Manly Celebrates Milestone with Jesus Christ Superstar

Manly Musical Society, in its 5th year as a community theatre group on the Northern Beaches in 2014, is celebrating the milestone with the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Jesus and Judas will be played by local musical theatre performers Thomas Adams and Anthony Swadling. Thomas is taking on his first role with Manly Musical Society after recent roles with Chatswood Musical Society and Packemin Productions. Anthony recently performed Nathan Detroit in Mosman Musical Society’s Guys and Dolls and has previously played the role of Simon in Mosman Musical Society’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar (2006).

The production will be director Carl Olsen's fourth Jesus Christ Superstar, having both previously directed the show with Engadine Musical Society and appeared as both Jesus with Blacktown Theatre Company and Pilate with Chatswood Musical Society. Joining the production team with Carl is Musical Director Anthony Catrupi and Choreographer Alison Logie.

Photographer: Tim Corr

Lead performers Anthony Swadling, Thomas Adams and Olivia Aleksoski spoke to Stage whispers about their roles.

When Anthony Swadling (Judas) isn’t performing, he’s a Medical Receptionist for a Radiology practice.

How do you feel about being cast as Judas and how do you feel about the character?
It's been one of my dream roles since I was 10 years old, and I'm thrilled to given the chance to play him. Judas is one of the most interesting characters in musical theatre. There's a real duality to his character that really comes across in the story of the show. On the one hand, he's the man who betrayed Jesus Christ, so there's an obvious infamy associated with him, but as the show progresses, the audience finds themselves sympathising with Judas, as they see that he's only acting out of love and concern for his people. I really hope to evoke that sympathy in the audiences that come to see our production.

What connection do you have with the Musical Jesus Christ Superstar?  
My mum first played the JCS soundtrack for me on LP when I was about 10 years old, and I've been in love with the show ever since. I've grown up listening to as many different recordings I could get my hands on, I've seen it performed several times, and I've even done the show once before in 2006, when I played Simon Zealotes.

How long have you been involved in theatre and what are some of your other performing arts credits?
I've been involved in musical theatre for 10 years, since I played Pharaoh in my high school production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Since then I've played Simon Zealotes in JCS, Leo Bloom in The Producers, Ali Hakim in Oklahoma!, Nathan Detroit in Guys And Dolls, plus various ensemble roles in The Pirates Of Penzance, Sweet Charity, Annie, RENT, and Jekyll & Hyde.

What have you enjoyed most about working with Manly Musical Society? 
MMS is an extremely friendly and enthusiastic group of people. Rehearsals are always great fun and everyone always has a smile on their face. It's a really great environment to produce a show in. 

What do you believe people will enjoy about the MMS production of JCS? 
I think a problem with JCS is that because it's been around for so many years, a lot of productions seem to just replicate what's come before, and that can be quite boring. I don't think our production will have that problem however. Carl our director has a very specific vision for the show and how he wants the characters to be perceived, and Alison's choreography is really giving the big chorus numbers an extra spark. I really think with this production we're breathing new life into an old favourite.

While Thomas Adams (Jesus) studied law at Macquarie University for five years. He discovered during that time that he enjoyed being on stage far more than his legal studies, and decided to pursue a career in performing. Thomas also sings at weddings.

What made you want to audition for JCS? 

I love the show and the theatre is walking distance from my house, so it was a no-brainer.

How do you feel about being cast as Jesus and how do you feel about the character?

I am very excited about playing, arguably, the ultimate leading man. He is an incredibly complex individual and the musical examines his character from a different perspective to that of the gospels. Throughout the show we see more of ‘Jesus the man’ than ‘Jesus the Son of God’, which I feel allows the audience to really empathise with his character and makes the role a real pleasure to play as an actor.

How long have you been involved in theatre and what are some of your other performing arts credits?

I’ve only recently become involved in community theatre. I directed the annaul Macqurie University Law Revue from 2010 to 2012 and last year I was Rueben in Joseph and the Amazing Techniciolour Dreamcoat (Chatswood Musical Society), Corny Collins council member in Hairspray! (Packemin Productions) and Nick Piazza in FAME: The Musical (Chatswood Musical Society).

What do you believe people will enjoy about the MMS production of JCS?

The entire production is going to be amazing, but I think people will enjoy the music most of all, we have an incredibly talented cast supported by a fantastic orchestra.

Olivia Aleksoski (Mary Magdalene) is currently writing her thesis (about musical theatre in Sydney) with the Department of Performance Studies at the University of Sydney, while also working as a PA for an environmental consultant and Nanny as well.

How do you feel about being cast as Mary Magdalene and how do you feel about the character?

Carl has made me see her as a stronger character than I originally thought. She acts as the very serious, more tuned in member of Jesus’ followers. In other performances Christ often ferociously protects her, however, in this production she really holds her own. She is a strong intuitive woman who is scared but not blind like some of the other followers. 

What connection, if any, do you have with the musical JCS and what made you want to audition?

Its just such a big musical. It’s all singing, it’s challenging and the music is just so wonderful and catchy. It also holds such a strong connection to my childhood it was so hard to pass up. The 1971 recording was the first CD I owned. I knew every single the word of this musical by the time I was 8 or so. It was the first time I had heard and was sucked into the world of musical theatre. I never looked back.

How long have you been involved in theatre and what are some of your otherperforming arts credits?

Since I was in primary school. My first musical was an original about Winnie the Pooh and his friends. Since then I went on to do many roles in musicals from an original children’s production of “The Grandfather Clock” to a comedy duo act at the first Sydney Fringe Festival to Assistant Director of the London premiere of “The Hatpin”. I also conduct choirs and give private singing lessons.

What do you believe people will enjoy about the MMS production of JCS?

I think this production will have a couple of surprises. A lot of people know what to expect from this musical. I think our director Carl has challenged some of the norms without losing the original rebellion feel of the 1970’s rock opera.

Jesus Christ Superstar plays from Friday 23rd to Saturday 31st May 2014 at Star of The Sea Theatre, Stella Maris College, corner of Collingwood and Iluka Avenue Manly
. Adult $30, Concession $25. Tickets on sale at www.manlymusicalsociety.com

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