Jesus Christ Superstar | Australia
Creatives
Tim Rice
Lyrics
Tim Rice has worked in music, theatre and film since 1965 when he met Andrew Lloyd Webber, a fellow struggling songwriter. Rather than pursue Tim’s ambitions to write rock or pop songs, they turned their attention to Andrew’s obsession – musical theatre. Their first collaboration was based on the life of Dr Thomas Barnardo, the Victorian philanthropist: The Likes of Us. Their next three works together were much more successful – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.
Tim has since worked with other distinguished popular composers such as Elton John (The Lion King, Aida), Alan Menken (Aladdin, King David, Beauty and the Beast), Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Chess) and Stuart Brayson (From Here to Eternity). He has also written with Freddie Mercury, Burt Bacharach and Rick Wakeman, among others. He is currently writing and presenting a podcast (titled Get Onto My Cloud) reminiscing about his years in music, theatre and film – playing hits and flops, out-takes and number ones.
Every now and then, inspired by his hero and friend the late Sammy Cahn, he presents an evening of his songs, mercifully performed by top singers and musicians rather than by him, to which Tim adds reminiscence and comment, recalling their creation, success (or rejection) and the joy (usually) of working with great composers.
His recent musical From Here to Eternity returned to London in November 2022. A new Broadway presentation of Chess is scheduled in the autumn of 2023. In early 2024, a new production of his Tony®-winning Broadway hit Aida will make its UK West End debut.
Sir Tim’s interests beyond music, film and theatre include cricket – as English an interest as you can get. He founded his own cricket team in 1973, which has now played over 700 matches, including several in the USA. He dedicates considerable time to several British educational institutions and charitable organisations, many connected with sport for disadvantaged children. He crops up here and there in all branches of the media, drawing on his extensive knowledge of the history of popular music since Elvis was a lad. He has won several awards, mainly for the wrong thing or for simply turning up, but since you ask: one Emmy®, five Grammys®, three Tonys and three Oscars®, making him an EGOT. None more gratifying than the Johnny Mercer Award.
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Music
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the scores of some of the world’s most famous musicals. From Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969) to Bad Cinderella (2022). Lloyd Webber has had shows running continually in the West End for 50 years and on Broadway for 43. When Sunset Boulevard joined School of Rock, CATS, and The Phantom of the Opera he equalled Rodgers & Hammerstein’s record of four shows running simultaneously on Broadway. He is one of the select group of artists with EGOT status, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.
Lloyd Webber owns six London theatres including the iconic London Palladium and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Reopened in July 2021, the latter was completely restored and renovated at a cost of over £60 million. It was one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by a private theatre owner in recent times. His mantra is that every penny of profit made from his theatres is ploughed back into the buildings. Lloyd Webber is passionate about the importance of musical education and diversity in the arts. Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation provides 30 performing arts scholarships every year for talented students with financial need and supports a range of projects such as the Music In Secondary School Trust and commissioning research into diversity in theatre.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed anthems for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and for two Olympic ceremonies, including “Amigos Para Siempre” the official song of the 1992 summer games in Barcelona. He wrote “Let Us Love In Peace” for the aftermath of the attacks on The World Trade Centre, and wrote and performed “Sing” with Gary Barlow at Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond in 2012. Lloyd Webber curated musical theatre performances for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert in June 2022.
Andrew Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992 and created an honorary life peer in 1997.
Timothy Sheader
Director
Tim Sheader has been Artistic Director of the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park since 2008. He leaves in December 2023 to take
up post as Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse.
This production of Jesus Christ Superstar started at the Open Air Theatre. It has also played seasons at The Barbican, London and Lyric Opera House, Chicago as well as touring the US and Canada for 3 years. It won both the Olivier and Evening Standard Best Musical Awards.
