Get ready for a tale of community unity as Thomas County Central High School Drama Department presents its spring musical, a production of “Godspell.”
The show is 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Thomas County Board of Education Auditorium.
“Godspell” is primarily “about a community coming together against all odds,” according to instructor and director Gabrielle Hortman. Each character has individual strengths and weaknesses, but still come together as “unlikely friends.”
The show is not overtly religious in nature, nor is the drama department pushing an agenda, Hortman stresses. Also, TCCHS is performing the revised 2012 version, which “has more of a rock and roll feel to it,” she said.
“I knew the students would connect with how upbeat and fun the music was and how high energy the show itself was,” Hortman explains of her choice.
Also, as a first-year teacher in the department, she wanted to choose something in a different style from previous spring musicals. “Godspell” fits the bill.
“I wanted to show that the students at TCCHS are versatile and can perform shows from all different eras of theatre,” she said. “’Godspell’ also offers an exciting opportunity as a director because the ‘theme’ or ‘concept’ can be different for each production, you don’t have to stick to a specific time or place.”
Hortman chose “a beachfront community that has recently been hit by a hurricane.”
“This has helped forge the community feel for the students, as we have been hit by some extreme weather in the last year right here in Thomasville,” she said. “To me, communities are always closer to one another when disaster strikes and their neighbors need help. Our cast does such a good job forming a community with one another. As a teacher, this has been so beautiful to watch them come together.”
Unique to this show is the department’s collaboration with other TCCHS fine arts programs: dance instructor Katie Gaston has provided choreography and chorale teacher Nicole Davis has given music direction. Hortman said the collaboration “has been so rewarding.”
The department has been prepping for the show since early November 2016. Rehearsals began in mid-January. On opening night, Hortman hopes her cast and crew are proud of their work.
“I know several cast members are seniors, and I want them to look back fondly at their final show of their high school careers and be happy that they were part of this process,” she said.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students (with valid I.D.). Tickets will be available at the door.