All for the Best

The Off-Broadway hit musical Godspell emerged as a worldwide culturalphenomenon in 1972 when, just over a year after its award-winning emergenceon stages around the world and with the Top Twenty Billboard hit "Day byDay," Columbia Pictures decided to film and release it on the silver screenacross the globe. In the process, it created cinematic history for its use oflocations around New York City (including the then-unfinished World TradeCenter) and, at the same time, accomplished the nearly-impossible bytaking a small stage show, one that had been originally created as a collegethesis, and unleashing it upon a world of moviegoers who have since continuedto embrace it as one of the greatest musical hits of all time, as well as acelebrated Easter special and a score that will live forever.In All for the Best: How Godspell Transferred From Stage to Screen, filmhistorian Andrew Martin has captured every step of the show's journey,from school play to an indelible part of modern culture, and depicts in glowingdetail all the highs...and lows...of a production that will always live on inthe hearts and minds of all who watch and enjoy. Featuring interviewswith composer Stephen Schwartz, producer Edgar Lansbury and star VictorGarber besides all of the film's surviving co-stars and key players from thecreative team, this impossible-to-put-down story of "the little show thatcould" is certain to bewitch the reader from the very first sentence."Andrew Martin's book brings back many treasured memories ofproductions of Godspell--the opening night at the Cherry LaneTheatre in New York City, the opening performance in London,and finally the premiere of the film at the Lincoln CenterFilm Festival. This book tells the amazing story of Godspellin a factual and entertaining way."- Angela Lansbury