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In addition to singers, dancers and backing
musicians, leads in the Tawa College
production are:


Judas   -   Alekhine Rabina
Jesus Christ   -   Jeffrey Hunkin
Mary Magdalene   -   Emma Roworth
Caiaphas   -   Matthew Gifford
Simon Zealotes   -   Lusa Washburn
Pontius Pilate   -   William Hunkin
Peter   -   David Jiang
King Herod   -   Scott Reeve

The following article entitled "Jesus Christ Superstar at Tawa College" was published in the Kapi-Mana News on Tuesday, July 15:

"Tawa College's musical production for 2003 will make full use of its arsenal of strong male voices - which includes its champion barbershop quartet. The college's head of drama and the production's director Wendy Edwards said they would be mad not to make use of such talent, and it was one of the primary reasons for selecting Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar", which utilises a lot of male voices.

The show kicks off its two-weekend run on Friday July 25, and though the students will be performing a faithful adaptation, it is being given a modern spin so teenagers can identify with it more. The set design will also be more simplistic, with the use of graffiti boards.

The cast of 55 students has been rehearsing twice a week and working hard at it, said Mrs Edwards. "Jesus Christ Superstar" runs July 25-26 at 7.30pm, July 27 at 6pm, and July 31-August 2 at 7.30pm in the College's hall. Tickets cost $12/$8 and can be booked by contacting Tawa College (tel 232 8184)."

The photos below were supplied to tawalink.com and are of the dress rehearsal.


Chorus and band in dress rehearsal Judas (Alekhine Rabina)
and the cast
Caiaphas (Matthew Gifford) and the High Priests Jesus (Jeffrey Hunkin)
and Mary Magdalene
(Emma Roworth)
Caiaphas (Matthew Gifford) Pontius Pilate (William Hunkin) and Caiaphas (Matthew Gifford) deciding what to do

For a glowing review in the Northern Courier once the "season" was over, click on the following heading:



WHAT IT'S ABOUT (as gleaned from the internet):

Jesus Christ Superstar chronicles the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth (before his death and subsequent resurrection) as seen through the eyes of his disciple, Judas Iscariot, who has become disillusioned with the movement.

At the opening of the play, Judas agonizes over his perception that Jesus' followers have become fanatical and unrealistic, hailing him as a god and twisting his words into monstrous prophecies. After all, in Judas' mind, Jesus is only a man - a man with certain inconsistencies, as evidenced by his relationship with Mary Magdalene.

As the crowds in the street grow more and more out of control, the rift between Jesus and Judas grows. After watching Jesus lose control in the temple, lashing out at the moneylenders and merchants, then begging to be left alone when a crowd of cripples surround him asking to be healed, Judas is more convinced than ever that the man from Nazareth is just that - a man, and nothing more. He determines that Jesus, having lost control of the mob, has become dangerous and must be stopped.

He goes to the priests and gives them all the information they need to catch Jesus alone so that they can take him prisoner without risking violence by the mob. After leading the soldiers to Gethsemane, however, and watching the events that unfold, Judas soon realizes that he has been tricked by God into being the instrument of Jesus' martyrdom. Furious that the man from Nazareth will be remembered as a "Superstar", Judas hangs himself.


COMMENTS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
(as gleaned from various sites on the internet):

"Jesus Christ Superstar is a family show that everyone would love ... I felt the show was not all about Jesus, that it was equally about Judas as well, a very intelligent person who was caught between friendship and responsibility. Something that kids (and adults) in this time and age can associate with."

"Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's groundbreaking "rock opera" Jesus Christ Superstar changed the face of musical theater when it debuted on Broadway in 1971. Telling the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus, "Superstar" dramatizes Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, the unrest caused by his preaching and popularity, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate, and his ultimate crucifixion."

"Of course, religious sorts had kittens over the whole thing from the start. Devout Christians howled in protest at Webber and Rice's blasphemous gospel, which puts Judas squarely at center stage and doesn't include the Resurrection. (Which is, after all, sort of the point of Christianity)."


Read about the biennial Tawa Music Festival here

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