This past Thursday and Friday, upper schoolers performed the musical Godspell, which opened on Broadway in 1971. Godspell is told primarily through parables from the book of Matthew; however, the musical also includes hints of modern day characters and music, such as Adele’s comeback hit “Hello”, the Godfather, and crazed pageant child, Honey Boo Boo.

RMA’s take on Godspell was directed by Tarboro native Dawn Whitehurst, and starred sophomore Lauren Seale as Jesus and junior Lindy Pittman as both Judas and John the Baptist. As told in the Bible, Jesus led the disciples, who were played by Holly Brantley, Anna Penwell, Joseph Petruzziello, Emma Grace Sprinkle, Joe Cockrell, Jami Perkins, Alexis Reams, and Anna Scott Wingfield, and Judas towards a pure life that resulted in salvation through belief in Christ. Throughout the performance, Judas is at odds with Jesus’s teachings which culminates in the dramatic downfall of Judas. This emotionally charged scene, which included Judas hopping off the stage and storming out of the cafetorium, builds up to the climax of the performance: the crucifixion of Jesus. Other highlights included Anna Scott Wingfield’s dance after the fall of Judas and Anna Penwell’s spot on high notes in one of the final numbers titled “On the Willows”.

While the main plot followed the Bible, bits of modern culture were interspersed throughout the performance. With the help of RMA’s new full-time musical director, Glorianne Jeffreys, Shawn Leonard, Jacob Watkins, Elias Moore, and Grayson Reams, the cast was able to bring modern songs such as Adele’s “Hello” and an original from the Broadway show, “Day by Day”.  With other modern day elements such as Jesus’s anointment of disciples with a hashtag to the cheek and an impromptu rendition of the Jerry Springer Show, the enthusiastic cast kept the audience laughing throughout the night.