JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
19th - 29th August 2010, QPAC Playhouse |
| music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice | |
Over thirty years ago, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote the greatest rock musical the world has ever known.
Almost ten years ago, Brisbane audiences experienced the remarkable voice of a then unknown young singer in the title role as Harvest Rain Theatre Company launched the career of one of the most successful male performers in Queensland.
In 2010, Harvest Rain brings Luke Kennedy back from an international tour to reprise the role that began his journey. Relive the magic again when JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR plays for a strictly limited season at the QPAC Playhouse in August 2010.
Lloyd-Webber's epic rock musical has inspired generations of theatre goers and remains a must-see classic for all ages. Directed by Tim O'Connor, this moving story of the final seven days of Jesus' life will be reimagined on a massive scale with a huge cast featuring Queensland's best musical theatre performers including Naomi Price as Mary and Tod Strike as Judas.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is the unmissable musical event of the year.
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PERFORMANCES
19th - 29th August 2010
Tues 6.30pm
Wed to Fri 8pm
Sat 2pm & 8pm
Sun 1pm & 6.30pm
VENUE
QPAC Playhouse
TICKETS
A Reserve $56.00
B Reserve $46.00
C Reserve $41.00
Groups 10+ $41.00 each (call 3840 7466 to book your group)
DIRECTOR Tim O'Connor
DESIGNER Josh McIntosh
MUSIC DIRECTOR Maitlohn Drew
LIGHTING DESIGNER Jason Glenwright
CHOREOGRAPHER Callum Mansfield
STARRING Luke Kennedy with Lawrie Esmond, Shaun Kohlman, Arlie McCormick, Naomi Price, Tod Strike, Steven Tandy, Lionel Theunissen and Justin Truloff
FEATURING Patrick Aiken, Karen Anderson, Ayeesha Ash, Amy Busuttin, George Canham, Alison Clancy, Kaicie Connors, Julie Cotterell, Hannah Crowther, Kathryn Dunstan, Juanita Ellis-Gloster, Heidi Enchelmaier, Jason Fagg, Kynan Francis, Petrina Gibson, Carmen Glanville, Verrity Hardy, Merisa Holland, Jo Heath, Bonny Hunter, Elissa Jenkins, Hannah King, David Laverty, Sally Lloyd, Vanessa Madden, Casey McCollow, Tom Markiewicz, Steve Norris, Jasmine Mansfield, Guy Maybury, Alice McCabe, Sarah McCreanor, Kelsie McDonald, Shannon Metzeling, Alan Miles, Claire Owen, Jacqueline Ozorio, Adam Porter, Zach Price, Jacqui Rayment, Tony Robinson, Danika Saal, Jenna Saini, Glen Schafer, Rose Shinowa, Christopher Story, Tyson Stuetz, Libbi Swan, Ian Sweeney, Mali Talefenua, Reindert Toia, Alex Valentine, Vanessa Wainwright and David Waller
What the reviewers say:
Katherine Lyall-Watson from ourbrisbane.com says "With Jesus Christ Superstar, Harvest Rain has well and truly grown to fit its QPAC home. This production has all the excitement, design effects and pizzazz you expect from a QPAC musical while showcasing the home-grown talent Harvest Rain supports... I adored Josh McIntosh’s design but it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as impressive without Jason Glenwright’s glorious lighting... Maitlohn Drew’s music direction is excellent. It was wonderful to see the talented band on stage, involved in the scenes as a key element of the production...
Naomi Price’s performance was riveting. Her Mary Magdalene was earthy, sensual and caring with a nice hint of vulnerability. Luke Kennedy as Jesus captivated the audience whenever his voice soared free and alone... His performance had quite a few people tearing up towards the end, as the show reached its emotional climax. [The show] is filled with fabulous singers and excellent performers. Tod Strike as Judas was flamboyant and passionate. Lionel Theunissen as Pilate was outstanding. Lawrie Esmond’s deep voice and huge stage personality stole many a scene, although Arlie McCormick gave him a run for his money with her fabulous performance. But my personal favourite was Steven Tandy as Herod. Wearing long gloves, a stained singlet, boxer shorts and a tattered cloak and headdress, he out-camped everyone around him...
This production of Jesus Christ Superstar shows Harvest Rain doing what it does best and taking a leap into a new level of showmanship. Congratulations to all involved."
Peter Pinne from Stage Whispers says, "Luke Kennedy received and deserved top billing for his portrayal of Jesus. His performance was beautifully realized, compelling, and sung to perfection. His top notes in Gethsemane just blew me away. Next in the high vocal stakes was Lionel Theunissen as Pilate, whose rich tones elevated the three song role to something major. Naomi Price as Mary grabbed the audience with Everything’s Alright” and put her own stamp on the show’s hit tune I Don’t Know How to Love Him. Tod Strike was an intense Judas, Lawrie Esmond’s arresting bass drew attention as Caiaphas, and Steven Tandy as Herod camped it up delightfully in the show-stopping King Herod’s Song.
How long is it since we’ve seen a crowd scene on stage where it actually looked like a crowd? With a cast of 62 at his disposal, plus 15 musicians who were seated around the set, director Tim O’Connor filled the stage at every opportunity with colorful tableaux. His production was pacy, tight, and delivered on the show’s big moments. Big kudos to set designer Josh McIntosh for his interior of a cathedral set - it worked brilliantly. Sound was clean and clear, and costumes were of the cargo pants, T-shirt and jeans variety, a look that was in keeping with this fresh and original production."
Eric Scott from Absolute Theatre says, "This new production of Superstar is nothing short of sensational. Everything from the amazing set and lighting to the music, acting and singing of the principals and the sheer, exciting exuberance of the 40-odd people who made up the ensemble helped create the most powerful version of the show I have seen over the years.... Tim O’Connor’s version is darker, more apocalyptic, and so emotionally powerful at times that it had audience members in tears.
The set, designed by Josh McIntosh, carried dark overtones of despair mixed with fear and subjugation. It was magnificent enough to qualify for a place on a grand opera stage... Musical director Maitlohn Drew's arrangements were knockout sand the sound absolutely perfect.
Naomi Price was superb as Mary Magdalene... I have never heard a more moving or heartbreaking rendering of I Don’t Know How to Love Him than the poignant offering on opening night... [The] quality was set at the beginning when Tod Strike took the stage to sing Judas’s opening song Heaven on Their Minds. What a voice! He hit the stratosphere with some notes and wowed the audience for the rest of the production... It was a gut-wrenching performance. Luke Kennedy as Jesus... was a fine actor with a voice good enough to have earned him a two-year stint with the Ten Tenors. His diction and vocal delivery was perfect and once again, here was an actor who was totally convincing in his role. There were other magnificent voices too, the deep dark bass of Lawrie Esmond as Caiaphas and Lionel Theurnissen’s powerful baritone as he sang the role of Pilate. His passionate delivery in the song where he interrogated Jesus... was outstanding. There was a little light let into the darkness when Steven Tandy made his cameo appearance with a bunch of chorus girls had the audience laughing with a very camp rendering of King Herod’s Song.
I cannot praise this production highly enough. It deserves “house full” signs for every night of this season."
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