JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Directed by Amy Sander
Musical Direction by Matt Richardson
OPEN CALL AUDITIONS
Saturday, January 25th from 2–5pm
Sunday, January 26th from 1–4pm
Auditions will be held at Prairie Baptist Church, 75th and Roe Blvd. in Prairie Village, KS, Fellowship Hall (lower entrance, west side).
WHEN YOU ARRIVE:
When you arrive at the church, please park in the north parking lot. There will be signs to direct you to the proper building entrance.
AUDITION PREPARATION:
- Bring a headshot and resume (if available).
- Prepare 32-bars of a musical theatre song in the style of the show. Rock songs are also accepted for this production. (No songs from the actual production please.)
- Bring marked sheet music for the provided accompanist. Absolutely no acapella vocals or music tracks allowed.
- You will also be asked to learn a short section of choreography, so please wear proper attire.
AUDITION NOTES:
PRIOR TO AUDITIONS, PLEASE FILL OUT THE ONLINE AUDITION FORM.
Please make note of any roles you do or do not wish to be considered for.
Be prepared to indicate whether you would agree to being an understudy.
VIDEO AUDITIONS:
For those unable to attend in-person auditions, video vocal auditions may be submitted. These should be submitted to amy.e.sander@gmail.com NO LATER THAN January 26th at 2pm.
CALLBACKS (by email invite only):
Saturday, February 1st from 1-4:30pm.
Callback sides and vocal selections will be emailed out on Monday, January 27th.
Callbacks will consist of vocal selections from the show, reading/performing of sides from the script, and a short choreography section.
REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals will begin Sunday, March 30th. A typical schedule will be Sunday-Thursday 6-9:30pm. Rehearsals are held at Prairie Baptist Church, 75th & Roe (same location as auditions). On May 5th, the production moves to The Black Box at The Arts & Heritage Center. No conflicts will be accepted during dress/tech week (May 5th-8th).
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Cast members are required to assist with strike following the final performance.
Cast members may also be asked to assist with costume pieces.
PRODUCTION DATES:
May 9-12, 15-18 (Eight performances)
WEEK ONE: Friday, Saturday & Monday (Industry Night) @7:30pm and Sunday @2pm
WEEK TWO: Thursday, Friday & Saturday @7:30pm and Sunday @2pm
All performances will take place in The Black Box Theatre @The Arts & Heritage Center in Overland Park, Kansas
SYNOPSIS:
A global phenomenon that has wowed audiences for decades, Jesus Christ Superstar is a timeless work set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events, but seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. The story, told entirely through song, explores the personal relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, his disciples, his followers and the Roman Empire. The iconic 1970s rock score contains such well-known numbers as “Superstar,” “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” and “Gethsemane.” Originally released as a concept album, the show opened on Broadway in 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. The original London production ran for over eight years. By the time it closed, after 3,358 performances, it had become the longest-running musical in West End history at that time.
CAST BREAKDOWN:
We strongly encourage auditions for Principal Roles from artists who self-identify as Black, White, Asian, Indigenous, Latino or Multi-Ethnic and we encourage actors to indicate interest in any roles that they are interested in, regardless of gender identity. Auditions will be accepted from actors ages 10 and up. There will be 9 principal characters and 12-20 ensemble members in this cast to play Lepers, Merchants, Apostles, Soldiers, Judas’s Tormentors, Reporters, Temple Ladies, Children and Soul Girls.
ROLES
- JESUS CHRIST / Lead (Rock Tenor)
- The leader of the twelve apostles, called the “Son of God” and the “King of the Jews”. Jesus has a difficult time accepting his fate without answers on why he must die.
- JUDAS / Lead (Rock Tenor)
- One of the twelve apostles of Jesus; concerned for the poor and the consequences of Jesus’s fame. He believes in Jesus’s teaching but has started to grow weary of those in power coming after him and his followers.
- MARY MAGDALENE / Lead (Mezzo-Soprano)
- A follower of Jesus who finds herself falling in love with him.
- PETER / Supporting (Tenor)
- One of the twelve apostles of Jesus; denies Jesus three times upon the night of Jesus’s arrest to save himself. Peter has an obsession with impatience.
- SIMON ZEALOTES / Supporting (High Baritone)
- One of the twelve apostles; urges Jesus to lead his followers into battle against the Romans. He believes that violence can solve all their problems.
- CAIAPHAS / Supporting (Low Bass)
- A high priest who sees Jesus as a threat to the nation. He is a man in power who is in fear that he will lose his power to Jesus.
- KING HEROD / Supporting (High Baritone)
- The King of Galilee; Jesus is brought to him for judgment after first being taken to Pilate. Herod is a comedic role.
- PONTIUS PILATE / Supporting (Rock Baritone)
- The governor of Judea who foresees the events of Jesus’s crucifixion from the beginning to the aftermath in a dream and finds himself begin presented with a very difficult situation.
- ANNAS / Supporting (High Baritone)
- A priest at the side of Caiaphas who is persuaded by Caiaphas into seeing Jesus as a threat. Annas is more conniving than Caiaphas.
For more information, please contact Amy Sander at amy.e.sander@gmail.com or Artistic Director, Darren Sextro at darrendseb@gmail.com