stage
Left
Sitters
—aisles
and pit
41 | G O D S P E L L l i n e a s s i g n m e n t s
APOSTLES & ON-STAGE CHORUS
Hypocrites!
JESUS
ALAS, ALAS FOR YOU, LAWYERS AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES TO A MAN!
(CHORUS E creeps back in and surround PHARISEES from behind.)
SONS OF THE DOGS WHO MURDERED THE PROPHETS, FINISHING OFF WHAT YOUR FATHERS BEGAN.
YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO SCORN OR TO SCOFF—IT’S GETTING VERY LATE.
VENGEANCE DOESN’T WAIT!
(APOSTLES begin to taunt and torment the PHARISEES.)
YOU SNAKES, YOU VIPER’S BROOD—YOU CANNOT ESCAPE BEING DEVIL’S FOOD.
(CHORUS F creeps back in and surround PHARISEES from behind.)
I SEND YOU PROPHETS AND I SEND YOU PREACHERS, SAGES IN RAGES AND AGES OF TEACHERS.
NOTHING CAN MAR YOUR MOOD.
BLIND GUIDES! BLIND FOOLS! THE BLOOD YOU’VE SPILT ON YOU WILL FALL.
THIS NATION, THIS GENERATION, SHALL BEAR THE GUILT OF IT ALL
ALAS, ALAS, ALAS, FOR YOU—BLIND FOOLS!
(MICHAEL HOOK storms over dragging SYDNEY, followed by the other PHARISEES.)
MICHAEL HOOK
This woman was caught in the very act of adultery.
JACKSON RANSDELL
In the law that Moses laid down, such women are to be stoned.
JARED BONE
Yeah, what do you say about it, mister?
JESUS
That the one of you who is faultless shall throw the first stone.
(PHARISEES all raise arms with objects ready to throw them and try to dare other PHARISEES to throw,
but one by one they chicken out. At the end, even the PHARISEES drop their arms and exit, leaving
SYDNEY crouching alone. JUDAS exits with them.)
Where are they now? Has no one condemned you?
SYDNEY
No one, sir.
JESUS
Nor do I condemn you. You may go. Do not sin again. (JESUS begins to leave, but SYDNEY stops him
with her voice.)
42 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
SONG: BY MY SIDE (SYDNEY, CALLIE, JASMINE, and COMPANY).
SYDNEY
WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
CAN YOU TAKE ME WITH YOU?
FOR MY HAND IS COLD AND NEEDS WARMTH.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
SYDNEY AND BACK-UP
FAR BEYOND WHERE THE HORIZON LIES, THE HORIZON LIES,
AND THE LAND SINKS INTO MELLOW BLUENESS.
SYDNEY
O PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU.
LET ME SKIP THE ROAD WITH YOU.
I CAN DARE MYSELF.
I CAN DARE MYSELF.
I’LL PUT A PEBBLE IN MY SHOES
AND WATCH ME WALK.
CALLIE, JASMINE
O PLEASE,
LET ME SKIP THE ROAD WITH YOU.
I CAN DARE MYSELF.
I CAN DARE.
I’LL PUT A PEBBLE IN MY SHOES
WATCH ME WALK.
SYDNEY
I CAN WALK AND WALK.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
I SHALL CALL THE PEBBLE DARE.
CALLIE, JASMINE
I SHALL CALL THE PEBBLE DARE.
WE WILL TALK
SYDNEY
WE WILL TALK
ABOUT WALKING.
DARE SHALL BE CARRIED
TOGETHER
(ADD APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS)
ABOUT WALKING.
AND WHEN WE BOTH HAVE HAD ENOUGH—
SYDNEY
I WILL TAKE HIM FROM MY SHOE, SINGING
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
MEET YOUR NEW ROAD.
SYDNEY
THEN I’LL TAKE YOUR HAND,
SYDNEY
FIN’LLY GLAD
GROUP
FINALLY GLAD
THAT YOU ARE HERE
BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE
THAT YOU ARE HERE
BY MY SIDE
THAT YOU ARE HERE
BY MY SIDE, BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE, BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE.
43 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
(JACKSON RANSDELL and JUDAS enter. Specialty light on them leaving the rest of the stage in
darkness.)
