GODSPEED

GODSPEED, an Epic Biblical Rock Opera, will hit the stage of the historic El Portal Theatre, North Hollywood, August 21-23
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries and the ASSIST News Service
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA (ANS – July 12, 2015) – GODSPEED, an original rock opera written and produced by talented Christian rock musician, Sammy Oriti, will get its LA area premier at The El Portal Theatre in the Noho Arts District, North Hollywood, CA, from August 21st through 23rd.
The much-awaited show is being presented by Galpin Ford (www.galpin.com) , the number one volume dealer in the world and a major part of the Los Angeles economy, along with the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.
GODSPEED is a theatrical stage production in the style of a rock opera, complete with singers and dancers portraying in song the gospel of Jesus Christ through Biblical characters including: Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, and more.
“The rock musical is composed lyrically from scripture without deviating from the holy text,” Sammy Oriti told the ASSIST News Service. “It is appropriate for all walks of life, and Christian denominations, with a running time of 90 minutes.”
He added: “The production is presented live on stage complete with a six-piece progressive band, cast of 22 actors, digital projections bringing to life key characters of the New Testament to the stage in song and dance, and a powerful combination of visual and musical performances.”
The performances will take place at The El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood’s Noho Arts District. For tickets, go to: www.elportaltheatre.com.
The Story:
Written and produced by Sammy Oriti, GODSPEED is an original work that began to form in Oriti’s mind many years ago after retiring from his 1980’s career as a Bruce Springsteen impersonator. After three years of touring the East Coast and, after only 90 days of settling in Los Angeles to pursue the Hollywood dream, Oriti found God and turned his talents toward heaven.
With just one phone call to Brad Boeckmann, of the Boekmann family who owns Galpin Ford, Oriti met with and presented his vision to Boeckmann who personally funded the recordings currently available free on the GODSPEED website.
Oriti said that the next 20 years were spent knocking on doors, seeking concert promoters and Broadway-knowledgeable supporters who knew how to set up a great show.
“With the advent of the faith-based entertainment movement, as we have seen in Film and TV, GODSPEED - A Rock Opera, became attractive to investors and producers,” he said.
Forming a partnership called 70x7 Films with entrepreneur and philanthropist Richard G. Stewart, GODSPEED took on administrative personnel and a production team and brought Oriti’s 25-year vision to concert promoters and church leaderships to tour GODSPEED in the Faith Based arena.
Visit www.godspeedrockopera.com for your free soundtrack download available for a limited time.
About Richard G. Stewart:
When Entrepreneur Richard G. Stewart, business expert and founder of Help Worldwide first met wih Oriti, they were discussing, with a group of executives, a potential venture at Oriti’s TV Studio. When Oriti heard Stewart mention that “he only wanted to do what God wants him to do,” he knew they had similar goals.
The next morning, the two met for breakfast in Burbank where Stewart explained how abundantly God had blessed him in business and how he desired to spread his blessings by helping others worldwide to glorify of God. Wide-eyed, Oriti explained his 20-year journey with GODSPEED and his vision of its fruition. Stewart agreed it was something he believed God was calling him to be part of, and the two formed 70x7 Films, LLC to produce GODSPEED and venture faith-based projects. (www.richardgstewart.com).
About Tim Storey, Life Coach & Motivational Speaker:
Tim Storey (www.timstorey.com),  who USA Today calls the “Pastor to the Stars”, will be speaking and hosting GODSPEED on the opening night, Friday August 21 at 8PM, at The El Portal. Storey is a life advisor to entertainers and the world’s leading entrepreneurs. Quincy Jones has called him “The world’s voice of inspiration”, while Oprah Winfrey shared her fondness for his work when she interviewed him on her award-winning show, “Super Soul Sunday.”
Back in 1992, a group of individuals believing in the power of possibilities, gathered together with Tim Storey and eventually started what has become known as “The Hollywood Bible Study”. Over the years, thousands of industry professionals and friends gathered monthly to be inspired and encouraged. The program has been successful in small, intimate gatherings in homes across the world from Beverly Hills to Miami, and from New York to Stockholm, and Johannesburg. He has spoken in large arenas and at crowded sessions in the Mondrian Hotel, Wyndham Bel Age, and the Hyatt-Andaz West Hollywood. It was at the Bel Age in Beverly Hills in 1994 when Oriti attended Storey’s meetings and was encouraged to “pull down a miracle” and follow the vision God gave him – thus began the progression of GODSPEED.
