The Walnut Street Theatre concludes its 197th season with Godspell. This theatrical menagerie of music, energy and spirituality, set under the shadow of the Ben Franklin Bridge, lights up the Walnut stage through July.

A celebration of the gospel according to Matthew, this play is a release of spirit into the larger heart of mankind, teaching all that the power of love and humanity will overcome those of hatred and sorrow. The original production in 1970 made the company a troupe of clowns who follow Jesus in an abandoned playground. The show can occur anywhere. In this case, Godspell has a cast representing a hodgepodge of artists and musicians living in makeshift dwellings under the shadow of Philadelphia’s own Ben Franklin Bridge.

Cast in the role of Jesus is Michael Gruber, a native of Cincinnati who grew up wanting to be a springboard and platform diver.

"I did become an award winner," Gruber said. "I was an NCAA All-American at the University of Michigan, and my one ambition was to become an athlete. But when the 1984 Olympic trials passed me by and I didn’t want to train for another four years, I decided to concentrate on something else."

And that "something else" became the theater.

"I was actually a theater major at Michigan and doing music theater, so making that switch wasn’t too far-fetched," he said.

"I grew up always surrounded by music and was always in the choir and so on. Eventually, I decided to transfer to the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music to complete my junior and senior years."

With what he calls excellent training behind him, he eventually realized his second dream and garnered Broadway roles in such blockbusters as A Chorus Line, Cats, The Wizard of Oz, Kiss Me Kate and more. Some of his favorite regional roles include Rags, Anything Goes, Follies, Falsettos and others.

And now Godspell, which is quickly climbing the list to becoming another favorite, Gruber said. "When it was done in the 1970s, it kind of came out of a hippie influence," he said. "But our rendition is a completely different kind of a take. It’s much more urban, much more contemporary, less theatrical and a little more real.

"And although it’s hard to talk about religion in this day and age because it’s become a rather sensitive subject, there is a wonderful spirituality in the play that people are drawn to," he added. "I think people are drawn to the message of being kind and respectful to each other, with suggestions of how to live your life in a more joyful way while being respectful to the community and to each other." While he loves the message, Gruber also loves just being on the stage and is proud to have the opportunity to touch people.

"I also love the immediate gratification I get from a live audience," he said. "For me, the best thing about what I do is being able to make people feel good and maybe go away with some sort of message.

"If they're having a bad day, maybe I can help them go away feeling a little happier. That's the most enduring result of my work. Accolades fade quickly, but when you know you’ve touched people, that lasts much longer. I think it’s also what keeps me going … and probably, hopefully, will for a long, long time."