|
|
|
|
Mini Biographies & Where Are They Now?
Ever wondered what the Godspellers have been up to since the Godspell days? All of the films they were involved in before and after Godspell are listed at www.IMDB.com as well as shorter biographies.
The biographies listed here are exactly as they appear in the Godspell movie program.
1. Katie Hanley
Katie hails from Evanston, Illinois, where she was a cheerleader and lead in musicals at Evanston Township High, before entering Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Her high school director suggested she audition for a new summer stock theatre in Indiana, where she sang in a number of musicals. Katie's interest in sports probably is innate; her grandfather was Dick Hanley, Northwestern's famous football coach, and she loves snow-skiing, water skiing, tennis and bike riding. A member of several casts of "Godspell," her ongoing hope is that people enjoy anything she does on stage or screen.
Where Is She Now?
Katie later starred as "Marty" in the original cast of Grease. She appeared in
the film "Xanadu," alongside Olivia Newton-John, and also appeared on
television a few times. She lives with her husband and two children, and also
sculpts.
2. Joanne Jonas
Joanne is a native New Yorker who made her Broadway debut in "The Rothschilds." The grand-daughter of Bert Jonas, old-time theatrical agent, and grand-niece of the editor of Zits, that early theatrical newspaper. Joanne has also played at the New London Barn Players and the Showcase Playhouse. She is a member of the original cast. Joanne also is the assistant dance director of the film, and works with choreographer Sam Bayes.
Where Is She Now?
Joanne is a stress therapist living in Northern California, with her husband and
son.
3. David Haskell
David has achieved great success with his portrayal, being acclaimed both here in New York as an original cast member and at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Trained at the College of Marin, Marin County, California, and at Carnegie-Mellon, David has had such representative roles as "Billy Liar," "The Caucasion Chalk Circle," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Mother Courage," "All My Sons," "Country Wife," "Out At Sea," "Suddenly Last Summer," "Billy Budd," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Richard III." He has studied acting with James Dunne, W. Word Baker and Robert Bennediti, dance with Paul Draper, mime with Jule Walker, voice with Bob Parks, and speech and dialects with Edith Skinner. Mr. Haskell has appeared on TV on "Today," "Tonight," "ABC Directions," "The Great American Dream Machine," "Merv Griffin" and the "Grammy Award Show" and, of course, he is heard in the soundtrack album of "Godspell"
Where Is He Now?
David continued his great acting career up until his death. He died of brain
cancer in 2000.
4. Merrell Jackson
Merrell gained most of his theatre experience in his native Chicago, where he was in the Chicago cast of the Broadway musical "The Me Nobody Knows." He has played with the Goodman Theatre Touring Company in "The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew," "Hide and Seek Odyssey of Madeleine Gimple," and "The Magic Isle." On Channel 26's "Discovery Showcase" he won the First Place Award, and he won the Scholarship and Best Trouper Award from "The New Performers of 1971," a musical special on WMAQ-TV. He won the Best Actor Award from high school, and the Music Award from the All City High School Chorus, plus a scholarship to Wolf Trap American University of the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. for voice study and to sing with the American Youth Choir.
Where Is He Now?
Merrell passed away in 1991.
5. Robin Lamont
Robin was born in Boston and grew up in Brooklyn where she attended Packer Collegiate institute before enrolling at Carnegie-Mellon University. Another original "Godspell" trouper, she is something of an authority on folk rock. She loves Bach and Cat Stevens, and hates Wagner. Robin played at the Cohasset Music Circus in Massachusetts, and at the Southbury Playhouse in Connecticut.
Where Is She Now?
Robin went on to do one more film after Godspell. She appeared as part of the
original cast of Stephen Schwartz's musical, "Working," and eventually played
the role of Sandy as a replacement in the musical "Grease" on Broadway. She was
an Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, New York in 2001. She
lives in New York with her husband and children.
6. Jerry Sroka
Jerry attended Seton Hall College, the New Jersey Academy of Dramatic Art and the American Academy of Dramatic Art, where he became an associate. He played in "Stop the World...", "You Know I Can't Hear You When The Water's Running," and other shows at the Starlight Summer Theatre in New Jersey. He displayed comedic talents on the "CBS-TV New Talent Show" and the "CBS Radio Best of New Talent." In the concert format, he was MC for The Four Freshman and the Jack E. Leonard Show. Interwoven like a leitmotif through the past ten years were more than a thousand appearances for the Professional Children's Theatre, in which he played virtually all the favorites from children's literature.
Where Is He Now?
Jerry has continued his acting career, and made several movie and television
appearances after Godspell. He provided a voice for the children's television
show, "The Wild Thornberrys" and resides in California with his wife.
7. Gilmer McCormick
Gilmer was born in Louisville, Ky., and spent her childhood in Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, and wanted to be a missionary doctor. She went to high school in Bethlehem, Penna., and was one of the original company from Carnegie-Mellon University. She has done three shows for National Educational Television, two in Pittsburgh and one in New York, and appeared in stock at both the Bucks County Playhouse and the Huntington Playhouse in Cleveland. She is married to Stephen Reinhardt, supervision of musical numbers of American and European companies.
Where Is She Now?
Gilmer appeared in several films and television episodes before and after her
involvement in Godspell. She lives in California with her husband, where she
runs her church's theater. She has two children.
8. Jeffrey Mylett
Jeffrey is another of the original cast to come from Carnegie-Mellon University with the first "Godspell" wave. He had worked with John-Michael Tebelak from early college days in summer repertory companies. He has played in Little Rock, Arkansas, Huntington, West Virginia and Cleveland, Ohio, and made his New York debut in "Godspell," appearing not only on stage with them, but on the "[T]oday," "Tonight" and "Merv Griffin" television shows as well. He writes music, sings with guitar and concertina, and plays the recorder.
Where Is He Now?
In a better place. And far from forgotten!
9. Lynne Thigpen
Lynne, a native of Joliet, Illinois, attended the University of Illinois where she received her BS in Speech and English. She was awarded the graduate student creative Performing Arts Acting Fellowship. The summer before and during her graduate semester, she taught theatre and directed "Marat/Sade." After one semester in graduate school, she resigned from the Fellowship and came to New York in February, 1971. She was cast in "Godspell," her first legit show, in June, and appeared in the Los Angeles production. While in California, she won a part in a television special
Where Is She Now?
Lynne continued her successful acting career up until her death in 2003 from a
cerebral hemorrhage. She went on to do many movies, and numerous stage
productions, including Schwartz's "Working" and Schwartz's "The Magic Show,"
along with Jeffrey Mylett. She briefly worked as a high school teacher. There is
an elementary school named in her honor, at her hometown in Joliet.
10. Victor Garber
Victor was a member of the successful "Sugar Shoppe Rock Groupe," and his stage work includes performing selection from "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Godspell" and other works for the Canadian Rock Theatre. He experienced improvisational theatre at the Toronto Workshop Productions and appeared in several musical revues. Victor appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show with the Sugar Shoppe, The Bobbie Gentry Special, and The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour. His most recent recording is "The Canadian Rock Theatre." Victor devotes any free time writing songs and rehearsing with his new group, "The Shop"
Where Is He Now?
Victor has continued his acting career. He had a major role in the movie
"Titanic" and recently wrapped up the television show, "Alias." Currently, he is
starring in the television show, "Justice."
(Click the picture below to return to the From the Godspellers section.)
bravenet.com