By Laura Wade
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – On April 1 and 2, Mainstage Center for the Arts performed “Godspell’ in the Dennis Flyer Theater of Camden County College’s Blackwood campus. The musical drew a large turnout both nights.
Directed by Renee Liciaga, the show had performers from all over the South Jersey area. Some were Mainstage alumni.
“It was great to see some of the people I used to do shows with up on the stage,” said Kelsey Mccollaum, a performer and employee of Mainstage. “It was a little different being in the audience instead of up on the stage with them, but everyone really did a fantastic job. The show was done in a very different manner than the versions I had seen before and I really liked it.”
One of the performers in the show was Billy Hart, a Mainstage alumnus and recent NYU Tisch School graduate who is directing “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” at Mainstage. “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” will be performed April 29 to May 1.
“It was nice getting to come back and perform in a Mainstage show. It’s been so long since I was last on a stage here and it was really nice to come home to the place where I started my acting career over 15 years ago. It felt really nostalgic to be back,” said Hart.
Other Mainstage alumni who have come back to be in the show have toured with the Young Americans, graduated from Montclair State University for Musical Theater, performed in countless summer stock shows, as well as become well-known comedians.
“Godspell” was part of the Mainstage season this year. The rest of the season consists of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” “13 the Musical” and “Hairspray.” “13” will be performed at the end of June and “Hairspray” will close out the season in July. For more information and tickets for upcoming shows at Mainstage Center for the Arts, you can go to http://www.mainstage.org or call 856-232-1012.
Performers present 'Godspell' at Camden County College. By Laura Wade, CCC Journalism Program