Jesus Christ Superstar was the first musical by the award winning team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to be produced on the professional stage. It opened on Broadway in 1971 and starred Ben Vereen (Judas), Jeff Fenholt (Jesus), Yvonne Elliman (Mary), Barry Dennen (Pilate), and Paul Ainsley (Herod). Despite some controversial reactions from religious groups, it was a huge success and ran for 720 performances. In 1973 it was made into a motion picture. It has some haunting songs in it like "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Heaven on Their Minds" and "Superstar."
I have seen Jesus Christ Superstar many times, but I just found my favorite version--right here in Huntsville. I'm really not one to see a movie twice or read a book over and over, so I wasn't that thrilled to be seeing Jesus Christ Superstar twice in one season. However, Jim Zielinski has done an outstanding job of casting and directing this huge cast of 71 actors. Zielinski has added some special touches to this show. As he says, "some cast members had to grow beards who had never had beards before, while others had to shave off their beards and they hadn't been without one in years." Special attention was also taken to make the set authentically Mid-Eastern. For the temple dancers, Zielinski got six members of the Beledi Club in Huntsville; while the "tormentors" are from the Huntsville Ballet Company.
This show is set in the middle of the audience with a 360 degree stage, which makes acting and blocking difficult. From where I sat, this works great and the cast is ever mindful of turning in different directions so everyone can see. Lynn Broad, Technical Director, has done an outstanding with a variety of challenges: building the first turntable set in Huntsville, flying adults in and off stage, creating smoke and fog, and incorporating a video project.
Glenn Humphrey is making his Huntsville Community Chorus debut as Jesus. Mary Magdalene is portrayed by Karen Young, a voice teacher at UAH and Ars Nova. This couple is electrifying on stage. And, in this case, the rumor is true: Jesus is married to Mary! You can feel the love between this real-life husband and wife as Young sings, "I Don't Know How to Love Him."
This show has many great visual effects, wonderful voices, and gifted actors. Besides my always favorite, "I Don't Know How To Love Him," one of my favorite numbers in this show was "King Herod's Song" as he taunts Jesus for being "King of the Jews." Jay Poff and his harem cast a spell on the audience and make a fun entrance and departure. I also like the way the beating of Jesus was portrayed.
This show was over in a flash for me. No dead silences or no long pauses, just non-stop action. I highly recommend you see this show, even if you think that you've seen it once and don't need to see it again. This production of Jesus Christ Superstars is sure to go down in history as one of Huntsville's greatest theatre experiences!
The Huntsville Community Chorus production of Jesus Christ Superstars is onstage at the Von Braun Center Playhouse July 30 through August 7, 2004. Tickets are $20 for Adults and $15 for Students, Seniors, and Active Military with a valid I.D. Group Rates are available! For further information, contact HCCA at (256)533-6606, or check out the website at http://www.thechorus.org.
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