Jefferson Performing Arts Society presents TARZAN THE MUSICAL

If you loved Mary Poppins's flight over the audience last spring at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, you do not want to miss Tarzan the Musical playing from March 17-26! Tarzan the Musical features flying gorillas, leopards, Tarzan, Jane, and many more!

Tarzan the Musical takes place on the shores of West Africa, as a young Tarzan is taken in and raised by gorillas. Apart from striving for acceptance from his ape father, Tarzan's life is mostly monkey business until a human expedition treks into his tribe's territory and he encounters creatures like himself for the first time. Tarzan struggles to navigate a jungle, thick with emotion as he discovers his animal upbringing clashing with his human instincts. This smash hit is adapted from the story Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs, book musical by David Henry Hwang, and the music and lyrics were scored by Phil Collins. What more could you ask for?!

Coming off of last Fall's West Side Story, director Kenneth Beck and musical director Dr. Donna Clavijo collaborate again to bring this story to life! Beck and Clavijo's credits expand many theatres across the country, and we are thrilled to have them piloting the regional premiere of Tarzan the Musical!

We are thrilled to have collaborated once again with ZFX, Inc to ensure this production will be a marvelous spectacular you won't want to miss! ZFX, Inc's inclusion of the many elements it takes to fly someone on stage creates a once in a lifetime opportunity for the actors, actresses, stage hands, and audience members that get to take part in the flying spectacle! The production has two masterminds behind the flying sequences that bring this production to life; with Paul Rubin choreographing the flying sequences and Bobby Hedglin-Taylor choreographing the aerial sequences. Additionally, this production features experienced and beautifully trained aerial artists associated with Fly Circus Space N.O.

The JPAS costume department has been hard at work for the past two months building the costumes for the gigantic production. The costumes include international influences, larger than life flowers, and even 18 gorillas! All of the costumes in the show are handmade by our fantastic Costume Designer, Emily Billington, and her team of Shelby Clemens and Serena Thomas. They have put in countless hours to ensure that the audience is transported deep into the West African jungle the moment the show begins.

Our production stars James Royce Edwards, AEA* as Tarzan, Christian Tarzetti as Jane, Wesley Adams as Young Tarzan, Marie Becnel as Kala, Louis Dudoussat as Kerchack, Luke Halpern as Terk, Butch Caire as Professor Porter, John Michael Haas, AEA* as Clayton, Lauren Guiterrez as Lepoard, Warren Hovis as Father, Meghan Kessel as Mother, and Paul Bello as Snipes.

Edwards is thrilled to tackle the role of Tarzan for the third time, joining our company from San Diego, California. James speaks very highly of his love for the show and the challenging role of Tarzan. "I love this role so much. It's my favorite. I love the immensely challenging physicality of the role, as well as the demanding vocal score. But most of all I love Tarzan's character arc and the themes of belonging and family. "

Similarly, Tarzetti is thrilled to play Jane and describes this role as a dream role of hers. "Jane is an incredible role that I am so honored to play. If I had to decide what I love most about her, I would have to say it is a tie between her intelligence and her quirky side. She is a scientist who loves animals and nature and is willing to fully immerse herself in their world in order to understand her studies, which I find very admirable. As for her little quirks, I love how vulnerable she can be. She gets really excited about life and sort of forgets her proper English poise and rambles on about the things she loves. She is a very relatable woman with a good heart."

No JPAS show would be complete without the Broadway Pit Orchestra conducted by Maestro Dennis G. Assaf. This orchestra is compiled of 20 of the finest musicians in the New Orleans Metro area and is sure to be a delight to your ears!

You will not want to wait too long as tickets are going quickly! Tickets are on sale now online at jpas.org, by calling 504-885-2000, or reserving them at the theatre box office one hour prior to performance time.

Performance dates are:
March 17 - 26, 2017
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sundays at 2:00 PM

Jefferson Performing Arts Center
6400 Airline Drive * Metairie, LA

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