“It is an ongoing and amazing journey,” says Oriti. “God sets divine appointments. Twenty years ago, I was praying at Tim’s gatherings for favor from above, and now with Tim hosting our opening night, my cup runneth over!”
Storey’s industry Bible Study meets at East West Studios in Hollywood, and Oriti and Storey are now discussing an opportunity that has arisen to bring GODSPEED to a 10,000 seat area in Manila, Philippines.
Tim Storey will be speaking and hosting GODSPEED on its opening night, Friday August 21, at 8PM at The El Portal.
Oriti told ANS that proceeds of proceeds of ticket sales will benefit ministries, and one is Saving Innocent Ministries, and Amber Davies, who heads it up, will be speaking on Saturday, August 22, at both 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
Saving Innocence is an advocate for youth ranging in ages from 11-17 who are rescued within Los Angeles County. Advocacy for each child begins with crisis intervention and includes support through full restoration. For youth who had nowhere to turn for help, Saving Innocence has coordinated services to meet each child’s mental health and medical needs, assist with aftercare placement, provide support to the child and family. (www.savinginnocence.org).
Another group to benefit will be the 168 Film Project, and is founder, John David Ware, will speak on Sunday, August 23, at 3:00 PM.
Founded in 2003, the 168 Film Project started as a ministry to local Southern California filmmakers has expanded to a worldwide movement and is now incubator for writers and filmmakers to explore scripture and to practice their craft. The 168 Film Project challenge to filmmakers to draw a random scripture and in just 168 hours (7 days) shoot and edit a short film. But most importantly, filmmakers are encouraged to honestly portray the tale that God inspires through the foundational scripture. (www.168film.com).
Also on display will be Michelangelo’s Pietà. The Vatican-approved recreation of Michelangelo’s Pietà, made from the original mold cast in 1934, will be on display throughout GODSPEED’s premiere at The El Portal Theatre. Photo opportunities with the historic masterpiece will be available to patrons. Arte Divine, founded by David Newren, has cast Michelangelo’s St. Peter’s Pietà using a Vatican-authorized mold of the original Carrara marble sculpture housed in The Basilica of St. Peter, Vatican City, Rome. – The Pietà is truly a masterwork that demands to be witnessed in all its monumental glory. (www.artedivine.com).
Prince Lorenzo De Medici Presents at Godspeed Premiere
Prince Lorenzo de Medici resides in Rome, Italy and is a direct descendant and heir to Italy’s famous Medici Dynasty who were patrons of Michelangelo Bounarroti. He is the son of Alessandro de Medici and his wife, Krystyna, who live in Calabria, Italy. Prince Lorenzo has interest in the arts, charity work, and family causes and is pursuing a political career. Together with Arte Divine, Prince Lorenzo will be presenting Michelangelo’s “La Pietà” recreated from the Vatican-housed original mold and his own original Renaissance inspired artworks.
“Don’t miss your photo opportunity with the Prince and the Pietà at the GODSPEED premiere August 21st – 23rd, 2015,” says Sammy Oriti.
The GODSPEED El Portal Sound Upgrade
Designed and installed specifically for the GODSPEED premiere, Oriti consulted Jeff Coombs, a high-end audio expert, to demo a top of the line Ambisonic Sound System able to support the amount of singers and musicians featured in the rock opera.
“Clarity is most important when there are 16 singers in a show,” says Oriti, “and Ambisonic’s proven superiority in this area won us over when we tested the Line Arrays in the El Portal. There was maybe a 2db volume difference from the first three rows to the last three3 rows of the theatre.”
Above all, Coombs says, “It’s about delivering the ultimate audio experience to the audience”.
Coombs, Founder of Ambisonic Systems, with more than 40 years’ experience, specializing in high-end loudspeaker design, is renowned in the industry for his innovative concepts and products. He will be on site at The El Portal during Godspeed to answer questions specifically from Church Leadership on configuring systems affordably provide heavenly sound. (http://ambisonicst.com).
For tickets for GODSPEED, A Rock Opera, go to www.elportaltheatre.com.
For Media Inquiries and interviews, please contact Christie Locke, (661) 286-4334 or clocke@helpww.com.
Photo captions: 1) A performance of GODSPEED. 2) Sammy Oriti with a couple of friends. 3) Dan and Norma Wooding with rock keyboard legend, Rick Wakeman, about whom Dan has released his authorized biography and is seen holding it here.
About the writer: Dan Wooding, 74, is an award-winning author, broadcaster and journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for nearly 52 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the author of some 45 books, and was a rock critic when he worked in the national press in the UK.
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