Drew McOnie
Choreography
Drew is the Artistic Director of The McOnie Company and a proud Associate Artist of London’s Old Vic Theatre. He won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography for In the Heights in 2016 and he was nominated for the same award in 2017 for this production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Previous theatre credits as director/choreographer include: King Kong (The Broadway theatre, New York) Strictly Ballroom (Piccadilly Theatre, London’s West End/Toronto/West Yorkshire Playhouse); On the Town (Olivier Award Nomination for Best Musical Revival 2018 – Regent’s Park); The Wild Party (The Other Palace) Torch Song (Turbine Theatre- London) Cake The Marie Antoinette Playlist (UK Tour).
Theatre credits as a choreographer include: Carousel (Regents Park) Jesus Christ Superstar (Olivier Award Nomination for Best Theatre Choreography 2017 – Regents Park/Barbican Theatre/ US National Tour), In the Heights (Olivier Award Winner for Best Theatre Choreography, Winner of the Off West End Theatre Award for Best Choreography-Southwark Playhouse and Kings Cross Theatre), The Lorax (Old Vic), Hairspray (BroadwayWorld Award Winner for Best Choreography- UK Tour), Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith, National Tour), Oklahoma! (National Tour), The Sound of Music (Curve Theatre Leicester), Chicago (Curve Theatre Leicester), West Side Story (NYMT), Laurel and Hardy (The Watermill).
Ballets: Merlin (National Tour- Northern Ballet), XYZ (Classical Creative Project), for NYB- Monochrome Suite (Sadlers Wells), The Old Man Of Lochnagar (Sadlers Wells and Hackney Empire) Little Red Riding Hood (Wimbledon Theatre) To You (Sadlers Wells).
Film credits as choreographer include: Greatest Days – The Take That Movie Musical (Elysian Films) Me Before You (Directed by Thea Sharrock).
For the McOnie Company: Jekyll and Hyde (BroadwayWorld Award Winner for Outstanding Achievement in Dance – Old Vic Theatre), DRUNK! (Curve Theatre Leicester/ The Bridewell Theatre London) which lead to him being nominated for the ‘Emerging Artist Award’ at the National Dance Awards, Making Midnight (Jermyn Street Theatre/ Latitude Festival) Slaughter (Audience Choice Award Winner – The Place Prize) and Be Mine! (Robin Howard Theatre).
Upcoming projects for The McOnie Company: The Artist (Theatre Royal Plymouth), Nutcracker (Jazz adaptation at London’s Southbank Centre).
Tom Scutt
Designer
Tom is an Associate Artist of the Donmar Warehouse and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 2015 and 2016 Tom provided the production design for the MTV Video Music Awards.
Awards and nominations include: 2022 Evening Standard Award for Best Designer, 2022 Olivier Award nominations for Best Design and Best Costume Design, 2022 Critics’ Circle Award for Best Designer (Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre); 2019 Critics’ Circle Award and Evening Standard Award nomination for Best Designer (A Very Expensive Poison, Old Vic); 2016 Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design (King Charles III, Broadway); WhatsOnStage Awards for Best Set Design for Little Shop of Horrors (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – also WOS Award for Best Costume Design), Constellations (Royal Court) and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (Kensington Gardens).
As Theatre Director and Creative Director: Berberian Sound Studio (Donmar Warehouse); Christine and the Queens’ ‘Chris’ at Salle Pleyel (Apple Music); Sam Smith’s ‘The Thrill of It All’ at Tate Modern (Apple Music); Ben Platt’s ‘Sing to Me Instead’ US Tour; Liam Gallagher’s MTV Unplugged (City Hall, Hull); Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Dreamworld’ (World Tour).
As Production Designer: 2015 MTV Video Music Awards (Microsoft Center, LA) & 2016 MTV Video Music Awards (Madison Square Garden, NYC); Cabaret (West End); Summer and Smoke, King Charles III, Mr Burns – A Post-Electric Play, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, Through a Glass Darkly (Almeida); Berberian Sound Studio, Marys Seacole, Belleville, The Lady From the Sea, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Weir, Elegy (Donmar Warehouse); The Deep Blue Sea, Medea, 13, Julie (National Theatre); Fairview, A Number (Young Vic); A Very Expensive Poison, Woyzeck (Old Vic); Jesus Christ Superstar (and US Tour/Barbican); Little Shop of Horrors, Carousel (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas, No Quarter, Remembrance Day (Royal Court).
