(Response to question about Turn Back, O Man)

The words for the song "Turn Back, O Man" were originally written as a cautionary hymn which can still be found in the Episcopal hymnal. One of the original cast members in GODSPELL, Sonia Manzano, who has since gone on to be one of the cast members, writers and producers of "Sesame Street", had a kind of Mae Westian naughty/naive quality to her character, so I thought it would be fun for her to do a Mae West style number. The words to "Turn Back, O Man" seemed perfect for a bit of a send-up, and the director, John-Michael Tebelak, and I decided that it would be a fun way to open the second act, particularly if we could contrast the slightly ribald and innocent fun the rest of the cast was having with the concerns of Jesus, who knows the challenge they face ahead. Thus he sings a more serious third verse of the song, then gets caught up in a little of the fun. But as soon as the song finishes, he quiets the rest of the celebrating cast members immediately and tells them "This is the beginning." And we are into the second act.

Stephen Schwartz