Show backed by theatre superstar
Wellington’sWhitireia’s Te Auaha Institute of Creativity have been blown away by a letter from legendary composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber as they performhis musical Jesus Christ Superstar.
Students studying for Te Auaha’s diploma and degree in musical theatre – 34 in total this year – put on one major production a year.
Lead tutor Kate Marshall selected Jesus Christ Superstar for this year, but rehearsals had not yet begun when New Zealand went into lockdown in March.
With five weeks of lost rehearsal time, Marshall considered turning the show into a concert performance, whereby the students would ‘‘stand and sing’’ without costumes, sets or choreography, but when classes resumed on July 13 they decided they could put on the full show.
Students have been in fulltime rehearsals since and tickets for the season, which began on Thursday and runs until next Saturday, sold out before it opened.
‘‘I’ve never had that happen before,’’ Marshall said.
So it was gutting to realise that Wellington would still be in level 2 when the run began, meaning the cast would be performing to a 20 per cent capacity crowd of mainly friends and family for some shows.
Marshall invited Kiwis from the performing arts industry to send messages of support, which she posted on the school’s Facebook page. Then the mother of one student wondered if she could go a step further. awesome to get a small message of support from Andrew Lloyd Webber,’’ said Sally Smyth, whose son, Ollie, is in the first year of the programme.
She found an email address for Lloyd Webber’s company, The Really Useful Group, and on Thursday morning sent amessage explaining the situation and asked if, particularly this year, Superstar’s 50th anniversary, Lloyd Webbermight be able to send the students a few words.
Smyth said she didn’t expect anything back, but just 24 hours later she had a reply from Lloyd Webber’s assistant with a signed note attached.
‘‘To everyone involved in Te Auaha Institute of Creativity production of Jesus Christ Superstar, I hope that you have a wonderful time performing – enjoy yourselves!,’’ the message read.
‘‘With all good wishes, Andrew Lloyd Webber.’’
Smyth, who has performed in amateur musical theatre productions for 30 years, found it ‘‘amazing’’ and ‘‘brilliant’’ that Lloyd Webber had taken the time to respond.
‘‘It’s such a cool thing for somebody like him to recognise his work, and the people still performing it.’’
When Marshall shared the letter with the cast yesterday, they found it ‘‘mind-blowing’’, she said.
Smyth, who travelled from Rotorua to see last night’s performance, hoped the letter would give the cast ‘‘a bit of a buzz’’ and help them to feel recognised.
Marshall was planning to frame the letter and hang it on the wall of Te Auaha’s music room.