New community theater to offer ‘Godspell’ in the name of Hope

The DMV welcomes a new community theater in Fauquier County, Virginia. For more than a decade, Hope Theater has been producing week-long drama camps for high school and college students, staging full Broadway musicals in just one week’s time, receiving rave reviews from enthusiastic audiences. 

Now, Hope Theater turns its attention to adult actors, staging its first full-scale theatrical production. Godspell. With decades of experience both on and off the local community theater and professional stages, the production team behind Godspell knows how to create entertaining, professional-quality shows. State-of-the-art Hope Theater provides a comfortable setting for audiences to relax and enjoy a break from the outside world. 

Godspell tells a timeless story of people from all walks of life coming together as a community as they experience unconditional love from the character of Jesus. The musical is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew. These ancient stories are interspersed with chart-topping songs set to new, rock-driven orchestrations, enhanced by energetic choreography.

Composed by Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz with book by John-Michael Tebelak, Godspell has been well-loved for over 50 years, originally making its debut off-Broadway in May of 1971. Performed worldwide in all manner of venues, it was revised musically in 2011 and successfully brought back to Broadway. Both the original and revised versions continue to be performed worldwide. 

Hope Theater’s Godspell production team includes many well-known locals: visionary story-painter Scott Heine serves as director, with music directors Margo Heine and Katy Benko, choreographer Josie Carrado, and producers Scott and Hilary Pierce. Additionally, the cast is full of well-regarded local talent: Kelly Snow as Jesus, Josh Carias as John/Judas, and an ensemble cast consisting of Katy Benko, Dawn Gaynor, Betsy Hansen, Marty Kelly, Rachel Marineau, Alan Pierce, Hilary Pierce, and Rebecca White. The live band is led by Drew Flemming and also includes Chris Calavas, Joseph Evans, Lori Roddy, and Aaron Talley. 

Godspell will be performed from March 25 through April 10, 2022, at Hope Theater, 4173 Bludau Drive, Warrenton, VA. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm (except April 2) and Sundays at 2 pm. There will also be a Saturday matinee on April 9 at 2 pm. Tickets ($20 for adults, $17 for students or seniors) are available online or at the door until sold out. 

The Godspell program is available online here.

COVID Safety: Audiences are requested to wear an appropriate mask that covers their nose and mouth while inside the theater. Hope Theater’s complete COVID-19 Safety Precautions are here.