Saints Bring Joy to the Hilltop in Godspell

With high energy and heartfelt emotion, Canterbury’s theater students brought the beloved musical Godspell to life onstage for two magical nights.

“Godspell is a celebration of community, creativity, and personal transformation,” shared Co-Director of Theater Keiko Mathewson, who led the production with Music Director and Performing Arts Chair Christopher Rich. “Movement and music drive the energy, with playful, spontaneous interactions that engage both the ensemble and the audience. I am incredibly proud of these students.”

For good reason—they delivered a dazzling rendition of the timeless classic. Known for its joyful performances and memorable songs like “Day by Day,” Godspell offers a fresh take on biblical stories, making them accessible and relatable to audiences of all backgrounds. “At its heart, Godspell is about unity, resilience, and the power of shared experiences,” Keiko said.

Those shared experiences were especially meaningful to the cast and crew. “The show depended a lot on the group's energy, and it was awesome to see everyone’s personalities shining through as things came together,” said Amelia Welsh ’26, who took the part of Jesus. “The songs were catchy and fun to learn, and we had a great time. It was quite the challenge, but in the end, it was very rewarding!” 

Zachary Mwanza ’27 played dual roles as John the Baptist and Judas, and other cast members were Serena Bacetti ’26, Jialing “Jolin” Cao ’28, Ryan Diaz ’27, Lauren Elliott ’26, Reagan Fitzgerald ’25, Francis Foley IV ’27, Yuge “Ingrid” Fu ’26, Zoe Gorra ’27, Bertalan Hornok ’27, Marygrace Hussey ’27, Clare Kelly ’25, Maya Lileika ’25, Jing “Kitty” Miao ’25, Victoria Ostrowski ’26, Hannah Soifersmith ’27, Yawen “Sophia” Zheng ’27, and Yutong “Coco” Zhou ’27.

Behind the scenes, designers and technical crew members included Stage Manager Ella de Marval ’25, Assistant Stage Manager Madeline Lavertue ’27, Costume Design & Execution Isabella Mitchell ’27, Costume Assistant Liam Hamlet ’27, Sound Technician Maeve Prendergast ’27, Sound Assistant David Peng ’27, Light Board Operator Yuxuan “Bob” Chen ’27, Spot Operator Yiming “Caleb” Sun ’28, and Stage Crew Paisley Damon ’27 and Hudson Soifersmith ’27.

Friday night’s performance also featured special guests in the audience when Canterbury theater alumni returned to campus for a heartwarming reunion. These past Saints of the stage enjoyed a campus tour, a backstage visit, wonderful memories, and a delicious dinner together before taking in the show.

Keiko expressed deep appreciation for the entire community’s support of Godspell. “It takes a village to embrace the arts and make this a successful endeavor,” she said. “We are so fortunate to be a part of the best!”

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