People & Culture
The true story of how a Toronto church basement became the launchpad for a generation of comedy legends
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.
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