'Godspell' at Skagit Valley College marks retiring music director's last musical

MOUNT VERNON - "Godspell," a quirky 1970s rock musical about Jesus' life and teachings, opens May 1 at Skagit Valley College.

There are about 25 people in cast and crew, and a seven-piece live band playing the 70s folk-rock soundtrack.

Music Director Diane Johnson, who is retiring this year, said she wanted to reprise "Godspell" to work again with people she's worked with over the years, including director Andy Friedlander, and to share a message about building community.

Friedlander was the head of the college's theater program for 26 years. Johnson and Friedlander's first musical together was "Godspell" in 2000.

"I wanted to do this because we could use some building of a beautiful community in society ... the message that we're trying to portray is that a group of people can come together and and do something for the greater good," Johnson said.

Johnson said when she was in "Godspell" in 2000, she made a lifelong friend at the audition, and now she's seeing people continue to build and strengthen friendships as she did.

Tickets are a $15 suggested donation to the Andy Friedmann Scholarship Fund, a drama scholarship that helps offset things such as helping students work less hours in order to participate in play rehearsals. Tickets are available online and at the door.

The musical will be run May 1-9 at the Phil Tarro Theatre at Skagit Valley College. The shows are free for Skagit Valley College students.

The times of some shows are designed to be when students are typically on campus, to bring a sense of community back to the college after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cast members in the show are mostly of equal status, with the main lead being Jesus.

Chayton Engelson plays Jesus. Engelson said the experience has been special to him because he did the play in high school, and it's just as meaningful now building community with a new group.

Clara Johnson, the daughter of Diane Johnson, plays Sage. It's her 15th show at the college.

"It's been really cool to see how my relationship with my mom as music director has changed over the course of 20 years, but also just getting to celebrate with everybody ... (the show is) pretty weird in some spots and I love how we all approach the absurdity of it," Clara Johnson said.

Kayla McNeill plays Robin, and sings one of the popular songs, "Day by Day."

"Godspell" is McNeill's third show with the college and her first in the Tarro Theater. It's also her first singing role.

"I didn't think that I would like be able to play something like this so soon, and it just really means a lot to me that Diane (Johnson) trusted me to be in this cast ... it's really built up my confidence as a performer and helped me get closer to all these people who I've worked with... we really are building a community," McNeill said.

Brian Schrader plays George; it's his fourth show with Johnson.

He worked with Friedmann in 1986 when he took Drama 101 from him.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed just being part of this as far as building something together," Schrader said.

He said he was a kid when songs from the musical were topping music charts, and he remembers watching the original movie growing up.

Johnson's last concert with the Skagit Valley College choirs will be June 7 at McIntyre Hall.

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