Broadway Casting Announced for Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Preview Performances Begin March 1. Opens March 22 at Neil Simon Theatre.
Broadway casting has been announced for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Artistic Director Des McAnuff which will open March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).
The cast will feature Paul Nolan as Jesus Christ, Josh Young as Judas Iscariot, Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene, Tom Hewitt as Pontius Pilate, Bruce Dow as King Herod, Marcus Nance as Caiaphas and Aaron Walpole as Annas.
Also in the cast: Matt Alfano as Thaddeus, Mary Antonini as Elizabeth, Karen Burthwright as Ruth, Jacqueline Burtney as Mary (Martha’s Sister), Mark Cassius as Matthew, Ryan Gifford as Bartholomew, Kaylee Harwood as Sarah, Jeremy Kushnier as James the Lesser/Priest, Mike Nadajewski as Peter, Melissa O’Neil as Martha/Maid by the Fire, Laurin Padolina as Rachel, Katrina Reynolds as Esther, Jaz Sealey as Thomas, Jason Sermonia as John, Julius Sermonia as James, Lee Siegel as Simon Zealotes, Jonathan Winsby as Phillip, Sandy Winsby as Andrew, and Krista Leis and Matthew Rossoff as swings.
In addition to Mr. McAnuff as Director, the creative team includes Choreographer Lisa Shriver, Musical Director Rick Fox, Set Designer Robert Brill, Costume Designer Paul Tazewell, Lighting Designer Howell Binkley, Sound Designer Steve Canyon Kennedy and Video Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis.
This ground-breaking rock opera, which reinvented musical theatre for the modern age, tells the story of the last week of Christ’s life. The score includes such chart-topping songs as “I Don’t Know How To Love Him,” “Everything’s Alright” and “Superstar.”
The Los Angeles Times wrote “O ye of little faith. To all those who made snarky comments when it was announced that ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ was being resurrected by Des McAnuff, I say unto you, “Go down to La Jolla Playhouse and observe the benevolent gift of this revival, which has had the miraculous effect of turning even an Andrew Lloyd Webber denier like me into a momentary believer.”
Variety wrote “In Des McAnuff’s Broadway-bound revival of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ costume designer Paul Tazewell dresses the title character in solid white, as if offering a blank canvas on which the world is invited to paint for the next 2,000 years and beyond. The usefulness of the carpenter from Nazareth to serve everyone’s select purposes is the theme here, surely the most thoughtful and scintillating reading of the Webber/Rice rock opera since its 1969 recording.”
The Globe and Mail wrote, “This production is an absolute miracle,” while the Toronto Star called it “the best show you’ll see this year.” “A sparkling production literally pulsing with life,” wrote the Toronto Sun; and Variety enthused, “McAnuff has managed to come up with a vision that is faithful to the original but manages to make it seem fresh to an audience in 2011.”
Tickets for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929. Group sales (of 15 or more) are on sale now and available by calling 1-877-536-3437.
Ticket Pricing:
Ticket prices (including the $2 facility fee) range from $62-$99 for previews (March 1-March 21), $62-$142 for performances March 22 onward.
Cast
Thaddeus Matt Alfano
Elizabeth Mary Antonini
Ruth Karen Burthwright
Mary (Martha’s sister) Jacqueline Burtney
Matthew/Priest Mark Cassius
King Herod Bruce Dow
Bartholomew Ryan Gifford
Sarah Kaylee Harwood
Mary Magdalene Chilina Kennedy
Pontius Pilate Tom Hewitt
James the Lesser/Priest Jeremy Kushnier
Peter Mike Nadajewski
Caiaphas Marcus Nance
Jesus Christ Paul Nolan
Martha/Maid by the Fire Melissa O’Neil
Rachel Laurin Padolina
Esther Katrina Reynolds
Thomas Jaz Sealey
John Jason Sermonia
James Julius Sermonia
Simon Zealotes Lee Siegel
Annas Aaron Walpole
Phillip Jonathan Winsby
Andrew/Priest Sandy Winsby
Judas Iscariot Josh Young
Swings Krista Leis, Matthew Rossof,