Anwar Robinson doesn’t look very different than he did three years ago.

His shoulder-length dreadlocks, fitted sweater and confident smile are just as distinct as they were when he was standing before Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell auditioning for a spot in the fourth season of ‘American Idol.’

His smooth, classic R&B voice mixed with a Broadway vibe captivated the audience around him at Syracuse Stage Wednesday afternoon, just as it did the large ‘American Idol’ crowds.

Although the ‘American Idol’ finalist only sang one song, the gospel song ‘His Eyes is On the Sparrow,’ to the packed Sutton Plaza audience at Syracuse Stage, it did the trick of giving the audience something to look forward to.

Robison will perform as Jesus in the musical ‘Godspell,’ which will run on Syracuse Stage in late November.

‘I liked what ‘Godspell’ was about and how culturally connected it is to the themes that are reinforced like humanity, togetherness, community and divinity. I wanted to be a part of it,’ Robinson said. He recently finished a national tour of the Broadway production of ‘Rent,’ where he played the role of Collins.

The entire cast of ‘Godspell’ gathered in the Sutton Plaza in an intimate-looking setting that resembled a Bohemian living room to answer questions and present the play and cast to the public.

The cast, directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, the associate artistic director at Syracuse Stage, is made up of a mixture of Syracuse University students and adults to tell the story of several Bible parables.

Unlike the typical ‘Godspell’ musical, Maharaj decided this one will tell the stories using current issues.

Maharaj sets the play in places around the world, including China, Darfur and New Orleans.

He told the audience he wanted to craft the play around places where one wouldn’t usually find Jesus. He said he got the idea after talking to his friend who served in the army.

‘Hearing my friend’s story made me think about where we’d find Jesus today,’ Maharaj said.

Maharaj said he hopes the events in the play can tell the parables in what he described as a ‘tapestry of possibility and hope.’

He then posed questions to the cast about the play, their experience after the first rehearsal and what they hope to gain from the production.

‘I hope the cast members’ chemistry will add something to the production,’ said Theresa Harper, a member of the Syracuse Stage board who attended the event. ‘I think it would be very, very good to see on stage.’

kaoutram@syr.edu

Published on October 22, 2008 at 12:00 pm