The Mills Masquers will open the 2008 season with the
classic Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera, “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Show dates are Feb. 22, 23, 29 and March 1 at 7:30 PM, and Feb. 24 and March 2 at 2 PM. The show will be
staged at the Barton Theater, two miles north of downtown Glenwood on 221st St
(formerly Highway 275). The show will be directed by Jeff
Mitts.
Dave Stowe, Adam Hogston and Nancy
Vieyra head up the cast.
Stowe, a native Californian now living in Bellevue, has the title role of Jesus, and is
appearing on the Barton Theater stage for the first time. He has the movie “O
Brother Where Art Thou?” among his acting credits, where he appeared along side
George Clooney and John Goodman. He also spent a season with Sarah Michelle
Gellar on the TV series, “Buffy and The Vampire Slayer” and has appeared in a
stage version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in Los Angeles.
Hogston,
also of Bellevue, first appeared with the Masqers a year ago as Will Parker in
“Oklahoma!“ where he got a chance to show off his singing and dancing skills. As
Judas Iscariot, he is giving a bigger and better chance to expand on those
talents.
Nanci
Vieyra completes the trio of lead actors as Mary Magdalene. Yieyra is a Pacific
Junction native and Glenwood High School graduate, now living in Council
Bluffs, who has appeared in many Masquers productions, including
the lead role of Laurey Williams in last winter’s production of “Oklahoma.”
“You couldn’t ask for a better trio to build a cast around,”
said Mitts, who is directing his first Masquers production. “With Superstar there is no script or cues,
just a book with all the music. It’s really an open slate, and these guys have
been great coming up with their own ideas and helping out the younger cast members.”
“Jesus Christ Superstar” is the story of the final seven
days of Jesus’ life as told from the view of Judas Iscariot. It is the first
collaboration of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who wrote the show as
teenagers in the late 1960s in Britain.
Almost all of Rice’s lyrics have some reference to verses in the Bible.
When we first meet Judas as he sings “Heaven on Their Minds”
we learn that while Judas has been Jesus’ right hand man all along, he doesn’t
believe that Jesus is the son of God, and that all of his preaching and miracle
working will cause the Romans to destroy them all.
In “What’s the Buzz?” we meet the Apostles, who are eager to
ride into Jerusalem
and take on the Romans. The songs “Strange Thing Mystifying” and “Everything’s
Alright” we get a sense of the conflict between Judas and Jesus. Judas objects
to Jesus’ relationship with Mary Magdalene, and asks Jesus why good money was
used on expensive ointments instead of the poor. Jesus replies that there will
always be poor and they cannot be helped.
“This Jesus Must Die” provides us with the real villains in
the story – the High Priests Caiaphas and Annas. During the Roman occupation
these priests served as go-betweens between the Jewish population and the Roman
rulers, and they saw Jesus as a threat to incite the population and determined
that “This Jesus Must Die.”
Charlie Robbins made the long commute from Wahoo three times
a week to play Caiaphas, and is a commanding figure as he bellows from his
perch high on the Barton Stage. Geoff Chenoweth of Council Bluffs is equally nasty as Annas.
Harvey Fritz and Samuel Neff complete the quartet of priests.
The priests eventually entice the disgruntled Judas to give
up Jesus location so he can be arrested. Hogston is superb as the conflicted
Judas finally sells out in “Blood Money / Damned for All Time.”
“I Don’t Know How to Love Him” is perhaps the shows most
recognizable song. Mary Magdalene is conflicted with her love for Jesus as a
man, or as the son of God. “Vieyra’s voice shines in this touching ballad.
In the time of Jesus, the Holy Land is occupied by Romans
and Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor who ruled over Judea.
Pilate is universally blamed for Jesus’ death but Rice paints a more
sympathetic image of the Roman ruler. Tim Daughtery of Council Bluffs plays
Pilate. This is Daugherty’s first time on the Barton stage, but he is a regular
at the Chanticleer Theater and also a member of the Southwest Iowa Men’s
Chorus. In the haunting “Pilate’s Dream” he tells of a premonition that he is blamed
for all time for Jesus’ death. And indeed throughout most of the second act
trying not to make that happen.
