By Tine Roycroft

“Godspell!” is back among the bright lights of Broadway and we have producer Ken Davenport (pictured), founder of Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, to thank. Davenport, originally from Sturbridge, felt that this was a perfect time to revive the beloved show because its message, in his opinion, is a timely one.

“The show is about a community coming together. That’s what Stephen Schwartz [who In 1971 wrote the music and new lyrics for “Godspell,” for which he won several awards, including two Grammys] told me originally,” Davenport says.

At the top of the show, the characters can’t even speak the same language, making communication impossible. But by the end, with the guidance of a strong leader, they are all brought together.

With deadlocks in government and political officials who can seem to be more interested in re-election than the upward progression of the country, Davenport felt that all representatives could use a reminder of how powerful togetherness and cooperation can be ~ so he invited each member of Congress to see the show for free.

And not only did he invite the bigwigs, but he organized an effort in February 2012 which allowed 56 residents of Sturbridge to purchase tickets, hop on a bus and travel to Broadway and see the show. Davenport’s mother was even along for the ride.

“Broadway can seem so far away,” Davenport, 39, says. “They had a great time and said they want to do it again.”

As a producer, Davenport can be found wearing a number of hats on a daily basis: looking over financial sheets, dealing with casting issues, visiting theatres or sites for various shows, advertising for the latest theatrical event, and much more.

But he particularly prides himself on listening to what each customer thinks about the shows he produces. His ear is constantly tuned to the Twitterverse and his fingers type and send emails every other second. He’s so technologically connected to theatre-goers that he was recently featured in an Apple iPhone commercial, where he speaks honestly and candidly about how much he loves his phone.

“I want to make sure that the theater not only survives the next 50 years, but also thrives,” he says. “I think we need to listen to people more, gauge the way we approach shows. Make it more exciting, more unique, more comfortable. I’m a big fan of trying to get in the hearts and minds of the customers.”

Davenport has already achieved greatness, but you won’t find him resting on his laurels. Even during his downtime, he’s busy seeing new shows and delighting in classic favorites of his like “Phantom of the Opera.  He believes he’ll eventually be dipping his toes into the world of film and he’s also interested in trying television on for size. But when it comes to this theatre lover, there’s no place like home.

“I’ll always keep my feet firmly planted on Broadway,” Davenport says. “I love it here. I’ll never stray far.”

For more info on Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, go to www.davenporttheatrical.com.

To read Ken Davenport’s blog, visit www.theproducersperspective.com.