FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kevin Kopjak, Charles Zukow Associates [email protected] | 415-296-0677 Photo editors and journalists: download photos and headshots HERE. “A lush, glorious sound the likes of which you’ve never heard before. This is not your grandmother’s ‘Superstar.’” – Chicago Sun-Times “A gorgeous, thrilling, heavenly musical. Turning water into top quality wine with a revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock musical, originally released as a concept album.” – The Guardian CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR OF ICONIC MUSICAL PHENOMENON JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR AS IT RETURNS TO ITS ROCK ROOTS THE OLIVIER AWARD®–WINNING PRODUCTION TO PERFORM AT SAN JOSE’S CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OCTOBER 22–27, 2019 SAN JOSE, CA (August 8, 2019)—Work Light Productions announced casting today for the 50th Anniversary Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s iconic musical, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Winner of the 2017 Olivier Award® for Best Musical Revival, the North American presentation of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production will tech in Syracuse, NY. The tour will officially launch at Austin’s Bass Concert Hall on October 8 through October 13, 2019 before visiting over 30 cities including Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, Dallas and Chicago. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will play San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts (255 S. Almaden Blvd.) from October 22–27, 2019. Tickets ($43–$153) are on-sale now at www.broadwaysanjose.com, in-person at the San Jose Civic Box Office (M–F 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; 135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose), or by calling 800- 982-ARTS (2787). Group orders of 15 or more may be placed by calling 669-242-8559. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. The performance schedule for Jesus Christ Superstar is as follows: Tuesday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 25 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, October 26 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday, October 27 at 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. “We are thrilled to have put together this incredible company. it’s now time for us to plug into the Brown Album and make that music live again on stage. The show will resound with audiences across North America like it was written for us today,” says director Tim Sheader. The cast is led by Aaron LaVigne (Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark, RENT) in the role of Jesus along with James Delisco Beeks (Kinky Boots, Aida) as Judas, Jenna Rubaii (Groundhog Day, American Idiot) as Jesus’ devoted follower Mary and Alvin Crawford (The Lion King, Candide) as Caiaphas. Casting also includes Tommy Sherlock (Pilate), Tyce Green (Annas), Eric A. Lewis (Simon), Paul Louis Lessard (Herod), Tommy McDowell (Peter), along with David André, Sara Andreas, Wesley J. Barnes, Brian Golub, Brittany Rose Hammond, Garfield Hammonds, Keirsten Nicole Hodgens, Sheila Jones, Rebecca Kritzer, Jacob Lacopo, Charles McCall, Danny McHugh, Pepe Nufrio, Sarah Parker, Erick Patrick, Sandy Redd, Jasmine Schmenk, Neil Totton and Chelsea Williams (Pepe Nufrio and Tommy Sherlock are appearing with the support of Actors’ Equity Association). JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and ‘Superstar’. The North American tour will be helmed by acclaimed director Timothy Sheader and cutting-edge choreographer Drew McOnie, with set and costume design by 2016 Tony AwardÒ nominee, Tom Scutt and music supervision by Tom Deering. Rounding out the creative team is lighting design by Lee Curran, and associate Ryan O’Gara, with co-sound design by Keith Caggiano and Nick Lidster. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is a proven musical phenomenon with a world-wide fan base. The original 1971 concept album (commonly known as The Brown Album) was named Album of the Year on the Billboard Pop Charts, surpassing albums such as Carole King’s “Tapestry” and Janis Joplin’s “Pearl.” NBC’s recent Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert starring John Legend, Sara Bareilles and Alice Cooper won a 2018 Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, selling out two consecutive engagements in 2016 and 2017. The production opened for a limited engagement on West End, this summer at the Barbican. The North American tour of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is produced by Stephen Gabriel and Work Light Productions by arrangement with Really Useful Group Ltd. Casting is by Wojcik/ Seay Casting. The original production was produced by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is presented as part of the Broadway San Jose 2019–20 season. Broadway