JACKSON
Then the man they called Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said—
JUDAS
“What will you give me to betray him to you?” (CHIEF PHARISEE hands JUDAS money.)
JACKSON
They paid him thirty pieces of silver.
JUDAS
And from that moment, he began to look out for an opportunity to betray him.
SYDNEY
BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE
THAT YOU ARE HERE
BY MY SIDE
GROUP
BY MY SIDE, BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE, BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE
BY MY SIDE.
JESUS
Now, who is the trusty servant?
(APOSTLES, not wanting to play the “trusty servant”, for reasons that will become clear, quickly take one
step back — except JOSEPH. JOSEPH, being a bit slower than the rest, is assigned the role.)
The man was charged by his master— (ELI MEYER comes and “charges” JOSEPH by zapping his hand, as
if with a joy buzzer.)
…To take care of his servants and pay them at the proper time. Well happy is that servant who is
charged with this job—(ELI zaps him again) --when his master comes for I tell you, he will be put in
charge--(ELI zaps him again)--of all his master’s property.
CALLIE
But, what of the bad servant…
(ELI instantly transforms into the bad servant.)
--Who sits around saying—
ELI
“Oh well, the master is a long time coming,”
CALLIE
--and he begins bullying the servants and eating and drinking with his drunken friends? (ELI begins
bullying the APOSTLES.)
44 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
JESUS
I tell you this, master will come on a day he does not know at a time he least expects and will—
cut him to pieces. (JOSEPH returns with an electric saw and chases ELI around.)
Then he’ll take his place among the hypocrites— (ELI is pushed in among the seated CHORUS who
become sufferers in Hell.)
--where there is wailing… (APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS wail.)
…and gnashing of teeth.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
G-nash, g-nash, g-nash!
JESUS
So keep awake then, for you do not know on what day your Lord is to come. Remember, if the
householder had known what time the burglar was coming—
ANDREW
I would’ve stayed awake all night.
JESUS
For as things were in Noah’s day—
BACKGROUND CHORUS
Happy Noah’s Day!
JESUS
So they will be when the Son of Man comes!
But take care that no one misleads you. For many will come claiming my name and saying, “I am the
Messiah!”
(EACH APOSTLE who can imitate a famous person says “I am the Messiah” or some variation on that,
each imitating a well-known and appropriately self-aggrandizing person.)
And many will be mislead by them.
Now when the Son of Man comes in all his glory—with his angels with him—(ANDREW plays the Son of
Man) --he will sit in stage on his throne with all the nations gathered before him. And he will separate
men into two groups as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And then he will put the sheep
on his right and the goats on his left.
(APOSTLES mill about, hopelessly mixing the sheep and goats and trying to separate appropriately.
Finally when they are separated with APOSTLE Girls and STAGE RIGHT CHORUS playing Sheep and
APOSTLE Boys and STAGE LEFT CHORUS playing Goats.)
And he will say to all of them on his right—
45 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
ANDREW
Baa baa baa baa baa baa.
SHEEP (APOSTLE Girls and STAGE RIGHT CHORUS)
Baa!
SEILER
(Speaking into a headset microphone like a BBC announcer.) And Jesus has just told all the sheep, “You
have my father’s blessing. Come and enter the kingdom that has already been ready since the world
was made. (SHEEP start into HEAVEN area while ANDREW continues to talk to them in sheep-language.)
For when I was hungry, you gave me food. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When I was without
a home, you took me to your house. And when I was ill and in prison, you came to my aid.” (One GOAT
(PORTER MCHENRY) tries to sneak in. ANDREW stops it.)
ANDREW
Hey! Get back there.
JESUS
And they will say to him—
CHELSEA
Master—when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food—
HANNAH
Or thirsty and we gave you drink?
GRETCHEN
Yeah, or in prison and helped you?
JESUS
And then he will say to them—
ANDREW
“Anything you did for the least of your brothers and sisters, you did for me.”
JESUS
And then he will say to those on his left—
GOATS (APOSTLE Guys and STAGE LEFT CHORUS)
(Belligerently) Yeah?
ANDREW
A curse is upon you!
GOATS
(Cowering) Baah!
46 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
ANDREW
For when I was hungry, you didn’t give me anything to eat. And when I was thirsty, you didn’t give me
anything to drink. When I was without a home, you didn’t take me to your home. And when I was ill
and in prison, you didn’t come to my aid.
