Cast Announced for Seattle Music Theatre's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Seattle Musical Theatre's 2015/2016 season roars to life with the high-voltage rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Seattle superstar Billie Wildrick makes her SMT directorial debut as director and will be joined by SMT Associate Music Consultant Brandon Peck as music director and BroadwayWorld Award-winning Troy Wageman as choreographer.

SMT's production of SUPERSTAR jumps forward in time and explores the gospels from a bleak world where much has been forgotten and lost. In a time when children are no longer born, electricity comes at great cost and effort, and the last of the written word is literally crumbling away, the players have carefully collected and preserved scattered pieces of text that pertain to one they called "Jesus." Now they gather together in an attempt to recreate a ritual by which the gates of a long-forgotten "heaven" were once opened.

A unique take on the gospels, SUPERSTAR recounts the last week of Jesus's life, focusing on his close, but fraught relationship with Judas. The critically acclaimed score features favorites "Heaven on Their Minds," "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "What's the Buzz," "Herod's Song," "Superstar," and many others. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR plays September 11-October 4, 2015. Regular subscription packages (three show $100; four show $130) and single tickets (starting at $20) are on sale now at www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org

The cast of SUPERSTAR features SMT veteran David Caldwell (Man of La Mancha), starring as Jesus of Nazareth; Sara Henley-Hicks (Sweet Charity) as Judas; Megan Tyrell (Sweet Charity) as Mary; Troy Wageman (director of Altar Boyz) as Pilate; Mike Cimino as Herod; Chip Wood (ACT, Village, SecondStory) makes his SMT debut as Caiaphas; Garrett Dill (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) as Peter; and DeSean Halley (Scrooge, A Chorus Line, Hairspray) as Simon. The ensemble includes Bailey Boyd, Justin Carrell, Anthony Deleon, Seth Friedman, Antoine Germaine, Jelani Kee, Matthew Lawrence, Alyssa Maas, Mary McIntonsh, Bo Mellinger, Anthony Palozzi, Alana Peters, and Tae Phoenix.

Lighting design by Alyssa Milione, sound design by SMT Technical Director Caleb Dietzel, costumes by Tae LaBrasseur, and set design by Albie Clemente and Caleb Dietzel.

Billie Wildrick (Director) is a long-time theatre professional who enjoys working on both sides of the creative table. Wildrick produced the Seattle/Mainstreet Festival of New Musicals and directed a reading of Pride and Prejudice as well as a full production of Kiss of the Spider Woman at Second Story Repertory. This summer, she directed Scott Warrender's Peanutty Goodness at Theater Schmeater. Wildrick has been writing and directing since the age of four. She is fairly sure she'll never outdo her early work on Jesus Christ Superstar - a years-long run co-directed by her sister and starring their entire collection of stuffed animals - but she is excited to give it a shot. Wildrick is also an accomplished actress and singer in her own right. Recently she was seen as Sally Bowles in Village Theatre's production of Cabaret. Wildrick has been twice nominated for Gregory Awards and has been the recipient of multiple Seattle Times Footlight Awards. Wildrick has been seen all over Seattle working with the 5th Avenue Theatre, ACT, Village Theatre and Café Nordo, playing roles such as as Dot/Marie in Sam Buntrock's production of Sunday in the Park with George opposite Hugh Panaro and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Billie especially loves the creative work involved in launching new works and has originated roles in A Christmas Story, First Date, and Kathy Lee Gifford's Scandalous, with which she recently made her Broadway debut. Wildrick is very proud to proclaim Seattle as her home.

Seattle Musical Theatre Associate Music Consultant and SMT veteran (Legally Blonde) Brandon Peck (Music Director) is a music director/composer based in Seattle. Favorite Conducting/Music Director credits include Legally Blonde at Seattle Musical Theatre, Kiss of the Spider Woman at SecondStory Rep, Associate Music Director for the MainStreet Festival of New Musicals, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray, and Legally Blonde at Nathan Hale High School and Peter Pan for Ovation!. He is also a music theatre teacher at Village Kidstage and Seattle Children's Theatre. He holds a BA in Theatre Performance from the University of Washington.

Troy Wageman (Choreographer) returns to SMT (Altar Boyz, Drowsy Chaperone) and has worked at some of the leading musical theatre houses in the country as both a performer and director/choreographer including 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, The Ordway, American Musical Theatre of San Jose, The Seattle Opera, SecondStory Rep, Seattle Musical Theatre, ArtsWest, and Lyric Light Opera. Favorite Direction/choreography credits include: 10th Anniversary Hairspray at the 5th Avenue, Cabaret, RENT, Joseph and the Amazing...., Altar Boyz, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Winter Wonderettes, Judy's Scary Little Christmas, and Angry Housewives.

Seattle Musical Theatre's 2015-2016 season continues with SHE LOVES ME (Dec 4-20, 2-15), 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL (Feb 19 - March 13, 2016), and concludes with SOUTH PACIFIC (Apr 8 - May 1, 2016).

The mission of Seattle Musical Theatre is to engage and entertain the community by producing new and traditional musicals. The theater nurtures local talent by providing training and artistic development opportunities for children, youth, and adults from all walks of life. SMT's vision is to enrich the entertainment and educational value of live theater in the Northwest region; provide a premiere environment for nurturing artistic and technical talent; and develop the Magnuson Park theater facility as a key cultural resource for civic, arts, and other community organizations. SMT at all times will strive to demonstrate and inspire these values among the Board of Directors, staff, artists, volunteers, patrons, and donors.

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