The 1972 Toronto production of Godspell has taken on legendary status. Tom Hanks and Conan O’Brien have both expressed wistful admiration, wishing they’d seen it live. It wasn’t just a musical—it was a launchpad. A remarkable ensemble of young performers, many of whom would go on to become giants of comedy, first found their footing on that stage. Together, they helped redefine what funny would mean for generations.

In this episode, North Americana producer Lia Grainger speaks with those who were part of that extraordinary production, those lucky enough to witness it, and others who felt its pull from the sidelines. Together, we reconstruct the world of that moment—how a combustible mix of raw comedic talent converged in one place, at one time, nearly 50 years ago.

Thank you to Jay Kipps Band for the theme song music. 

This episode originally aired on the North Americana Podcast. 

Useful links:

The Toronto Theatre District is a part of the Toronto Entertainment District in Downtown Toronto that contains the largest concentration of stage theatres in Canada. It is the third largest English-speaking theatre district in the world, after West End in London and Broadway in New York City. Check out the links below to learn more about the famed 1972 Godspell production or to start planning a Toronto Theatre getaway.

• A great Godspell fan site
• The Theatre Museum of Canada
• Historic Toronto
• Toronto Theatre
• Stars in the House
• The Actors Fund