Photo Flash: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Hits BRT 8/21-9/19

The Boiler Room Theatre (BRT), Williamson County’s resident professional theatre company, will present Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, beginning Aug. 21, 2009 at the theater, located in the historic Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd., Building Six, for a run through Sept. 19, 2009.

With music by Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar highlights the political and interpersonal struggles of Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The rock opera is based on the canonical gospels’ accounts of the last week of Jesus’ life, beginning with Jesus and his followers arriving in Jerusalem and ending with the Crucifixion. Twentieth-century attitudes and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the political depiction of the events. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas who is depicted as a tragic figure who is dissatisfied with what he views as Jesus’ lack of planning, and is alarmed by the relatively recent claims of his divinity.

The opera was first heard as an album before being staged on Broadway in 1971 and later in London’s West End. The Broadway production was nominated for five Tony® Awards. On the original album, the part of Jesus was sung by Ian Gillian, the lead singer of Deep Purple who later also worked with Black Sabbath and others, and that of Judas by Murray Head. A film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar was released in 1973 and was the eighth highest-grossing film of that year. The film, directed by Norman Jewison, was shot in Israel and other Middle Eastern locations.

“Jesus Christ Superstar has rich significance for me. It was one of my first professional music direction opportunities more than 20 years ago and it’s incredibly exciting to get yet another opportunity with it,” said Director Jamey Green. “Of course the story is timeless; the score is now a classic but remains as fresh and powerful as it was when it premiered almost 40 years ago. It is, in my opinion, the best dramatization of the political, religious and military issues at hand during the time of Jesus’ ministry. It is a bold and intense story dealing with the different ways Jesus was perceived during that time. It deals with friendships, betrayal and the different ways public figures are misunderstood and used. There are so many modern parallels to the characters and situations which confirms its relevance to today.”

BRT’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar stars BRT newcomers Ben Van Diepen as Jesus, Ciaran McCarthy as Judas, and JoAnn Coleman as Mary Magdalene. The cast also features Nashville theatre veterans Scott Rice, Alan Lee, Mike Baum, Will Sevier, Lauri (Bright) Gregoire, Laura Thomas Sonn and Nancy Whitehead. Green also serves as the show’s musical director. The show is supported with choreography by Billy

Ditty, set design by Anthony Popolo and costume design by Melissa Cannon. Jesus Christ Superstar plays August 1 through Sept. 19, 2009 with performances on Tuesdays, Thursdays (Sept. 3 and 17), Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with discount Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on August 30 and Sept. 6.

Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors (age 60 and up) and students (age 13 through college with valid ID), and $19 for children ages 3 through 12. Matinee prices are $2 less respectively. All Tuesday shows are two-for-one ($25 for two tickets; no other discounts apply). Tickets for BRT’s “Thrifty Thursday” shows are $15 (no other discounts apply). Tickets may be purchased by calling the Boiler Room Theatre at 615-794-7744 or ordered online at www.BoilerRoomTheatre.com.

The Boiler Room Theatre is Williamson County’s first resident professional theatre company, established in 2000.

A non-profit arts organization, BRT’s mission is to present intimate stagings of classic musicals, area premieres of recent off-Broadway plays and musicals, and original works bylocal playwrights and composers.

Photos by Rick Malkin

Ben Van Diepen

JoAnn Coleman, Ben Van Diepen, and Ciaran McCarthy