You Had to Be There How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That

From our vantage point a half century later, the idea that a semi-improvised musical comedy inspired the gospels and featuring Jesus in clown make up would prove a cultural landmark in theatres all over the world seems a little strange. Stranger still, the most potent and remarkable production of the piece took place in Toronto, where a cast of newbies and wannabes included Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Paul Shaffer and Gilda Radner all of whom went on to enjoy careers of considerable reach.

Nick Davis’s entertaining doc benefits great anecdotage from pretty much everyone who was there, and especially from erstwhile roommates Martin Short and Eugene Levy. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mike Myers are also on hand to shore up the bonafides.

The most incredible thing about You Had to Be There is that this film makes you feel like you were there, and these friends are your friends too.

Kristy Puchko, Mashable

Nick Davis’s terrific return to this historic event offers a laugh-a-minute trip down memory lane that’s not merely nostalgic. It’s a valuable oral history of a defining moment in pop culture.

Pat Mullen, POV magazine

A joyous experience.

Matthew Carey, Deadline Hollywood