Eunice Players’ Theatre presenting ‘Godspell’

The Eunice Players’ Theatre is pleased to announce the cast of this summer’s musical, the revised version of “Godspell,” a masterful retelling of the original sensation, injected with contemporary references and dazzling new arrangements.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the local community theatre, EPT is excited to encore this ever-popular musical, which was originally seen on the Eunice stage 25 years ago. This year’s show is being directed by Angie McBride, who was a cast member in the 1994 presentation.
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 of all generations.
The first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy award-winner, Stephen Schwartz; it originally took the world by storm with the international hit, “Day by Day” and 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.”
The production, based on the Gospel of Matthew, uses a small group of people who help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of storytelling techniques. With an eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, the story of Jesus’s life dances across the stage. As it dissolves hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’s messages of kindness, tolerance, and love come vibrantly to life.
Bradley Credeur of Lafayette leads the cast as Jesus. This marks his second time in the role, previously appearing at the Opelousas Little Theatre in 2014. Local theatre patrons will likely remember him as Modred in Camelot and Richard Hanney in 39 Steps. A regular on the community stage, he refers to himself as a theatre nerd, having appeared in numerous productions here in Eunice as well as shows at Opelousas Little Theatre and with Bayou Broadway Productions in Crowley.
The other actors play various followers of Jesus as He teaches his lessons and travels on his way to the Cross.
The cast of disciples include the following:
Robert and Melanie Soileau of Ville Platte. The husband and wife team have enjoyed performing on the Opelousas Little Theatre stage and have assisted backstage together at EPT. The couple has appeared together in the Opelousas productions Putnam County Spelling Bee and Gilligan’s Island – the Musical. Melanie was in the 1994 EPT production of Godspell while still a student at Basile High School and was seen in the Opelousas Little Theatre production in 2014, making this her third Godspell show. In Eunice, she was recently in Play On.
Ignatious Carmouche of Opelousas. Carmouche is a singer/songwriter who was recently a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. He has an extensive background in theatre, dance, music, and film. At Opelousas Little Theatre, he is best remembered for his performance in Hairspray. This is his first appearance in Eunice.
Hedrick Deshotel of Basile. Deshotel was trained at Michele’s Studio of Dance in Eunice and went on to study Theatre Performance and Dance at Louisiana State University. EPT audiences would remember him for his Irving award-winning performance in Camelot while he was still in high school. Since then, he has performed in Opelousas Little Theatre shows, including Godspell, and with Bayou Broadway Productions. At Slidell’s Cutting Edge Theatre, he has starred in both Rocky Horror and Hair, and in New Orleans he appeared in Virtuoso at the Contemporary Arts Center. He also served as dance captain for the touring company of Jambalaya – the Musical.
Jeanne Eddins of Iota. Eddins originally hit the EPT stage in 1993 as Betty Rizzo in Grease. Many will remember her as Angela in Honky Tonk Angels. She has also worked behind the scenes in numerous productions, but was most recently seen on stage as Tatiana Racon in A Comedy of Tenors.
Reed Rougeau of Eunice. Rougeau will begin his senior year at Iota High School in the Fall. A percussionist in the school’s marching band, he has performed with the IHS Beta Club’s group talent act for the past two years. Last year, he played the Cowardly Lion when the club placed fourth at state with the Wizard Of Ahhh’s. This year, he played Mufasa in the club’s presentation of The Lion King which won the state group talent championship and just returned from the National Beta Convention in Oklahoma.
Reagan Hill of Eunice. Hill is a transplant from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and will be a student at the Magnet Academy of Cultural Arts in Opelousas this Fall. A trained dancer, she appeared in a production of Godspell three years ago in North Carolina.
Taylor LaCalle of Lafayette. LaCalle has been involved in community theatre for 10 years in both Eunice and Opelousas. Her EPT debut was in Fiddler on the Roof at age 13. At age 15, she starred in Dorothy Meets Alice. Among her appearances at OLT was Godspell in 2014.
Angie McBride of Lawtell. McBride is in her 29th year of community theatre with appearances in Opelousas and Eunice. EPT audiences will remember her mostly for her Irving award winning performance as Guinevere in Camelot and for her unforgettable appearances as Patsy Cline in two different seasons. 25 years ago, she appeared in Godspell here at EPT. She has directed a number of productions, is a member of the EPT Board of Directors, and a recipient of the coveted Joanie Kerstein Award for Outstanding Musical Performances at EPT.
Courtney Richard of Crowley. Richard has performed in various productions in Crowley for over 10 years, which included starring in Cinderella and Into the Woods. She participated in other various shows as the stage manager/backstage crew. This is Courtney’s first show with Eunice Players’ Theatre.
Stacy Prejean of Crowley. Prejean is actively involved in her church choir and sings and plays the flute in the Eunice Community Choir and Concert Band. This is her adult theatrical debut.
Missy Benoit of Swords. This is Benoit’s second Godspell performance, having appeared in OLT’s 2004 show. She has performed in numerous productions in both Opelousas and Eunice. Many will remember her as Sister Hubert in EPT’s revival of Nunsense in 1998.
Aubree Fontenot of Ville Platte and Emily Vidrine of Pine Prairie will join the cast as featured dancers.
A five-piece band accompanies the singing actors. The band includes Jimi Bergeron of Basile on electric and acoustic guitar, Steve Benoit of Lawtell on bass guitar, Jamie Green of Opelousas on piano, Bernard Brown of Eunice on drums, and Joshua Queflander of Eunice on flute.
The production will include eight 7 p.m. shows and one 2 p.m. matinee. Opening night is July 16 with the run continuing nightly through July 19. The theatre will reopen July 21 for the matinee. Evening performances follow on July 22, 23, 25 and 27.
Tickets are $15 and are available at Beacoup, 114 2nd St., Eunice, located directly across from the theatre. VISA or Mastercard card ticket purchases may be made by phone by calling 337-550-4727 The musical is not a part of the season ticket holders’ package.