The cast of St. Croix's version of Jesus Christ Superstar assembled Nov. 28 for its first rehearsal of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera. The second production of CCT’s 2005-2006, Jesus Christ Superstar opens on Feb. 3 and runs for three weekends.
David James, who has prepared for the role by spending 25 years as a singer/musician, will play the title role. He plays locally with his band — Thaddeus Toad. It's all in the family for James; his daughters both sing and his wife, Veronica, will also be a member of the cast.
Vic Jackson, a teacher at Country Day School, will take on the role of Judas Iscariot. He is new to CCT but not to theater; he has played Marcellus in The Music Man and Robert Lee in A Raisin in the Sun.
The role of Mary Magdalene will be played by Natalie Hollins, who has a bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University and whose stage experience ranges from off-off-Broadway to post-grad theater in Russia to past performances with CCT and singing with local bands on St. Croix.
The cast also features Devin Hennessy as Pontius Pilate, Frank Sluss as King Herod, Jim Reese as high priest Caiaphas; subordinate priests Eric Oliver (Annas), Rivert Diaz Lopez and Jesse Hunt; Lionel Downer as Simon Peter; and Mark Breger as Simon Zealotes.
Other cast members, who will take on multiple roles in this ensemble performance of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ, are Roy Arcamo, Patrick Bouvier, Charles Braslow, Tatiana Breger, Barbara Butler, Nicole Yvette Canegata, Marilyn Chakroff, Paul Chakroff, Irene Cuffy, Tucker Durand, Christian Faust, Linda Gabarra, Lori Gilbert, Vivian Greenaway, Jerome Guerra, Valerie Porter-Hennessy, Veronica James, Vern Lewis, Kay Lineham, Derek Martin, Mariah Mays, Charlene McGowan, Deidre O'Shaughnessy, Heavenly Petersen, Jim Pounds, Mary Sluss, Chris Swainson, and Christine Thomas.
Jesus Christ Superstar is directed by Bill Butler and Lorraine Durand with Eileen Bishop Des Jardins as producer. Choreography will be by Christian Faust, who had many years of experience as a professional dancer before moving to St. Croix. The pit orchestra will feature two keyboards, lead and bass guitar, and percussion.
For further information, contact Bill Butler at 773-2170 x239 or Lorraine Durand at 773-6394 or CCT at 778-1983.
Performance times are Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 1, at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17 and 18 at 8 p.m.
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