Following on from their critically-acclaimed season of Hello, Dolly! that is currently playing at Arts Centre Melbourne, The Production Company (TPC) have announced the Cast for Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as an extension of the season in August.
Considered the greatest story ever told, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar is based on the last week of Jesus’s life, highlighting the political and personal struggles between Jesus and Judas.
When the musical exploded onto the stage in 1971, it changed the world of musical theatre forever, with a brilliant score including Jesus Christ Superstar, Heaven On Their Minds, What’s the Buzz?, and Mary Magdalene’s Everything’s Alright and I Don’t Know How to Love Him.
Rob Mills (Ghost, Wicked) joins The Production Company for the first time in the title role of Jesus. Helpmann Award winner Alinta Chidzey (Curtains, Show Boat) is Mary Magdalene and Zoy Frangos (Les Miserables, South Pacific) is making his TPC debut as Judas.
Trevor Ashley, star of Les Miserables, and Australia’s undisputed queen of cabaret, will play Herod, while musical theatre legend, Michael Cormick, fresh from his star turn in Cabaret, will play Pontius Pilate. Joining them will be Paul Hughes as Caiaphas, Stephen McDowell as Annas, Mike Snell as Simon Zealotes and Andrew Cook as Peter.
The ensemble will feature Embla Bishop, Jared Bryan, Angelique Cassimatis, Emma Clark, Zoe Coppinger, Sage Douglas, Nelson Gardner, Glenn Hill, Alex Hyne, Luke Jarvis, Kurt Kansley, Andrew Kroenert, Josie Lane, Luigi Lucente, Scott McConnell, John Reed, Thern Reynolds, Pharic Scott, Suzanne Steele, Rachael Ward, and Sam Ward.
TPC favourite and one of Australia’s most acclaimed international theatre directors, Gale Edwards, directs this rock masterpiece. She has directed Jesus Christ Superstar on both London’s West End and on Broadway and in 2000, won an Emmy Award for the televised recording of her production, released on DVD worldwide.
Edwards is joined by a stellar creative team including: Musical Director – Anthony Gabrielle, Choreographer – Kelley Abbey, Costumes – Esther Marie Hayes, Set – Dan Potra, Lighting – Trent Suidgeest, Sound – Julian Spinks and Associates (System Sound), and The Production Company Orchestra.
Of her long association with Lloyd Webber, Gale Edwards said “Once upon a time Andrew Lloyd Webber asked me to investigate Superstar in a new way and find a more in-depth interpretation of the show for the West End.”
“Not just as a ‘stand and belt’ rock opera, but a story of the psychological relationship between two men caught up in a dangerous political situation, and an overwhelming sense of destiny that drew them inexorably forward to that final moment on the Hill of Calvary.”
“What Andrew created was one of the greatest musical scores of the twentieth century and Tim Rice interwove a story told through brilliant lyrics which is as timely and relevant today as it was 2017 years ago.”
“They were 21 years old when they created this mega sensation, which changed the direction of musical theatre from that moment on. How exciting for me to revisit the work 17 years later in our new and challenging world. I can’t wait!”
Due to popular demand – the season which opens on Saturday 29 July – has been extended, with eight new performances on sale from Monday 5 June. No further extension is possible and the season must close on Sunday 13 August 2017.
Jesus Christ Superstar
State Theatre – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 29 July – 13 August 2017
Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
For more information, visit: www.theproductioncompany.com.au for details.
Image: courtesy of The Production Company