TOMMY
Aw, Master, if we’d a known it was you, we woulda taken you out for a couple of LAMB CHOPS! (Glares
at SHEEP.)
JESUS
And then he will say to them—
ANDREW
“Anything you did not do for one of my brothers and sisters here, however humble, you did not do for
me!”
GOATS
Baaaaah!
ANDREW
(To goats.) Go, take your place in eternal punishment.
GOATS
Baaaaah!
ANDREW
But the righteous shall have eternal life! (SHEEP rejoice in a SHEEP-language cheer.)
Song: WE BESEECH THEE: ANDREW
ANDREW
FATHER, HEAR THEY CHILDREN CALL.
HUMBLY AT THY FEET WE FALL,
PRODIGALS CONFESSING APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS—
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
ANDREW
WE THY CALL HAVE DISOBEYED,
INTO PATHS OF SIN HAVE STRAYED,
AND REPENTENANCE HAVE DELAYED.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
ANDREW
COME SING ABOUT LOVE THAT CAUSED US FIRST TO BE,
COME SING ABOUT LOVE THAT MADE US STRONG AND FREE.
COME SING ABOUT LOVE THAT DRAWS US LOVINGLY—
47 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
ANDREW
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
SICK—
WE COME TO THEE FOR CURE.
GUILTY
WE SEEK THY MERCY SURE.
EVIL!
WE LONG TO BE MADE PURE.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
ANDREW
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
BLIND—
WE PRAY THAT WE MAY SEE.
BOUND—
WE PRAY TO BE MADE FREE.
STAINED—
WE PRAY FOR SANCTITY.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
ANDREW
COME SING ABOUT LOVE
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
LOVE!
THAT CAUSED US FIRST TO BE,
COME SING ABOUT LOVE
LOVE!
THAT MADE US STRONG AND FREE.
COME SING ABOUT LOVE
LOVE! LOVE!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
THAT DRAWS US LOVINGLY—
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
BY THY GRACIOUS SAVING CALL SPOKEN TENDERLY TO APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
WHO HAVE SHARED MAN’S GUILT AND FALL-WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
BY THE LOVE THAT LONGS TO BLESS, PITYING OUR SORE DISTRESS,
LEADING US TO HOLINESS,
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
HEAR US!
APOSTLE
(Doing rhythmic mouth percussion)
BOW, BOW... (or some other sound)
BOW, BOW., Etc.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
GRANT US HOPE FROM EARTH TO RISE, AND TO STRAIN WITH EAGER EYES
T’WARD THE PROMISED HEAVN’LY PRIZE—
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
48 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
ANDREW
COME SING ABOUT LOVE
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
LOVE!
THAT CAUSED US FIRST TO BE,
COME SING ABOUT LOVE
LOVE!
THAT MADE THE STONE AND TREE.
COME SING ABOUT LOVE
LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
COME ON, SING ABOUT LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
COME ON, SING ABOUT LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
LOVE!
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
LOVE! THAT DRAWS US LOVINGLY.
WE BESEECH THEE, HEAR US!
(At the end of the song, the stage goes blue and Apostles start acting the scene out in slow motion to
improvised playing from the orchestra. The CAST starts their wailing soon enough to prevent applause.)
JESUS
O Jerusalem!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
O Jerusalem!
(As the BACKGROUND CHORUS speaks, it moves in slow, dance-like motion to its assigned second act
seats.)
GEOFFREY
City that stones the prophets and murders the messengers sent to her.
(In slow motion, the APOSTLES enact stoning the prophets and murdering the messengers.)
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND SENIORS
(Softly) Murders-APOSTLES & BACKGROUND UNDERCLASS BOYS
(Softly) Murders—
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND UNDERCLASS GIRLS
(Softly) Murders--
49 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
FOREST
The time is coming when you will hear the noise of battle near at hand.
(In slow motion, the APOSTLES pick up rubble—including JESUS’ stool—and use it as battle equipment.
The BACKGROUND CHORUS also begins slow motion war.)
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND SENIORS
(Softly) Battle--
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND UNDERCLASS BOYS
(Softly) Battle-APOSTLES & BACKGROUND UNDERCLASS GIRLS
(Softly) Battle-TOMMY
For nation will make war upon nation-APOSTLES & BACKGROUND SENIOR BOYS
(Whisper--overlapping) War upon nation-SEILER
--kingdom upon kingdom.
