The much beloved musical play, Jesus Christ Superstar, is returning this Easter season. Three years ago, the show was presented for the first time to St. Maarten audiences to huge applause and appreciation. As before, the play will be under the musical direction of Helen Hart, the well-known singer, song writer, voice trainer and R.F. Hart Tribute Foundation founder. Helen will team up with the artists of National Institute of Art (NIA) to bring out the best possible show: choreography, dancing, singing, set design, costumes and drama – all coming together to celebrate the story of Easter.
All participants have been working diligently to bring back the JCS play for this year's Easter weekend which falls on March 25, 26, and 27. The venue will be the Tropicana Casino ballroom (upstairs) with a typical Jerusalem background setting by interior decorator Haydee Peterson.
The play is based on a concept album project written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and the subsequent long-running Broadway performance. It tells the story of the final six days in the life of Jesus Christ through the troubled eyes of Judas Iscariot. Too often miss-labelled a typical “musical,” this play is really a "rock opera." There are no spoken lines, everything is sung. This musical play set the world buzzing when it first appeared on vinyl in 1970 and then on Broadway in 1971. In early 2000, the Broadway show was revitalized and modernized by actors and actresses in England with awesomely orchestrated arrangements, making the drama seem more aggressive and real.
This musical play requires top singers and actors who are not only required to be dedicated but disciplined as well. On Good Friday, March 25, there will be the gala performance, for which tickets are already available and going for tables of 10 persons at $500. Theatre style tickets are also available for $40 per person. Children under the age of 10 are not allowed in, due to the graphic presentation of the crucifixion of Christ.
Music is being arranged by Neville James who also put together the Frank Sinatra Tribute back in 2009 where various local singers interpreted the late singer's songs. Neville James is well known in his Jazz and Caribbean arrangements and earned the respect from musicians around the globe. Mr. James is also a music teacher at Charlotte Brookson Academy for the Performance Arts.
Jesus Christ Superstar cast consists of R.F. Hart School of vocalists:
-Jermain Roberts as Jesus
-Renaldo Connor as Judas Iscariot
-Ismae van Greuningen as Mary Magdalene
-Charonnay Martes as Simon
-Adrien Nicasio as Caiaphas
-Rumari Rogers as Annas
-Lorenzo Gomez as King Herod
-Zack Phipps as Peter
-Baker Jr (Andrew Richardson) as Pilate
The priests will be portrayed by Meredith Boekhoudt, Lisa Davis-Burnett, Evelyn Henriquez-Dijkhoffz and Naomi Adriana.
Other performers are great singers such as Kyanni Atmopawiro, Bertina Bain, Carla van Dam, Micaela Daniel, Okama Ekpe-Brook, Lia Halley, Aimee Halley, Latanisha Jasaron and Ashley Matser.
R.F. Hart Tribute Foundation held this musical play back in 2013 with amazing actors such as Mason Chadwick, Tarik Pantophlet, Jolyon Ferron, Marseno Bremer, Kenyo Baly, Clifford Henry and Maike van ‘t Laar, who we would this year like to remember and honour, especially those who have gone off to continue their education overseas. We will always remember them and wish them a speedy return home after their studies.
Since this musical play was staged in St. Maarten, there have been many requests to do a repeat concert, so here we are three years later. Come and enjoy the show and book your tickets early; remember back in 2013, all shows were sold out.
