In 1972, after opening at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, the musical Godspell moved uptown to the Bayview Playhouse in Leaside. What was to be a short two-week run turned into 488 performances, and along the way helped launch the careers of Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, and Jayne Eastwood, among others. The show took parables from the Gospel of Matthew and turned them into lively songs and dances, full of messages about love, forgiveness, and kindness. At the time, some found its lighthearted portrayal of Jesus controversial, but its impact on the community was undeniable.
Godspell’s spell on Leaside has never really faded. In 2021, Leaside Life columnist Terry Fallis reflected on just how much it had meant to the community: “Our parents took my brother Tim and me to see it, and the show blew us away. The music was amazing. To this day, I can still sing pretty well the entire score by heart – which may or may not endear me to anyone in close proximity.”
Nearly 50 years after that unforgettable run, Godspell is back in the spotlight. A new documentary, You Had To Be There, is premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), this Sept. 6th, directed and produced by Nick Davis, and in no small part thanks to co-producers Sue Turley and Leaside’s own Tom Powers. Among its executive producers is acclaimed comedy producer Judd Apatow. The film brings together never-before-seen footage, rare archives, and original audio recordings from that remarkable time.
Tom Powers remembers
What makes this documentary especially meaningful for Powers isn’t just that he is producing it – he recalls being in the audience back in 1972. His mother took him to see the original production, and that memory inspired him to accept the project.
Powers shared that the journey to making the film was a true team effort. Filmmaker Nick Davis, based in New York City, had been working on a scripted version of a story about the unlikely coming together of so many young Canadian actors who went on to change comedy history. Apatow, a fan of Davis’s work, offered his support. Martin Short helped reconnect the original cast, and when a Canadian producer was needed, Powers stepped in with enthusiasm: “I was overjoyed to be involved,” he said. From inception to the coming TIFF world premiere, the film took about three years to make, with filming in New York, Los Angeles, London and Toronto.
From law to filmmaking
Powers’ own career path has been anything but traditional. After studying political science and law, he was a corporate lawyer for 10 years. Following a stint as in-house counsel for an entertainment production company, Tom became interested in producing and opened his own company, Open Door Co., in 2005. Open Door Co. (opendoorco.com) focuses on creating “Content That Matters” – projects that are meaningful with the potential to affect people and communities. His documentaries explore topics that resonate with the public, encourage thoughtful discussion, and drive change.
Outside of his career, Powers and his family maintain strong ties to Leaside. When asked what keeps him here, he didn’t hesitate: “Honestly, the people,” and “Leaside is a wonderful place to raise a family and being so close to Bayview, it is like my second home.”
For Leasiders, the documentary, You Had To Be There, is a chance to celebrate a story that began right here in the neighbourhood – one that helped launch Canadian comedy legends and continues to inspire a half century later. Audiences can look forward to a reunion of Canada’s comedy greats at the TIFF premiere. Expected guests include Eugene Levy, Valda Aviks, Victor Garber, and Paul Shaffer, with Andrea Martin and Martin Short joining virtually for a Q&A.
You Had To Be There is premiering as a “Special Presentation” at TIFF on Sat., Sept. 6, at 2 p.m., at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The next public screening is Sun., Sept. 7, at the Scotia Cineplex on Richmond Street, and again on Fri., Sept. 12, at Scotia Cineplex, 9:30 p.m. CBC has acquired the film for broadcast in Canada, which will air in 2026. Learn more: https://www.tiff.net/films/you-had-to-be-there.
This article was guest contributed by Maria Stefanishina.