ANDREW
There will be famine and earthquake
in many places—
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND SENIOR GIRLS
(Whisper--overlapping) Famine-APOSTLES & BACKGROUND SENIOR BOYS
(Whisper--overlapping) Earthquake
JESUS
--but with all these things—(MUSIC stops. ACTORS freeze.)--the birth pangs of a new age begin!
(ACTORS melt into a collapsed position. Light becomes specialty on JESUS.)
SONG: BEAUTIFUL CITY
JESUS
OUT OF THE RUINS AND RUBBLE
OUT OF THE SMOKE
OUT OF OUR NIGHT OF STRUGGLE
CAN WE SEE A RAY OF HOPE?
ONE PALE THIN RAY REACHING FOR THE DAY
WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY
YES, WE CAN; YES, WE CAN
WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY
NOT A CITY OF ANGELS
BUT WE CAN BUILD A CITY OF MAN
WE MAY NOT REACH THE ENDING
50 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
BUT WE CAN START
SLOWLY BUT TRULY MENDING
BRICK BY BRICK, HEART BY HEART.
JESUS
I tell you this—one of you will betray me.
(Each of the APOSTLES asks if he/she will be the one. JUDAS speaks last. LIGHTS turn red and everyone
freezes when he asks his question.)
JUDAS
Rabbi, can you mean me?
JESUS
Do quickly what you have to do.
(JUDAS looks around at each of the other APOSTLES, then runs up the aisle and out the back door. The door slams.
JESUS sighs. The LIGHTS change back to normal and the CAST comes back to life. JESUS breaks the bread.)
Boruch atoh Adonoy Elohaynu melech ho-olum, Ha-mo-tzi lechem min ho-o-retz. Take this and eat, for
this is my body. Boruch atoh Adonoy Elohaynu melech ho-olum, boray p’ri hagofen. Take this and drink
for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant shed for the forgiveness of sins. And I tell you I shall
never again drink from the fruit of the vine until I drink it again with you in the Kingdom of my Father.
SONG: ON THE WILLOWS
SINGER
ON THE WILLOWS THERE, WE HUNG UP OUR LYRES
FOR OUR CAPTORS THERE REQUIRED OF US SONGS, AND OUR TORMENTORS MIRTH.
ON THE WILLOWS THERE, WE HUNG UP OUR LYRES
FOR OUR CAPTORS THERE REQUIRED OF US SONGS, AND OUR TORMENTORS MIRTH, SAYING
SING US ONE OF THE SONGS OF ZION,
SING US ONE OF THE SONGS OF ZION,
SING US ONE OF THE SONGS OF ZION,
BUT HOW CAN WE SING, SING THE LORD’S SONG IN A FOREIGN LAND?
SINGER
BUT HOW CAN WE SING,
SING THE LORD’S SONG
IN A FOREIGN LAND?
NON-APOSTLE BACK-UP SINGERS
HOW CAN WE SING,
AH...
SING THE LORD’S SONG
IN A FOREIGN LAND?
(As the song is sung, JESUS bids farewell to each of his APOSTLES, each tying his red ribbon back on JESUS
and using the gesture with JESUS using the gesture each used in the beginning to say good bye..)
JESUS
51 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
Stay here while I go over there to pray. My heart is ready to break with grief. Stop here and stay awake
with me.
SINGER
ON THE WILLOWS THERE, WE HUNG UP OUR LYRES.
(JESUS goes to pray. THE APOSTLES, BACKGROUND CHORUS, and BACKGROUND CHORUS fall asleep.)
JESUS
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass by. (Musical response to simulate the voice of God.) Yet not as I
will, but as thou wilt! (He discovers the APOSTLES asleep.) What? Could not one of you stay awake with
me one hour? (To God.) Oh, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
APOSTLES
(Speaking one by one, overlapping, and then falling back asleep.) Everyone may fall away on your
account, but I never will.
JESUS
(Over the last of them.) I tell you this, before the cock crows, you will betray me three times! (To God.)
Father, if it be not possible for this cup to pass me by without my drinking from it, thy will be done!
