It’s a show that has been in Scott Seidl’s imagination for decades, and he’s beyond excited to finally bring it to the stage to open the Augusta Players 80th season.
“I’ve been waiting 30 years to do this. This is the right time with the right cast. What an incredible way to kick off the 80th season,” said Seidl who is not only directing the actors but serving as the musical director for the Players’ production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” which will be performed Oct. 4-6 at the Imperial Theatre. For ticket information, go here.
Thirty years ago, Seidl taught school in Wisconsin and has traveled many roads since. He started planning for the milestone season at the beginning of the year with “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the forefront of his creative thought process and has repeatedly described this production as “epic.”
“On stage, there’s an orchestra of 43. That alone automatically raises the stakes in such a dramatic way,” he said.
Add in a cast of 33 including eight dancers, an adult choir of 20 and a children’s choir of 20, and Seidl’s description isn’t an understatement.
Part of that orchestra is a rock band.
In a 2016 interview, Andrew Lloyd Webber, who composed the rock opera adaptation of the Biblical story of Jesus Christ, said he and lyricist Tim Rice originally recorded the songs as a rock album — not musical score for the stage — in October 1969. It was released in October 1970 to an unenthusiastic British audience.
He didn’t see it as something for Broadway or London’s West End. He saw it as a live musical experience. And while it was a success in America as a rock album, Webber hated the first Broadway incarnation.
But the Augusta Players version won’t just have talented musicians, singers and dancers, its leads are also well-trained, well-seasoned actors.
“What’s rewarding is to come and have a plan but work with these intuitive, smart actors who are bringing unexpected things to the moment or taking what I’ve suggested and making it even so much better,” said Seidl.
Luke Amerson, who portrays Jesus, isn’t afraid of tackling heavy roles, but he admits there are challenges in this one.
“It’s really hard as an actor to approach a character who already knows his arc,” said Amerson, who recently turned 33, the same age as Jesus at his crucifixion.
Riding that arc and bringing the discovery along to the audience is part of the fun acting, but with that taken from the picture, Amerson said he’s approaching Jesus in a different light.
“Our approach is like there’s an element that knows but doesn’t want to know or struggles to believe. He knows, but he hopes maybe it’s not,” he said.
Ashley Rivera also sees the struggle in Mary Magdalene as she portrays her. Mary feels honored to be among his chosen ones, but at the same time, she knows her past and doesn’t feel worthy.
The two performers say that the characters require more of their own emotional energy than other characters they may have portrayed in the past.
Mary Magdalane experiences the full weight of heartbreak and that takes a toll during nightly rehearsals.
“It’s kind of hard to be there every single night. It’s really draining. It’s really draining,” said Rivera.
Amerson echoed Rivera.
“The emotional weight — of course, I anticipated, but now living in it, it’s getting heavier. But I think that‘s a good thing. When you’re playing somebody who sacrifices everything, you have to bring some sort of sacrifice yourself to that as an actor or performer,” he said.
Playing these roles has had a transformative effect on them as well.
“I think that anytime you meditate on the character of Christ in any serious way — whether artistically or spiritually or however you want to do it — there’s always something profound that comes out of that,” said Amerson.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
