Masterworks Broadway Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Classic Broadway Musical Godspell

NEW YORK, Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MASTERWORKS BROADWAY proudly announces the release of Godspell - The 40th Anniversary Celebration, a two-disc set that will be available physically and digitally on September 6, 2011. The newly remastered collection includes both the original off-Broadway cast recording from 1971 and the motion picture soundtrack from 1973. Featuring new liner notes by composer Stephen Schwartz, Godspell - The 40th Anniversary Celebration comes out in advance of the first ever Broadway revival, which begins performances at New York City's Circle in the Square Theatre in October.

The score by Stephen Schwartz, the Grammy® and Academy Award®-winning composer of Wicked and Pippin, includes the hit "Day By Day," which reached #13 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the summer of 1972.  "The popularity of the record helped make the show a bigger hit," recalls Schwartz in his liner notes, "and at one point there were ten companies playing simultaneously around the United States, plus other productions in London, Paris, Australia, South Africa, Germany, etc…Today it is hard to believe that forty years have gone by since the original production." New Godspell interview and performance videos featuring Stephen Schwartz will be available for viewing exclusively on MasterworksBroadway.com.

The 2-disc set also includes the soundtrack from the 1973 movie, which was filmed and set in New York City, and memorably featured the musical number "All For the Best" performed on the top of the as-yet-to-be-completed World Trade Center. Godspell introduced a young Victor Garber (Sweeney Todd on Broadway and four-time Emmy® nominee for TV's Alias) as Jesus and features the joyous song "Beautiful City" which was newly written for the film.

Although this immensely successful musical based on the Gospel of St. Matthew now needs little introduction, when Godspell was first produced in 1971, it broke new ground in its treatment of the historical Jesus.  It relates the last days of Jesus using dramatized versions of several parables, but quickly becomes something more – a religious experience and a joyous celebration of the family of man.

Godspell opened at the Cherry Lane Theatre on May 17, 1971 and then moved to the larger Promenade Theater in August 1971, where it became one of the longest-running off-Broadway musicals of all time. Godspell moved to Broadway in June 1976 and was Tony®-nominated for its score before ending its run in September 1977, with a combined total of more than 2,600 performances. This beloved musical has become a staple of the theatrical repertoire in schools, churches, and community and professional theatres across the globe and is one of the most licensed titles annually.

Masterworks Broadway is an imprint of Sony Masterworks. For email updates and information please visit www.MasterworksBroadway.com.

TRACKLISTING

ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING

Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord

Save The People

Day By Day

Learn Your Lessons Well

Bless The Lord

All For The Best

All Good Gifts

Light Of The World

Turn Back, O Man

Alas For You

By My Side

We Beseech Thee

On The Willows

Finale

Day By Day (Reprise)

MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK

Prepare Ye (The Way Of The Lord)

Save The People

Day By Day

Bless The Lord

All For The Best

All Good Gifts

Light Of The World

Alas For You

By My Side

Beautiful City

On The Willows

Finale

SOURCE Masterworks Broadway