Jesus Christ Superstar News - Marblehead Little Theatre

Today’s Date: Monday, February 4, 2019

Rehearsals for MLT’s JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR have begun

Marblehead, Massachusetts — Rehearsals for Marblehead Little Theatre’s production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR have begun.

“The blending of the voices of 25 remarkable cast members, all coming from diverse backgrounds and musical traditions, is absolutely stunning and perfect for this iconic rock opera. And the dance movements are so powerful,” said Nina Groom, co-producer. “It’s amazing to watch this production come together.”

Groom said, “This is the first time many of the performers have worked together, yet they are coming together brilliantly through the music.”

Tickets for Marblehead Little Theatre’s production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR are now available online at mltlive.org and at Arnould Gallery and Framery, 111 Washington St., in Marblehead. Performances are scheduled for April 5 to 7 and from April 11 to 14 at the MLT Firehouse Theatre, 12 School Street. Tickets are $25 each. There is a special $15 student rate for matinee performances.

MLT announces cast for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Marblehead, Massachusetts – Marblehead Little Theatre (MLT) announces the cast members for its spring musical, the iconic rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

The cast includes Dan Sutter as Jesus Christ; Amanda Raponi as Judas Iscariot; Mary Reilly as Mary Magdalene; Nick Raponi as Caiaphas; Nate Ramsayer as Pontius Pilate; Kevin Mahoney as Annas; James White as Simon Zealotes; Andy LeBlanc as Peter; Bobby Imperato as King Herod; Gerard Girling, Ariel Sargent and Carl Schultz as Priests and Jaime Montesano, Erin Shine and Jill Sliby as the Soul Sisters.

Members of the Ensemble include Ron Amon, Fernando Barbosa, Doug Barbour, Christine Dickinson, Piper Hall, Mel Ingalls, Jayda Johnson, Kim Misci, Jaime Montesano, Sabrina Ornae, Erin Shine, Jill Sliby and Nicole Viau.

In announcing the cast list, director Alexandra Dietrich said, “Directing ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ has been a dream of mine for years, but this rock opera requires a cast where every single performer is a triple threat who can also push themselves to visceral glam rock’n’roll. This is that cast. Many of our performers are merging as an ensemble from atypical Broadway backgrounds – they are rock in real life.”

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR performance dates are April 5 through 14 at the MLT Firehouse Theatre, 12 School St. in Marblehead. Tickets will go on sale later this month.

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is a rock opera based on the last week of Jesus’ life set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Loosely based on the Gospels, the story is told entirely through song, exploring the personal relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, his disciples, his followers, the Judeans and the Roman Empire.

Marblehead Little Theatre’s community theatre production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is presented by arrangement with The Music Company, LP.

Started in 1955, the award-winning Marblehead Little Theatre is one of the oldest community theatre groups in New England, having consistently presented live-theater productions for over six decades. Upcoming performances at MLT include “Love Scotland” narrated by BBC’s Rhod Sharpe, February 8 and 9; “Relationships: A Valentine Cabaret,” directed by Bobby Kerrigan and music directed by Thom Smoker on February 14 and 15; and “To Kill a Mockingbird” presented by the Mugford Street Players directed by John Fogle and produced by Greg Mancusi-Ungaro. Please check mltlive.org for children’s program opportunities.

MLT announces production team for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Marblehead, Massachusetts – Marblehead Little Theatre (MLT) announces the dynamic members of the production team for its spring musical, the iconic rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. The production team features a depth of experience of both returning and debuting talent from across the North Shore.

Alexandra Dietrich, Director, is making her debut with Marblehead Little Theatre. Dietrich, originally from Freeport, Maine, is known throughout New England for her work as a mezzo-soprano, music educator, arts advocate, and as a director. Dietrich has been appointed the Artistic Director of NEMPAC Opera Project for their 2019 season. She recently staged Pauline Viardot-García’s “Cendrillon” with the Cambridge Chamber Ensemble where her staging was praised as “particularly convincing…perfectly expressive and deeply touching.” She is currently directing “Children of Eden” with the Theatre Company of Saugus. Dietrich is the Director and Co-Founder of the Boston Opera Outreach Troupe and was a Master Teaching Artist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild. A graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre, she also attended the Longy School of Music for her Graduate Performance degree in Opera.

