A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
When EST decided to do “Jesus Christ Superstar” for our 2013 production, I spent a lot of time pondering the reason the show exists. Was it to examine the last seven days of Christ? Yes. Was it to look at the story of Judas, what he did and why he did it? Sure. Was it to study relationships? I think so. Perhaps it is a combination of all three. Of course! That’s what the show is bringing to the theatre world!
Relationships are tricky things. Sometimes you meet a person and are captivated by them. You believe in everything they stand for. You wish to learn more about their world, aid them as they work through painful issues, and work to help them accomplish their dreams. You are impressed with their inner strength and determination. Judas was like that. He was a follower of Christ, a believer in the message being spread, and most importantly he was a friend. But after some time had passed, he realized that his relationship with the others in Jerusalem was being put in danger by the things Christ was saying and doing. Something had to be done or all of the people would suffer. This is the angle Rice and Webber portray in their work, that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the single person. Jesus, knowing that the end was approaching, accepts the course that has been laid out for him and the fact that his friend would be the one to betray him.
Thankfully, most relationships are not filled with such peril. A majority are based on common interests, and they grow deeper and more meaningful as the people find new adventures to conquer. If you are blessed enough to find someone who enjoys the same things you enjoy, you should do whatever you can to keep that relationship moving forward and growing stronger. The cast of our show has developed relationships based on the love of musical theatre and performing, and I hope they keep growing with each other. Jesus and Judas kept growing and as you’ll see, and even in the end, their bond was based on love and could not be broken. We at EST have worked to present our vision in a simple and pure form, avoiding the “flash and trash” that so many current shows have. We’d like you to leave with the message and meaning more than the spectacle.
Thank you for coming to see “Superstar” and for supporting live theatre in Elgin. We are fortunate to be able to perform for you, creating theatre for the community by the community, and we appreciate your gift of time and attention. Enjoy the show!
