Godspell

'Godspell' is a musical composed by Stephen Schwartz with the book by John-Michael Tebelak. The show opened off-Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has since been produced by multiple touring companies and in many revivals. Roughly contemporaneous to the better known 'Jesus Christ Superstar', the musical is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew. However, four of the featured parables are only recorded in the Gospel of Luke, and the narrative of the woman taken in adultery is only in the Gospel of John. The parables are interspersed with music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns, with the passion of Christ appearing briefly near the end of the show. David Essex, now famous as a musician and actor, had only made a few minor records and secured small roles in a couple of movies, before his starring role in the first London production of 'Godspell' propelled him headlong into the limelight.