The Rockers of JC Superstar

In the Clark Community College production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar there are many rockers. There are 4 that I want to tell you about.

On Lead Guitar: Nick O'Donnell from A Cautionary Tale

photo of A Cautionary Tale taken from their myspace

On Lead Bass: Will Amend from Echo Helstrom

photo of Echo Helstrom taken from their myspace

On Lead Jesus: Nick Krieg from The Experimental Earth

photo of The Experimental Earth taken from their myspace

On Lead Understudy For Judas: Lon LaBrache

photo of Lon LeBrache taken from his myspace

I am proud to report that all of these hard working musicians are working under the hardest working man in school band rentals and beloved Vancouver, Washington institution conductor Dale Beacock!

A Strange Thing Mystifying

Dear online public diary,

My favorite direction/directorial advice of tonights rehearsal:

"Don't freak out!"

The directors Tami and Anna are dynamic, emotionally agile, spirited and forgiving! I can only speak what I see. I thoroughly enjoy whatever it is that they are doing.

Anna also told me, "We have plenty of rehearsals to get this down." I breathed and I started laughing. When I look at the rehearsal schedule I think "Is this going to be enough time?". I dared not ever ask that question. Tami reminded me that there are no dumb questions.

Wow. This acting/singing/dancing on a regular basis is fun. Anything I managed to tuck away in my brain about writing and acting is paying off. All of those 3 hours discussions about actors and scripts are giving me points of reference. I want to feel what it's like to perform on opening night.

It was a long time ago but I remember what it was like to do scenes with other actors who were strong and into their parts. It is easier to bring the scenes to life when the other people on stage support you... FUN! It's fun. that's what it is.

I am on a pink cloud right now.

Relief, pleasure, I'm not sure what happened but tonight I really walked away mystified. How on earth did I get here. This is not my beautiful wife!

Staggered half thoughts make a blog not.

Please comment and share where you are at with rehearsals. Something you would want to share as a learning tool for other productions. This blog is an experiment for me but if it somehow took off in a direction (there's that word again)I would be fine with that -- play it cool like Miss Tami!


Sincerely your Townie, leper, drug addict, tenor sometimes bass sister of the fold,
Goldie

What's the buzz?

1. Here is a video of a parody of Jesus Christ Superstar featuring Jack Black and David Cross.



2. The content for this blog will be updated more often...

Heaven On Their Minds

Going from a drug addict to a leper in less than 10 seconds is a real challenge.

All of the participants in the Temple scene of JC superstar play deeply human and corrupt characters and then we all turn into lepers (except for Jesus).

When I left rehearsal on Saturday I was drained. I was in character switching back and forth for 4.5 hours. My legs hurt from clenching my muscles to produce the effect of being crippled by addiction and then leprosy.

The following video was taken by Jena who is a soul girl . I will be the first to admit that I laughed deeply and whole heartedly when I watched our first attempt at the Temple scene. Memebers of YouTube likened us to zombies. But I feel over all it is a sign of good things to come!

Overture

The first rehearsal for the Clark Community College production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's masterpiece Jesus Christ Superstar was fun.

We did a "read through" by listening to a CD featuring Ian Gilliam from Deep Purple.

Even after 18 some years of listening to this soundtrack over and over -- I got chills. I laughed. I cried. I couldn't believe I was actually sitting in the same room with Tami Castillo Gray who directed and choreographed the 1993 PHS/ Peanut Gallery production of Bye Bye Birdie.

One of the things Tami said to us was "No person is greater than the production, the art". That made me feel better because as excited to be sitting there as a Christ Ensemble member I was not Jesus, Judas, Mary or Herod or Pilate.

Yeah, yeah, yeah I know I have no formal training in theater, dance, or singing. But it doesn't mean I can't want to be the star of the show!

One of the other "Christ Ensemble" member is a girl who is just as much of a spaz as me about being in JC Superstar. We will be friends. We will probably not plot the death of the leads so we can take over. But I am sure it has crossed her mind. As you know it did mine.

How it all began:
1. Andreah called and told me about the auditions -- a week before. SO I was not prepared to do a solo or monologue
2. Maria Jett went to the auditions with me (best 30th birthday gift ever!) We went to the open call part of the auditions.
3. I gave it my all.

What I've realized:
1. There are people who are really into JC Superstar but their passion does not follow the same obsessive path. Some are practicing followers of THE CHRIST. Some are just followers of the 1973 film of The Christ.
2. This rock opera is TIMELESS.

HERE IS THE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

TH, 2/14, Gasier, 6:00call, 7:30 show, Final Dress-Invited Audience
F, 2/15, 6:00 call, 7:30 Show, OPENING NIGHT!
Sat, 2/16, 6:00 call, 7:30 SHOW

TH, 2/21, 6:00 call, 6:30 Start, Pick-Up with Orchestra Pianist, Dale-No Costumes
F, 2/22, 6:00 call, 7:30 SHOW
Sat, 2/23, 6:00 call, 7:30 SHOW

TH, 2/28, 6:00 call, 7:30 SHOW
F, 2/29, 6:00 call, 7:30 SHOW
Sat, 3/1, 6:00 call, 7:30 CLOSING NIGHT with Strike