Merrell Jackson
Encyclopedia
Merrell Jackson was an actor who played one of the apostles in the film Godspell
(1973). He sang "All Good Gifts".
Jackson graduated from Chicago's Calumet High School in 1971, where he was a soloist for the a cappella
chorus, and had leading roles in two stage productions for which he won the "best actor" award. During his senior year he played King Melchior in a school production of the Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors
that was shown on local television TV 26, and was an understudy in the Chicago production of the rock musical The Me Nobody Knows
. He also sang in the All-City High School Chorus. In the summer of 1971 he was awarded a scholarship to go to the National Youth Chorus Workshop at Wolf Trap
American University
Academy for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
, and was one of 25 selected performing arts students who appeared with Lloyd Haynes
on the WMAQ-TV
musical special The New Performers: Chicagoland '71. His fellow performers voted him "Best Trouper" among the supporting cast members for which he won a $500 scholarship.
He joined the Goodman Theatre
's touring company later in 1971, appearing in the children's musical comedy The Magic Isle. He auditioned for the Chicago production of Godspell in May 1972, but was cast in the movie instead, filming in New York from August to November, 1972. He joined the Chicago production in November,but was called back to New York for additional location shots and then continued in the cast until the show's run ended in August 1973.
Jackson then joined Nell Carter
in the Chicago cast of the musical Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
. He was with the national touring company in Baltimore a year later. While living in New York City, Jackson performed with dance companies, appeared in Broadway musicals, and did commercial spots for 7 Up
soft drink. He was also a painter.
Godspell (film)
Godspell, released in 1973, is the film adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical Godspell created by John-Michael Tebelak.Set in modern New York City, the film stars Victor Garber as Jesus and David Haskell as John the Baptist/Judas...
(1973). He sang "All Good Gifts".
Jackson graduated from Chicago's Calumet High School in 1971, where he was a soloist for the a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
chorus, and had leading roles in two stage productions for which he won the "best actor" award. During his senior year he played King Melchior in a school production of the Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Amahl and the Night Visitors is an opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti with an original English libretto by the composer. It was commissioned by NBC and first performed by the NBC Opera Theatre on December 24, 1951, in New York City at NBC studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, where it was broadcast...
that was shown on local television TV 26, and was an understudy in the Chicago production of the rock musical The Me Nobody Knows
The Me Nobody Knows
The Me Nobody Knows is a musical with music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt. It debuted off-Broadway in 1970 and then transferred to Broadway. It received the Obie Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical...
. He also sang in the All-City High School Chorus. In the summer of 1971 he was awarded a scholarship to go to the National Youth Chorus Workshop at Wolf Trap
Wolf Trap
Wolf Trap may refer to:* Wolf Trap, Virginia* Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Wolf Trap, VA* Wolftrap anglerfish , a family of anglerfish* A microbiology experiment of Wolf Vishniac...
American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
Academy for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and was one of 25 selected performing arts students who appeared with Lloyd Haynes
Lloyd Haynes
Samuel Lloyd Haynes was an African-American actor and television writer. Haynes was a member of the Bahá'í Faith.Haynes served in the Marines from 1952–1964 and during the Korean War...
on the WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago, Illinois. WMAQ-TV's main studios and offices are located within the NBC Tower in the Streeterville neighborhood, with an auxiliary street-level studio on the Magnificent Mile at 401...
musical special The New Performers: Chicagoland '71. His fellow performers voted him "Best Trouper" among the supporting cast members for which he won a $500 scholarship.
He joined the Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre
The Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of Chicago theatre, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization...
's touring company later in 1971, appearing in the children's musical comedy The Magic Isle. He auditioned for the Chicago production of Godspell in May 1972, but was cast in the movie instead, filming in New York from August to November, 1972. He joined the Chicago production in November,but was called back to New York for additional location shots and then continued in the cast until the show's run ended in August 1973.
Jackson then joined Nell Carter
Nell Carter
Nell Carter was an American singer, and film, stage, and television actress. She won a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway musical Ain't Misbehavin, as well as an Emmy Award for her reprisal of the role on television...
in the Chicago cast of the musical Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope is a musical revue with music and lyrics by Micki Grant. It was originally produced by Edward Padula.The all-singing, all-dancing show focuses on the African American experience with songs on such topics as tenements, slumlords, ghetto life, student protests, black...
. He was with the national touring company in Baltimore a year later. While living in New York City, Jackson performed with dance companies, appeared in Broadway musicals, and did commercial spots for 7 Up
7 Up
7 Up is a brand of a lemon-lime flavored non-caffeinated soft drink. The rights to the brand are held by Dr Pepper Snapple Group in the United States, and PepsiCo in the rest of the world, including Puerto Rico, where the concentrate is manufactured at the Pepsi facility in Cidra...
soft drink. He was also a painter.