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Gospel at Colonus Reviews
Mon, Aug 9, 2010 2:19 PM by Ryan Jones
Read all of the reviews for The Gospel at Colonus at the Ordway from Aug 5 – 11. More reviews will be added as they are published.
Star Tribune “'Gospel at Colonus' is uplifting in both story and song”
St. Paul Pioneer Press “To say 'Gospel at Colonus' is complicated is preaching to the choir”
Howwastheshow.com “The Gospel At Colonus At The Ordway”
Twin Cities Daily Planet “‘The Gospel at Colonus’: A Minnesota miracle”
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Get tickets to The Gospel at Colonus, running now through August 11
Posted in The Gospel at Colonus, Reviews
Get to know The Steeles
Mon, Aug 2, 2010 10:31 AM by Ryan Jones
Did You Know?
Everyone talks about how roof-raising the music of Gospel at Colonus is, so I thought I’d give you a little context on the amazing artists that are involved in the production. Some things you may already know, while others may be new random facts you can use the next time you’re searching for conversation topics during an awkward silence.
I’ll start with The Steeles.
- The Steeles have earned every musical award that Minnesota has offered in the last 20 years. Talk about an impressive résumé!
- The siblings (they’re all brothers and sisters) grew up in Indiana, but started to develop their style right here in the twin cities.
- These local sensations have performed at some pretty prestigious places, including (but not limited to) Carnegie Hall, Paris, London, Barcelona, South Africa, and Moscow.
- Billy Steele may be the youngest, but he has no trouble measuring up to his older siblings. He performs, produces and writes for the ensemble “Sounds of Blackness”, through which he has won three Grammy Awards.
- While some kids were busy getting their drivers’ licenses, J.D. Steele was directing a 100-voice choir at age 16!
- You may have heard The Shangilia Youth Choir at the Ordway’s 2010 Children’s Festival, but did you know they are a group of 200 orphans from Kenya and were started by J.D. Steele? Well now you do.
- Jevetta Steele originally came to Minnesota to become a criminal lawyer. But life happened and she ended up getting an Academy Award nomination in the movie, Bagdad Café instead. I’d pick the theatrical route too if I had that kind of talent!
- Besides blowing off rooftops with her incredible singing voice, Jearlyn Steele has her own talk show, Steele Talkin’, every Sunday night from seven to eleven on 830 AM. She calls herself “the singing speaker” and has shared her stories from places as far as Asia to right here in Minnesota.
- Perhaps you’re familiar with Target®’s Lifescapes CD collection. Their biggest seller to date, “Gospel” is the opus of Fred Steele himself.
- Jearlyn dreams of someday singing with Josh Groban. We’ll see what we can do about a guest appearance at Gospel.
Check out the Steele’s website for more information.
Posted in The Gospel at Colonus
What is Gospel at Colonus?
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 1:53 PM by Paul Escalante
Upon telling people that I work with Ordway Center for the Performing Arts I’m often met with the response, “Oh neat, what shows are coming up?”
“Well at the end of the summer we’re doing Gospel at Colonus.” I respond, to which people raise their eyebrows and stare blankly at what I hope is not a new zit on my forehead. “It’s the story of Oedipus told with a gospel twist.”
“Oh,” silence. “That sounds interesting.”
Interesting: That wonderfully elusive adjective that we Minnesotans love to use when we either want to give a polite insult, or to describe something that we really know nothing about. The ironic thing is interesting happens to describe the Ordway’s upcoming performance of Gospel at Colonus perfectly. A classic tragedy of suicide, betrayal and incest infused with the soul-stirring sounds of galvanizing gospel music…what could be more interesting than that?
But what’s it about?
The play Gospel at Colonus is a gospel version of the third and final part of The Oedipus Plays written by Sophocles around 405 B.C. A prophecy is made to King Laius of Thebes and his wife, Jocasta, that their son, Oedipus, will kill his father and marry his mother. To prevent this from happening King Laius leaves his son to die on the side of a mountain with his feet bound and pierced. (And you wonder why the kid is deranged…) But because this is a Greek myth and prophecies always have to come true Oedipus is rescued by a shepherd and later accidentally kills his father and marries his mother. I didn’t see that one coming.
Gospel at Colonus begins after Oedipus banishes himself from Thebes for performing murder and incest. After years of wandering with only his daughter, Antigone, the duo reaches the city of Colonus. While they settle in at their new abode of a rock outcropping on the side of a grove, Oedipus’s other daughter, Ismene, delivers the news that there’s trouble back in Thebes. Oedipus’ sons are fighting over his throne. If that wasn’t enough to fight about, they are also battling over where Oedipus should be buried, because according to the Delphic Oracle his burial place will receive good fortune. They are just one big happy family.
I won’t give away the ending. You are going to have to see the show to find out what happens. I will tell you it’s not quite happily ever after. But I promise it’s not just a depressing tragedy.
The music of Gospel may be renowned, but it actually has some rather humble, local roots. It includes performances by The Steeles, who began to develop their style right here in Minnesota, and continue to perform around the Twin Cities today. They have been awarded every musical award offered in Minnesota. Now that’s what I call an accomplishment! The Steeles aren’t the only cast members bringing Minnesota pride to Gospel. Rev. Dr. Earl F. Miller is the Senior Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Saint Paul. He’s also served as President of many other Saint Paul organizations.
Gospel at Colonus is an upbeat and heart-pounding musical that will take you for a journey; a soulful journey of love, power, and pride. If that isn’t interesting, then I don’t know what is.
Check back soon to learn more about the amazing artists of Gospel at Colonus!
Written by Arielle Melum
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Learn more about The Gospel at Colonus at the Ordway >>
Posted in The Gospel at Colonus, Theater Season
This blog is a group effort by Ordway staff, actors, artists, musicians, dancers and all those involved in the creative process of performances, programs and events at the Ordway to provide a behind the scenes look at what happens onstage, backstage and in support of the work presented at the Ordway. We also hope to discuss pertinent topics in our industry.
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