The second act begins with “The Last Supper” where Jesus
announces to the Apostles that Peter will deny him three times and another of
the 12 will betray him. As the Apostles sleep Stowe gets a chance to let his
vocal talents shine in one of the show’s signature songs, “Gethsemane.”
As the song ends, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, and is
followed by “The Arrest”, “Peter’s Denial” and “Pilate and Christ.” It is there
that Pilate finds some wiggle room. Since Jesus is from Galilee Pilate sends
him off to King Herod to let him deal with Jesus.
Finally in “King Herod’s Song” the audience will get a bit
of reprieve. John Bell is hilarious as what can only be described as a “poofy”
Herod complete with dancing girls (and guy) and a tuba. Herod mocks Jesus,
promising to set him free if he will perform just one miracle. But there is no
miracle and Jesus is sent right back to Pilate.
The Jewish people believed that 40 lashed would kill a man,
which is significant because when Jesus comes before Pilate again in “Trial
Before Pilate,” Pilate gave Jesus 39 lashes, hoping to put an end to the
situation, but the mob demands Christ’s crucifixion. Pilate finally gives in as
he says, “I was my hands of your demolition. Die if you want to you innocent
puppet!”
In the final Rice-Webber twist, the show switches to modern
times and Judas back with the glitzy, familiar “Superstar” theme, basically
asking Jesus if it was all worth it. The final scene is of course, the
crucifixion.
Also with singing roles in the production are Mike Seeley as
Simon Zealotes and Devon Huebner as Peter. Other Apostles include Mason Flora,
Christian Johnson, Russell Jewell, Denny Neff and Bryan Jozwiak.
Also in the cast are Karen Foster, Sheryl Hess, Judy Kirk,
Laura Chekal, Brooke Bird, Jennifer Mitts, Annika Baake, Rachel Foster, Grace
Kirk, Annaleah Herrman, Taylor Hess and Niki O’Meara.
“We’ve got a very small cast for a musical,” said Mitts.
“But for just about everyone who isn’t a high school student, the show is very
special to them, so them come in with a sense of passion, and for the most
part, already know the music. So from that aspect it’s been very easy to
direct.”
Mitts also credits Sheryl Hess with her help as
choreographer, “She’s another of those with an incredible passion for the show.
She came up with most of the scene staging and the choreography for the
dances.” Hogston and Jozwiak also helped with many of the dance moves.
Nicholas Ross is the musical director of what promises to be
another outstanding Masquers pit orchestra. The band includes Jan Patterson on
piano, Pete Jacobus on drums, Bach Bakehouse on bass, Jim Karjala and Ken
Whitacre on guitar, Gordon Woodrow and Patti Kahanding on trumpet, Tracy Ryan
on trombone, Carrie Sudweeks on flute, Ruth Baake on clarinet and Muriel
Huckins on violin.
And for the first time in a Mills Masquers show, all the
principal actors will be wearing wireless microphones. “We’re excited about
that,” said Mitts. “The Barton Theater is an intimate setting, but when actors
are going up against a 12-piece band with guitars and amps, even the strongest
singers need some help, especially with a rock opera like “Superstar,” where the
entire story is told in the songs. It should enhance everyone’s experience,
especially for the audience.”
Tickets are on sale now in the usual Masquers ticket
outlets. They can be purchased at Glenwood State Bank. Tickets can be reserved
by calling the Barton Theater at 527-3600, and they can also be reserved online
at www.millsmasquers.org and going
to the “Talk to Us” link.
In addition to the regular run, the Masquers will also
present a special show on Thursday, Feb. 21 for area church youth groups. If
you are a pastor or youth leader and would like more information on that show,
please call the theater. |
