THOUSAND OAKS, CA – Young Artists Ensemble Alumni and Friends will join together to present GODSPELL January 9 – 12, 2014, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 and Sunday at 3:00 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 West Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by John-Michael Tebelak, the play is directed by Chelsea Glasner, with Music Direction by Nick Berke and Choreographer by Abby Cluster.

            GODSPELL, in its original inception, was creator John-Michael Tebelak’s thesis project.  He recruited 21 year old Stephen Schwartz to write the music, and the show was performed by their fellow college friends in a 50 seat black box theater. YA4Ever’s production of GODSPELL is not too dissimilar from the original – we too are all students and young working actors singing the same music in a black box theater almost 40 years later.

            “GODSPELL has and will stand the test of time,” says director Glasner, “because of its message of love and community conquering all.” Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, GODSPELL boasts a string of well-loved songs, led by the international hit, “Day By Day.” As the cast performs “Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” “All For The Best,” “All Good Gifts,” “Turn Back, O Man” and “By My Side,” the parables of Jesus Christ come humanly and hearteningly to life.
YA4Ever is a talented and generous group of Young Artists Ensemble Alumni and Friends who gather to donate their time and talents for the presentations of fun musical productions. Recent productions have included INTO THE WOODS, URINETOWN and THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.  These productions are created to support the performing arts and raise money for Young Artists Ensemble, while giving YAE alumni a chance to come back to perform in the place where they first began to develop their craft and deepen their love for the theatre.

            Young Artists Ensemble is an award-winning theatre company for young people that has received many accolades, including the Encore Statue Award from the City of Thousand Oaks for Excellence in the Arts.  Most recently, it received six top honors in the National Youth Arts Awards for last year’s Teen Summer Musical CABARET and its Conejo Theatre For Everyone production of THE HOBBIT.

WHAT: GODSPELL, in its original inception, was creator John-Michael Tebelak’s thesis project.  He recruited 21 year old Stephen Schwartz to write the music, and the show was performed by their fellow college friends in a 50 seat black box theater. YA4Ever’s production of GODSPELL is not too dissimilar from the original – we too are all students and young working actors singing the same music in a black box theater almost 40 years later.  Come hear the amazing voices of YAE Alumni and Friends bring this show to life. Only four performances so order today! YA4Ever was designed to support the performing arts and raise money for Young Artists Ensemble

WHEN:

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 9, 10 & 11 at 8:00 pm

Sunday, January 12 at 3:00