“Godspell” wasn’t Susan Buehler’s first choice for an interterm musical, but when she found out Baldwin High School would be performing “Once Upon a Mattress,” her first choice, her thoughts changed.
“We thought, ‘hum, probably don’t need to be doing the same musical that this community has already seen,'” Buehler, associate professor of music, said.
The cast, made up of 16 students, and the crew, made up of 11, performed the production Jan. 16 and 17 in Rice Auditorium. There was no admission to the production.
“Godspell” was offered as an interterm class. Any student could sign up for it, but sophomore Kari Hilmes is required to spend at least one interterm participating in a theatrical-based production for her theater major.
“I decided I would rather have fun doing a musical than doing a really fast internship where I wouldn’t really learn a lot and I would be stressed out,” Hilmes said.
Students participated in the crew, in the orchestra or on stage. Those interested in the acting part of the production had to audition by singing a song, reading through a portion of the script and participating in pantomime.
The cast met during interterm from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each weekday with an hour break for lunch and an hour break for dinner.
“I think for doing a musical, not a stage production, but a musical, in 10 days, having the turnout of an audience that Baker’s never had, for like the past 12 years, that was just amazing,” Hilmes said.
Sophomore Bryce Lathrop played the part of Jesus in the production. He had the most lines to learn, but found this to be easier than he originally thought. His lines were taken from Scripture, and he has grown up hearing those parables. Aside from acting the character of Jesus, he was being called Jesus offstage as well.
“It was funny because during those two weeks, I would say most people referred to me as Jesus, even outside of those rehearsals,” Lathrop said.
Hilmes and Lathrop, who have been dating since October, especially enjoyed spending so much time together each day.
"Even though we were in rehearsal, I think we were able to grow even more in our relationship and seeing more of each other's goofy sides," Hilmes said. <br/>&#160;For Hilmes, she found it funny to be "dating Jesus" for a couple of weeks. For Hilmes, she found it funny to be "dating Jesus" for a couple of weeks.
For Hilmes, she found it funny to be “dating Jesus” for a couple of weeks.
“I was just really lighthearted about it the whole time,” Hilmes said. “I joked around with it, I don’t know if that is good or bad. It was fun, a new experience. My parents joked around with it too.”