“Jesus Christ Superstar” is fast becoming one of the biggest local hit musicals in the history of The Villages – at least by the numbers.
The show — directed by Broadway veteran, Villager Alex Santoriello – runs April 10-13 in Savannah Center for six performances. It has already sold over 4,000 tickets, according to KC Productions, which claims the play should become a complete sellout. That means over 5,000 people would see it during Easter week.
Four is another number unique to this production of the famed Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber 1971 rock opera. There are four different women playing the role of Mary Magdalene. Dawn DiNome is Mary on April 10; Mary Jo Vitale on April 11; Sue Schuler on April 12 and Kathleen Kane on April 13.
Those Marys are part of a cast of nearly 40 Villagers. They include: Santoriello who plays Judas; Alex Scopino (Calaphas), Tim Casey (Pilate), Jim Kitzler (Peter) and Vince Morris (Simon). Professional actor Gary DeLena plays the role of Jesus. A live orchestra will provide the music.
But the four variations of Mary make this version of “…Superstar” special. Perhaps the most memorable song from the show, was Mary singing “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” to Jesus. It was originally performed by Yvonne Elliman,. Here is a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXdNEh97478
Now, it’s up to four women in The Villages to breathe new life into Mary and the musical.
“They are all extremely talented women and I think they are up to the challenge; what they bring to this character is mostly themselves,” said Santoriello, who recently appeared on Broadway for a cast reunion of “Les Miserables.”
Mary Magdalene is a complex character. Rice and Webber were writing a rock musical, and it is not always biblically accurate.
“I always keep that in mind about Mary,” Dawn DiNome said. Although the perception is that Mary was a prostitute, DiNome said that is not necessarily true.
“There are so many stereotypes about Mary,” said DiNome, music and choir director at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. “I try to think of her as a successful woman who took care of Jesus. She tries to understand his love and it’s kind of confusing for her.
“He wants to give her love – not romantic love – but a different kind of love and she doesn’t quite know how to accept it. I think most of us can see ourselves in Mary. Jesus loves us and wants to be in our lives, but we turn away.”
Mary Jo Vitale is married to Jon-Marc MacLean, pastor of the Hope Lutheran Church. She approaches the role of Mary as a pastor’s wife. “She’s play a part in Jesus’ ministry. She wants to support and protect Jesus,” Vitale said. “She knows he has a job to do and wants to help him anyway she can. I think in many ways, Mary encompasses the roles of women in the Bible.”
Love is also part of Mary Magdalene’s equation.
“She experiences something new with Jesus,” Vitale said. “I think she expresses it in the song, ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him.’ She sings about having men before, but nothing like this.
“I think of Mary as a child lost, who has been found. She has experienced Jesus in a way that has saved her. We all need to be saved.”
“Jesus Christ Superstar” has been controversial. Rice and Webber not only took liberties with the Bible, they turned the story of Jesus and Judas into a rock and roll show.
Loud guitars, dance routines and stage theatrics are all part of the play.
“I think it’s great,” Vitale said. “It makes Jesus as accessible and relevant today as he was 2,000 years ago. It’s important to remember that Rice and Webber took artistic license with the Bible. But anything that brings the Gospel to people who can experience the love of Jesus, is a positive thing.”
She also believes that presenting Jesus in a different setting can lead to self-discovery.
“Jesus didn’t do what people expected of him to do; he was not doing what was comfortable,” Vitale said. She added some expected Jesus to be a “warrior Messiah” but he was “humble, meek and preached love.”
Sue Schuler offered these thoughts on the role of Mary and the musical:
“I see Mary as a lost person. She is an outcast from the community and has never experienced the unconditional love that Jesus offered to her.
“So when she sings ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him,’ she is expressing this feeling of not having ever experienced this kind of love, and not knowing how to return that love. I see Mary transforming during her time with Jesus into a person with hope from a person that was jaded and unloved.”
What does Schuler bring to the role:
“Personal experience is the best thing to draw on when portraying a character, and my personal relationship with Jesus Christ as my savior is what I will use when finding “Mary” in me.”
Kathleen Kane shares her thoughts.
“I see Mary as a very sweet, compassionate, and loving soul who has been through a lot; she has not been loved like she should be nor respected.
“ Mary has such compassion and love for Jesus but she is not quite sure why she feels this strong magnetic pull to him and only wants to completely ease his pain and nurture him in so many ways. She knows he is kind and gentle and has never seen this side of a man before.”
Kane, like the other three, leaves a personal imprint on Mary:
“As an individual, I have such passion for the character and the music that I hope to put it all into my voice, face, and actions. I love the all the songs, especially, ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him.’ I just hope I can do the character justice and portray this multi-dimensional character, Mary Magdalene.”
