With filming set to begin the week of April 5, Newtown High School freshmen and sophomores rehearsed Godspell on the stage of the school auditorium, with masks on and sanitizer nearby.

Godspell is the first of two spring musicals NHS Drama is streaming for audiences in upcoming weeks.

Freshmen and sophomores are readying Godspell for its debut on Friday, May 7, at 7 pm, and juniors and seniors are preparing The Mystery of Edwin Drood to be released on Friday, May 28, at 7 pm. The dates may change due to the ongoing pandemic, but those are the currently planned dates. There will be no in-person audience performances for either show.

The original streaming date for Godspell was April 23, and the date was changed to May 7 as of April 9.

Both productions are being prepared at the same time.

Tickets are currently available to purchase for Godspell at showtix4u.com/event-details/47760. A ticket entitles the purchaser to a streaming pass to watch the performance online. Tickets are $25.

The online description for the production reads, “Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden), and it took the world by storm. Led by the international hit, “Day by Day,” Godspell features a parade of beloved songs, including “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” “All for the Best,” “All Good Gifts,” “Turn Back, O Man,” and “By My Side.” A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques, and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance, and love come vibrantly to life. Boasting a score with chart-topping songs, a book by a visionary playwright (John-Michael Tebelak), and a feature film, Godspell is a sensation that continues to touch audiences. Because of its small technical demands and minimal cast size, it has become a staple of theatre companies large and small.”

As students ran through the April 5 rehearsal, NHS Choral Director Jane Matson, who is directing and choreographing both spring productions, offered staging and advice, including how to have hand sanitizer ready and how to properly dispose of masks when needed.