San Jose is a partnership between the Nederlander organization of New York and Team San Jose, the managing entity for San Jose’s publicly-held performance venues and civic centers. For additional information about this production, please visit ustour.JesusChristSuperstar.com. Facebook & Instagram: @JesusChristSuperstar | Twitter: @JCSTheMusical # # # CAST BIOS Aaron LaVigne (Jesus) is honored to be playing the iconic role of Jesus in the 50th Anniversary Production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He is also a songwriter originally from Cincinnati and based in New York City. Theater highlights include Broadway: Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. Off-Broadway: RENT. National Tour: RENT. Regional Theater: Jesus Christ Superstar; Civil War; tick,tick…BOOM!. Concerts: symphonic soloist, and guest artist with various cruise and land-based companies. Aaron writes, performs, and tours his original music. His EP, Call Your Mom, is available at the merch table & on iTunes & all streaming services. He is a founding member of Here Comes The Sun, celebrating the music of the greatest music of all time, The Beatles (@HCTSband). aaronlavigne.com. Instagram: @aaron_lavinay. B.F.A. Northern Kentucky University. James Delisco Beeks (Judas) is an award-winning entertainer and seasoned Broadway performer whose credits include Kinky Boots, Aida, Ragtime, and Smokey Joe’s Cafe. He was also seen Off-Broadway in Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party. James is the winner of the Reality TV series “The Entertainer” on E!; where he won a $1 million dollar contract to headline in Las Vegas. As one of world’s leading MJ Tribute artists, he moonwalked his way through the US, Canada, and Asia with Windborne’s Music of Michael Jackson symphonic tour to rave reviews from 2010-2019. He is also an author currently finishing his new novel entitled ‘HisStory (An American story) to be released in 2020. For more information and music visit jamesbeeks.com. Social: @jamesdbeeks Jenna Rubaii (Mary). Originally from Clearwater, Florida, Jenna started her career at the age of six in an all-girl song and dance group in Tampa, performing at corporate events, festivals, spring training baseball stadiums, half time at sporting events and for two presidents. Jenna recently originated the role of “Joelle” in the original cast of the critically-acclaimed musical Groundhog Day on Broadway, performing on the “Tony Awards®,” “Good Morning America” and on the Original Broadway Cast Recording. She also starred in in the international Tour of Green Day's American Idiot, as “Extraordinary Girl,” and in the Asia Tour of Saturday Night Fever, as “Stephanie Mangano,” playing to sold-out houses from Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theater to London’s Hammersmith Apollo to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. Jenna fronts the band, Water & Rye (debut EP available on Spotify & Apple Music) and has performed regularly throughout NYC at Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, Club Bonafide and Rockwood Music Hall. She holds a Bachelor’s of Music from University of Miami. Jenna is also an ambassador for the fair-trade fashion company, Noonday Collection. In her downtime, she is an avid yoga practitioner, a nature-loving hiker and a craft-cocktail aficionado, infamous for dragging her friends on adventures that involve all three. @jrubaii www.JennaRubaii.com Alvin Crawford (Caiaphas). Broadway: The Lion King, Lost In The Stars, Candide, Miss Saigon and The Buddy Holly Story. Regional credits: A Raisin In the Sun at Westport Country Playhouse, The Odyssey at The Old Globe. National Tours: The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (Crown) and Martin Guerre (Andre). Film / TV appearances include Blue Bloods “Law & Order SVU,” “Nurse Jackie,” And So It Goes, It Runs in the Family, Clarence, Pray For Me Paul Henderson, PBS Live From Lincoln Center's Production of Show Boat and PBS Live from Carnegie Hall's production of South Pacific. Alvin is a graduate of The Juilliard School. Tommy Sherlock (Pilate). Tommy, the 'scouser' is from the Beatles’ homeland...Liverpool! Tommy fought his way through childhood as a black belt in karate. Many trophies, British and world titles and few broken noses later, he gracefully, like a duck to water, started dancing...(Bruce Lee was a ballroom and Latin dancing champion..... so it's all good). From acting in scenes of the cult comedy League of Gentlemen, to dancing his way through life in Wicked, from leading the way in Footloose in his first lead role, to getting naked in Hair, the last 12 years on the West End stage brought him to Las Vegas, where he and his fellow mates stormed the strip with their very own show, Tenors of Rock. The headlining show was an instant hit, scooping both the Best of Las Vegas/Vegas.com awards for ‘best new show’ and has ran for over 700 performances to date.