‘Superstar’ coming to Seven Angels Theatre

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber was never one to take the road more traveled. Even as a teenager, when he was testing out his literary pen, he chose a topic less mainstream and more creative: he wrote a musical about a boy in the Bible who receives an unusual gift from his father. That became the world famous rock musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

In the years to come, Lloyd Webber continued his unorthodox choice of subject matter by composing musicals about a gang of backyard felines (CATS), a poor woman who rises to become a powerful figurehead in her country (Evita), teams of train engines who race on roller skates (Starlight Express) and a disfigured young man hiding in the bowels of a Paris opera house (The Phantom of the Opera).

Now you have the opportunity to experience another record breaking musical about another boy in the Bible: “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” playing until Sunday, April 23 at Waterbury’s Seven Angels Theatre.

Composed by Lloyd Webber with Tim Rice, this classical musical spanning the last week in the life of Jesus Christ, is itself, undergoing a metamorphosis.

This rendition is urban streets meet punk rock, a modern day retelling of a savior who wants to cleanse the world of corruption and sin. This last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ, who is portrayed by a memorable Aaron La Vigne, is told through the eyes of his betrayer, one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, played with all the evident anger and confusion, by Christopher Faison.

Tender moments are underscored by Chelsey Lynn Alfredo’s Mary Magdalene, as she confesses to Jesus “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” while the passion and suffering are momentarily al-

leviated by the antics of a song and dance Vaudeville routine by King Herod, a spontaneously clever Paul Aquirre.

Key roles are played by Tim Cooper as Simon, Alex Rivera as Peter, Matthew Blum as John, Joseph Torello as Caiaphas, Michael Thatcher as Annas and Gary Lindemann as Pilate. This spectacular rock musical is directed by Janine Molinari and Anthony Pattellis and choreographed by Janine Molinari. The energy of the cast is amazing.

For tickets ($42-58, those aged 25 and under $25) call the Seven Angels Theatre, One Plank Road, Waterbury at 203-757-4676 or online at www.SevenAngelsTheatre.org.

Performances are Thursday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.,with no performances Easter week.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Jesus, played by Aaron LaVigne, and Mary Magdalene, played by Chelsey Lynn Alfredo, appear in Seven Angels Theatre’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”