Saints Be Praised! Musical Theatre Goddess Colleen Hewett Headlines Godspell Revival

Veteran Aussie theatre and TV star, Colleen Hewett, will headline the Melbourne season of Godspell Reimagined, 45 years after she starred in the Australian premiere of the show.

The off-Broadway original, written by Stephen Schwartz – the American behind the global musical theatre phenomenon Wicked – first came to Melbourne in 1971 and ran for more than 500 performances during its first season at the Playbox Theatre. Hewett enjoyed chart-topping success with her recording of Day By Day from the show, produced by legendary Aussie producer Molly Meldrum. It reached number one on the Aus charts in 1972 and was certified as a gold record for shifting more than 50,000 copies.

“Godspell has been a big part of my life and it’s fabulous to be part of the reimagined production in 2016,” Hewett said. “I’m especially pleased to be appearing with this wonderful young cast because I love it when young new talents get a go.”

Hewett's 2016 comeback album Black And White recently topped the iTunes Blues chart in Australia.

Joining Hewett at the Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio is Mark Dickinson, Christopher Southall and former Australia’s Got Talent winner Bonnie Anderson, who conquered the TV talent contest in 2007 aged 12. Now 19, Anderson joins the Godspell Reimagined cast off the back of supporting Olly Murs on tour in 2015.

The Godspell Reimagined season begins at the Fairfax Studio on 25 October.

​Watch Hewett perform Godspell classic Day By Day: