This spring, the students of St. Dominic high school and their director Mrs. Hobbs are bringing the musical Godspell to the stage! The recently released cast list is composed of Jesus, John the Baptist, fourteen disciples, twelve of which have song features, and a thirteen man ensemble. Let’s take a look at the fabulous line-up!
With a solid singing background, senior Doug Koch is starring as Jesus. Since the seventh grade, Koch has been a member of St. Joseph’s choir in Cottleville. At St. Dominic, he has participated in the chamber choir all four years. Koch is honored and thrilled to portray the charismatic and energetic character of Jesus in Godspell. Koch has been preparing for auditions and to play the role of Jesus for about two months. These preparations include: practice singing in a higher range, an improved diet, and listening to the Bible in a Year podcast.
“Playing Jesus is a huge task, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes because I know how much of an impact I have to make in this role,” Koch said.
Playing both John the Baptist and Judas is senior Garrett Drohr. Drohr has participated in choir for the past two years of his high school career. For the past year, he has received vocal lessons as well. His vocal experience is sure to aid him in this production. As John the Baptist, Drohr will sing an opening number about preparing the way of the Lord, and as Judas, he will confront the views of Jesus in the song “All for the Best.”
Performing the number “Day By Day” is sophomore Gia Chiaradonna. Chiaradonna has a zeal for singing and is pumped for the musical. Her character, Anna Maria, has a good heart that trusts and loves the Lord as she follows Him one day at a time.
“The song ‘Day By Day’ is based on the pure love of an intimate relationship with Jesus. It is about an innocent sense of caring towards Christ,” Chiaradonna said.
Next up, senior Madison Huff was cast as Lindsay, an eager follower of Jesus. Godspell follows the book of Matthew, so Huff is doing a Bible study of this Gospel to prepare. Huff has been performing in theater and taking voice lessons since the fifth grade, and she has sung in St. Dominic’s chamber and concert choir since her sophomore year. She will be singing “O Bless the Lord My Soul.”
“Especially with connecting with my faith recently, … being able to really dive into the worship part of it [the song] is going to be really cool and hopefully, getting to bring that to the audience,” Huff said.
Additional roles are mostly associated with the musical number assigned to them. “Learn Your Lessons Well” is about being obedient to God’s laws and about Jesus’s teaching of the eye being the lamp of the body, and it will be sung by junior Piper Bishop, with senior Jodi Grobbe and freshman Mady Pohlman singing its reprise.
Senior Autumn Capistrant, a member of the All-State Choir, will be performing “All Good Gifts.” Sophomore Lucy Schmitz will sing “By My Side,” and sophomore Sidney Cavaness will perform “Turn Back O Man,” a song that has an ominous feeling to it and which gives the warning to forsake sin. The song “You Are The Light of the World” will be sung by both senior Eve Loureiro and sophomore Max Wallis. “We Beseech Thee” is going to be sung by senior Hannah O’Brien, who received honorable mention in the All-State Choir. Finally, junior Holly Moore and sophomore Abby Dolitsky will be playing the role of two more disciples.
The spotlights will be shining on some talented students, so get your tickets and come see the moving musical, Godspell!
