Stagecrafters to Pull Back the Curtain with Reimagined JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Jesus Christ Superstar is a worldwide blockbuster that audiences have embraced for over 40 years. In its season finale, Stagecrafters offers a fresh perspective, reimagining the musical as played by a troupe of actors breaking into an abandoned theatre to re-enact the final days of Jesus Christ. All the while, the production illuminates the process of putting on a show, as audience members witness the actors' production coming together before their eyes.

Featuring an emotional and electrifying pop score with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, the show, which is based loosely on the Gospels and focuses on the last days of Christ, runs May 19 - June 11, 2017, at Stagecrafters Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in downtown Royal Oak.

The concept is the brainchild of director Dan Rose of Berkley. "We go to theatre to experience the magic. Even more than experiencing it, we like to see how the magic is made. It's why behind-the-scenes TV specials are such a hit. Part of the magic in this show is that we open with this traveling group breaking into an abandoned theatre and prepping the space so that they can put on a show," says Rose. A 20-year set design and construction veteran, Rose and his design team have made use of non-traditional materials for the set including construction scaffolding and lighting truss. "Audience members will see all the things that make the magic later in the show being loaded into the theatre and erected," he says.

Regarding the performers in the show within the show, Rose emphasizes that they are not just actors - but re-enactors. "It's kind of like the difference between a band who plays Beatles songs and a Beatles tribute band - the second one is a little more intense about what they do. I equate it more to the theatrical equivalent of a Civil War re-enactment. These folks aren't here to give a nice performance for themselves; they actually want to relive the last days of Jesus' life for themselves. In a nutshell, that's the premise we're using for this version of the show."

Jesus Christ Superstar focuses on the final seven days in the life of Jesus Christ (Tom Butwin of Rochester Hills) culminating in his crucifixion. Seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot (Josh Allor of Mt. Clemens), who is often at odds with Jesus, the show offers a closer, more personal look at the complicated relationships of others around him, including Peter (Justin Noroyan of West Bloomfield) and Mary Magdalene (Katelyn O'Neill of Madison Heights), as well as his adversaries in the political hotbed of Roman-controlled Jerusalem, including Caiaphas (Michael Ameloot of Detroit), the Jewish high priest who sees him as a threat; Pontius Pilate (Tony Battle of Royal Oak), the Roman governor who foresees Christ's bloody demise and worries he will get the blame; and King Herod (Tim Rochon of Rochester Hills), who mocks him as merely another false messiah.

At the heart of the show is the relationship between Jesus and Judas. "Deconstructing that relationship has been a challenge. Part of the trick is to make both Jesus and Judas human and likeable. While audiences love the angry vocal battles between the two of them throughout the show, if you honestly look at the words without the music, they lend themselves to a much deeper conversation and relationship between the two characters. We've been working hard on how to establish that relationship up front and attempt to maintain it as both characters' lives fall apart," says Rose.

"I think, as observers, human beings love to see or discover all sides of a story; this is particularly true with stories we think we already know. Shows with alternative views on something we think we already know (such as Wicked or Peter and the Star Catcher), prequels, sequels, etc., feed our need for more information. I think the story of Jesus' life through another set of eyes gives us that same behind-the-scenes look at a story we've already put together once and challenges us to weave this new material into what we've already decided is the full story."

Jesus Christ Superstar started as a concept album in 1970. It opened Oct. 12, 1971, at Broadway's now-closed Mark Hellinger Theatre to run for 711 performances to close July 1, 1973. Featuring Ben Vereen as Judas Iscariot, it was nominated for five 1972 Tony Awards. A feature film appeared in 1973. The show has had three Broadway revivals, most recently in 2012. Stagecrafters presented the show previously during the group's 1993-94 season.

Patrons attending the May 19th opening night performance are invited to a complimentary pre-glow of hors d'oeuvres from 7:00 to 7:45 pm.

Show tickets are $23 on Thursdays, $25 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets may be purchased online at www.stagecrafters.org (online handling fees apply) or by phone at 248-541-6430 using Visa or MasterCard. All seats are reserved and there are no refunds or exchanges on individual tickets. If shows have not sold out, tickets can be purchased at the box office one hour prior to the performance. Student, military and senior discounts are available for specific performances. The Baldwin Theatre is located at 415 S. Lafayette in downtown Royal Oak.

Jesus Christ Superstar is Rated PG. Running time is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. Strobe lighting and theatrical fog will be used.

Stagecrafters, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit community theatre, is in its 61st year of providing opportunities for members of the community to develop their talents and to volunteer their time to create an enriching, quality theatrical experience through its Main Stage, 2nd Stage, and Youth Theatre productions. At the Baldwin Theatre since 1985, Stagecrafters has been named Best Community Theatre by Hour Detroit, Detroit Metro Times, and Daily Tribune. Stagecrafters offers shows that appeal to a wide variety of ages and interests and prides itself on providing professional quality shows at affordable prices, making the performing Arts Accessible to individuals in our "regional" community.

Photo by Lance Luce

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