NORWICH – The Norwich Theater Company will present John Michael Tebelak’s popular – albeit non-traditional – telling of the gospel according to St. Matthew, “Godspell,” with performances slated for 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Chenango County Council of Arts’ Martin W. Kappel Theater, 27 West Main St.

Originally conceived and directed by Tebelak, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, “Godspell” is not built around a traditional plot, said Director Mark Sands, instead utilizing slapstick, pantomime, charades and vaudeville to tell the story of Jesus Christ. The show first opened at New York City’s Cherry Lane Theater in May of 1971, he added, and was “an immediate hit” with audiences. Due to its popularity, the show was relocated to the larger Promenade Theater, boasting more than 2,000 performances before making its way to Broadway in 1976.

As for the Norwich Theater Company’s cast, Sands called the group “one of the most prepared” he’s ever had the pleasure of working with.

“Wednesday’s first dress rehearsal,” he added, “was performance quality. This is not a show to be missed.”

The Norwich Theater Company began production for “Godspell” in July, said Sands, rehearsing four or five evenings every week. In recent years, Sands has directed some of Norwich High School’s most popular musicals, including Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida,” “Les Misérables” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.”