Jesus Christ Superstar: Living The Part
Many of my readers know about my passion for plays and theater and music. So when the opportunity came to be involved in a rock opera, I had to audition for the chance to sing in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice masterpiece, Jesus Christ Superstar.
L-R: Amanda Pillow, Heidi Scheibmeir and Amy Shojai reunited in the Finley dressing room. Last fall, we acted and sang together as an evil trinity in Little Mermaid–and now, the sinners have reformed!
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR CAST IS FAMILY
Besides, it’s just plain fun to meet new people, and reconnect with friends from previous productions. Working so closely together builds unique ties and relationships that are treasured long after the curtain goes down. Yep, many of us work full time jobs, and then spend long hours late into the night rehearsing, perfecting, and gnashing virtual teeth to make things right.
Why? Because we love it. Theater is my brain candy, and a part of who I am. I got hooked at six years old, and never looked back.
Another dressing room picture with a new theater friend, Cynthia Brandt, brilliantly playing “Queen Herod.” Hey, I told you it’s a novelization!
MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS
I was honored to be offered a role in the Superstar company, and play multiple parts (as do several of my colleagues). We love singing the challenging music–this is a ROCK OPERA, for goodness sakes!–and the emotional content of this novelization of biblical history is joyful, thought provoking, heart-rending, and uplifting by turns.
Being “Mary, mother of Jesus.”
The production boasts more than 50 individuals serving as actors, singers, orchestra members, and technical crew perfecting lights, sound, costumes, choreography and more, all from the North Texas area. Some are veteran performers, and for others, Jesus Christ Superstar is their first production. The audience, though, won’t be able to tell the difference–yes, the entire cast is that good!
Amanda Pillow (Mary Magdalene) with Grant Bower (Jesus), and Amy (Mother Mary) singing from balcony. Note: The role of Magdalene is shared with Teresa Natera, not pictured.
What can you expect? A joyful explosion of color, movement and song, gorgeous set and costumes, creative props, and an energetic outpouring from the cast and crew. We LIVE these parts…and after all, everyone knows how the story ends. The emotion is very real–and we couldn’t do this without each other.
Jesus Christ Superstar is our gift to you, the audience. And I feel blessed to be a part of this, and believe my fellow cast members feel the same.
Historically, audience members hail from the Dallas metroplex into North Texas and southern Oklahoma and beyond to attend Sherman Community Players productions mounted at the history Finley Theater in Sherman, Texas. Although performances are scheduled every Thurs-Sunday throughout June, the 200+-seat house often sells out. Tickets and details are available here–get your reservation asap!
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Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