Janet Neely, Assistant Director, is Vice President of Marblehead Little Theatre’s Board of Directors. She has been part of the MLT family for several years during which she directed “Little Shop of Horrors,” was assistant director of “American Idiot” and “Cabaret” and co-produced “Letters From War” and “August: Osage County.” In addition to directing a number of new works, she has directed, “The Mousetrap,” “Twelve Angry Jurors,” “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Painting Churches,” “Assassins,” and “Songs for a New World.” Neely studied directing with Scott Zigler at the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University and acting at the William Esper Studio in New York City and at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. She holds a MA in Theatre Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

Lianne Goodwin, Music Director, is in her eleveth year serving as the director of Chorus and Drama at Salem High School, where she conducts Chorus and Chamber Singers and runs the Drama Club. Since moving to the North Shore ten years ago, Lianne has music directed extensively throughout the area at local schools, community theaters, and colleges, earning a North Shore Music Theater Spotlight award, and multiple EMACT Dash nominations. Outside of school, Lianne also sings with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and has competed internationally with the chamber ensemble “Cappella Nova Mundi”. Lianne earned her Bachelor of Music in Educa-tion from the University of New Hampshire, and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Columbia

Kathleen Tringale, Choreographer, directs and choreographs regularly across the North Shore. She’s currently working on “Children of Eden” at Theatre Company of Saugus and “Mamma Mia” at Stage 284. Previous credits include choreography for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” “My Fair Lady” and “Annie Get Your Gun” at Stage 284 in Hamilton. This past fall Kathleen directed and choreographed a community theatre premiere of “Lizzie, the Musical” at Theatre Company of Saugus where she also worked on “Jack the Ripper: The Whitechapel Musical,” “Heathers the Musical,” “Urinetown,” “Nunsense “and “Nunsense II.” Other choreography credits include “Chicago” at Broken Leg Productions. Her choreography for Wakefield Rep’s “Chicago” earned her a DASH nomination for best choreography. Tringale is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory.

Jamie Nicole Imperato, Stage Manager, is making her debut with MLT. Her stage management/direction credits include “Children of Eden,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (EMACT Dash Nominee for Best Musical) both with the Theatre Company of Saugus, along with “Footloose the Musical,” “Shrek The Musical” with Lasell and Regis College. When not in the theatre, Imperato plans events at Boston University, works on her masters degree and plans weddings and events for her own company “Jamie Nicole Events.”

Emily Black, Executive Producer, was recently appointed to the Executive Producer role at MLT. Black has a history of producing gala events, most recently “MLT to Broadway: A Night With The Stars.” A longtime supporter, she has worked in many capacities from props coordination to program ad coordinator. Her career experience includes serving as a corporate event coordinator for Experian, where she now serves as the Marketing Specialist in Boston. She is a graduate of Union College.

Nina Groom, Producer, is a recent graduate of the University of Delaware where she worked closely with student theatre as its president and artistic director. Her most recent college credits include “The Mousetrap,” “Rumors,” “The Skin of Our Teeth” (director) and a 24-Hours of Theatre event (producer). In her younger years, Groom could often be found as a member of the youth ensemble in MLT productions. She currently works as the marketing and creative services associate at Central Square Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Andrew Barnett, Producer, is also Marblehead Little Theatre’s facilities and technical director. He has built sets for Rebel Shakespeare Company, Endicott College, Gordon College, Opera Boston, Gloucester Stage, Roxbury Center for the Arts, MassJam, Perkins School for the Blind, Boston Center for the Arts, Mssng Lnks, and Marblehead Little Theatre. Barnett has been a member of the production team as master carpenter, designer and technical director of Watertown based Revels, Inc. for more than 20 years, creating for “The Summer Revels,” “Riversing” and “The Christmas Revels.”

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR performance dates are April 5 through 14 at the MLT Firehouse Theatre, 12 School St. in Marblehead. Tickets will go on sale in February.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is presented by arrangement with The Music Company, LP.

“The power of the lyrics, the power of the music and the power of the vocals make this musical especially meaningful and memorable,” said Barnett. “This will be an exciting production for Marblehead Little Theatre and our audiences.”