SHANE PETERMAN, PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PRESENTS

 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Lyrics by Tim Rice

ON THE TERRY MARTIN MAIN STAGE 

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Really Useful Group. 
www.concordtheatricals.com

THEATRE NAMING SPONSORS:

Don and Barbara Daseke, The Family of Bob Downs, Kathleen A. Messina & Gary Goodwin, Stan Graner, Janiece & Jimmy Niemann 

CAST:

*Appearing through the SPT Agreement between this theatre, WaterTower Theatre, and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. 

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited

MUSICIANS

Keyboard Programming by: Matthew J. Pool

PIT SINGERS: Kirsten Carty & Brayden Allen

ACT 1

1. Overture
2. Heaven on Their Minds
3. What's The Buzz
4. Strange Thing, Mystifying
5. Everything's Alright
6. This Jesus Must Die
7. Hosanna
8. Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem
9. Pilate's Dream
10. The Temple
11. Everything's Alright Reprise
12. I Don't Know How To Love Him
13. Damned For All Time/Blood Money

15 Minute Intermission

ACT 2

1. The Last Supper
2. Gethsemane
3. The Arrest
4. Peter's Denial
5. Pilate and Christ
6. Herod's Song
7. Could We Start Again Please?
8. Judas's Death
9. Trial By Pilate/39 Lashes
10. Superstar
11. Crucifixion
12. John 19:41

“I am thrilled and honored to be directing the rock classic, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR here at WaterTower Theatre. I am so grateful for Shane and Elizabeth’s focus on inclusion and their embrace of a broader scope of creative vision.

I was around 13 when I first heard Paul Nicholas wail “Gethsemane” on the original London 1972 album. As we all know, 13 is the age of rebellion which includes asking the question ‘Why?’ to everything your parents tell you. So, hearing Jesus question God in the garden of Gethsemane was a revelation to me. Like Jesus, I argued with my parents, but always ended up obeying. Am I Jesus like I thought? Can a Black girl in America be Jesus like? It made me see a commonality between the plight of Jesus and of a Black girl growing up in the South who was questioning her world. Despite our obvious differences, there was an inner struggle that was the same. That made a lasting impression on me about the inner commonality between different human experiences. In my approach to JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, I am seeking to move beyond the limitations of form to find the common humanity within. This is the perspective in which I cast the show. It is also the inspiration for the direction of the show. The story is the same. It is as ancient as time and as universal as human nature. It is the story of doubt that can bring down the freedom movement of an occupied people. It is the battle between fear and faith, something we all understand.

We have a great cast and I expect it to be a powerful performance. I hope you will all come experience this innovative and modern retelling of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.”

Jesus Christ Superstar was Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s third collaboration (after The Likes of Us and Joseph). As no one was willing to back their idea as a stage show, the pair first produced the single "Superstar,” sung by Murray Head, near the end of 1969, followed by a concept album of the project with MCA in 1970.

The massive success of the record in the U.S. (the album hit number one) created a huge demand for a Broadway production and Jesus Christ Superstar opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in October 1971. Starring Ben Vereen as Judas and Yvonne Elliman reprising her role from the concept album as Mary, the show received five Tony nods. The U.K. production premiered the following year with Paul Nicholas in the title role. By 1980, after 3,358 performances, Superstar had become the longest-running musical in West End history at the time.

Superstar has been revived on Broadway three times, most recently in 2012, and was last seen in London in 2019’s award-winning Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production at the Barbican. Twice adapted into a film, Superstar has been professionally produced in 42 countries around the world.

On Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, NBC aired a live concert version of the show, featuring John Legend as Jesus, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas, Alice Cooper as King Herod, Norm Lewis as Caiaphas, and Ben Daniels as Pilate.

Phil Longacre
Rebecca Neef
Steven Pipes
Lauren Baker
Anthony Magee
Craig Sutton
Blake Clemens
Rosalind Benjet
Mervyn Benjet
Nadia Loudon
Tim Horan
Kelly Kirkendoll
Brittany Willis

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