(Musical sound. LIGHTS turn red. DEMONS surround JESUS.)
DEMON 1—(RECORDED VOICE)
If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.
DEMON 2—(RECORDED VOICE)
If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down for the Scripture says, “He will send his angels to support
you and they will hold you in their arms!”
JESUS
You shall not tempt the Lord your God.
DEMON 3—(RECORDED VOICE)
All these things I shall give you if you will do me homage!
JESUS
Be gone, Satan! You shall do homage to the Lord your God and worship Him alone! (There is the sound of
a door slamming, and the Demons pull back. Everyone wakes up and watches. JUDAS runs on. JESUS and he stare
at each other for a moment, then JUDAS shakes his head and tries to run off—but on each side the DEMONS form a
wall and prevent him. The only path open to him is toward JESUS. The DEMONS push JUDAS into JESUS who
catches him. JESUS holds him for a moment and then holds him out.) Friend, do quickly what you have to do.
(With a sudden movement, JUDAS grabs JESUS.)
JUDAS
He’s here! (The DEMONS take JESUS prisoner, and the PHARISEES rush in. The stage is flooded in white light.
TOMMY raises a board to strike JUDAS)
52 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
JESUS
Put down the sword; he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. (TOMMY throws down the board. The PHARISEES
move everyone out of the CENTER upstage section and set up the crucixion. DEMONS drag JESUS USC outstretched arms to the
“cross.” PHARISEES tie him there. They leave some ribbons dangling to look like blood.)
All this has happened to fulfill what the prophets have written! (DEMONS exit. During the intro music,
CHORUS F and G flee up the aisles.)
SONG: FINALE
JESUS
OH, GOD, I’M BLEEDING!
OH, GOD, I’M BLEEDING!
COMPANY
OH, GOD, YOU’RE BLEEDING.
(CHORUS D and E flee up the aisles.)
JESUS
OH, GOD, I’M DYING.
OH, GOD, I’M DYING.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
OH, GOD, YOU’RE DYING.
(CHORUS C, B2, and A 3-5 flee up the aisles. CHORUS A1-2 and B move to the pit to cower. Apostles
move to the front steps to comfort each other. )
JESUS
OH, GOD, I’M DEAD.
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
OH, GOD, YOU’RE DEAD.
OH, GOD, YOU’RE DEAD.
OH, GOD, YOU’RE DEAD.
OH, GOD, YOU’RE DEAD.
(PHARISEES dump JESUS’ body over the back of the set.)
CALLIE
LONG LIVE GOD!
ADD TWO MORE APOSTLES
(Joining in.) LONG LIVE GOD!
ADD 2-4 MORE APOSTLES
LONG LIVE GOD,
LONG LIVE GOD,
LONG LIVE GOD,
LONG LIVE GOD.
(APOSTLES and CHORUS A1-2/B move onto stage as they join in the song.)
53 | G O D S P E L L r e h e a r s a l s c r i p t
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
NOW,
WOMEN
MAYBE NOW
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
WE START LEARNING HOW
(CHORUS B2 and C join in from backstage)
WOMEN
WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY,
YES, WE CAN; YES, WE CAN.
GROUP 1
GROUP 2
GROUP 3
LONG LIVE GOD,
LONG LIVE GOD,
LONG LIVE GOD,
HEART BY HEART.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE,
BRICK BY BRICK,
HEART BY HEART.
WE MAY NOT
REACH THE ENDING,
BUT WE CAN START
SLOWLY, BUT
TRULY MENDING
BRICK BY BRICK,
HEART BY HEART.
WOMEN
MEN
WE CAN BUILD A BEAUTIFUL CITY,
YES, WE CAN; YES, WE CAN.
LONG LIVE GOD,
LONG LIVE GOD,
COMPANY
NOT A CITY OF ANGELS,
BUT WE CAN BUILD A CITY OF MAN.
(As they join in the singing, CHORUS A3-5, D and E enter from backstage.)
GROUP 1
GROUP 2
LONG LIVE GOD!
LONG LIVE GOD!
LONG LIVE GOD!
LONG LIVE GOD!
PREPARE YE
THE WAY OF THE LORD!
PREPARE YE
THE WAY OF THE LORD!
APOSTLES & BACKGROUND CHORUS
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD,
PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD!
SONG: BOWS
THE END