Opera Design: Carmen (costumes – Metropolitan Opera); Walküre (Royal Danish Opera); Cunning Little Vixen, Wozzeck (English National Opera); Tosca (Opera North); How The Whale Became (Royal Opera House); The Flying Dutchman (Scottish Opera); Rigoletto (Opera Holland Park).
Dance Design: Outwitting the Devil Akram Khan Company; Grand Finale (Hofesh Shechter Company); Light: Bach Dances (Royal Danish Opera & Hofesh Shechter).
Tom Deering
Musical Supervisor
Tom studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he was made an Associate in the 2016 honours list.
He is the recipient of the 2023 Olivier Award for Best Score & Orchestration for Standing At The Sky’s Edge, which also won the Olivier for Best New Musical.
Tom has worked extensively with artists from the music industry to co-create new music theatre. Such artists include Elton John (TAMMY FAYE / Almeida Theatre), Richard Hawley (STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE / National Theatre), Damon Albarn (WONDER.LAND / National Theatre) David Arnold (MADE IN DAGENHAM / West End), Guy Chambers & Robbie Williams (THE BOY IN THE DRESS / Royal Shakespeare Company).
As a composer: COMMITTEE / Donmar Warehouse, PITY / Royal Court, LITTLE RED / National Youth Ballet of Great Britain.
Lee Curran
Lighting Designer
Theatre includes: A Streetcar Named Desire, Summer and Smoke (Almeida/West End); Constellations (West End/Broadway/Royal Court); Next to Normal, Henry V; Berberian Sound Studio; The Lady From The Sea, Splendour (Donmar Warehouse); TheWelkin, Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear – The Musical!, Protest Song (National Theatre); Romeo and Juliet (Almeida); Britannicus (Lyric Hammersmith); The Song Project, Gundog, Road, Nuclear War, a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun), X, Linda (Royal Court); The Glass Menagerie, West Side Story (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester); Julius Caesar, Doctor Faustus (RSC); The Two Character Play (Hampstead Theatre); Nora: A Doll’s House (Young Vic/ Citizens Theatre, Glasgow); The Son (Kiln Theatre/West End); Harm (Bush Theatre); Burgerz (Hackney Showroom); Black Men Walking (Eclipse/Manchester Royal Exchange/UK Tour); Plenty (Chichester Festival Theatre); Woyzeck, Peter Pan (Birmingham Rep); Imogen (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Weir, A Streetcar Named Desire (English Touring Theatre); A Number (Nuffield Southampton Theatres/Young Vic).
Dance includes: We Are As Gods (James Cousins Company); Enowate (Dickson Mbi Company); Clorinda Agonistes (Shobana Jeyasingh Dance); Opus 131 (Russell Maliphant Dance Company); Blak Whyte Gray (Blue Boy Entertainment); Clowns, Sun, Political Mother, In Your Rooms, Uprising (Hofesh Shechter Company); Don Quixote (Royal Danish Ballet); Untouchable (Royal Ballet); Grey Matter, Tomorrow, Frames (Rambert).
Opera includes: Orphee Et Eurydice (Royal Opera House/Teatro Alla Scala); Fidelio (Nederlandse Reisoper); Aida, Fidelio, Nothing (Royal Danish Opera); Tosca (Opera North); Nabucco (Opera National de Lorraine); Phaedra (Linbury Studio).
Nick Lidster for Autograph
Sound Designer
Theatre includes: La Cage Aux Folles & Once on this Island (OAT RP); Yeomen of the Guard (ENO); Cabaret (@ The Kit Kat Club); Jesus Christ Superstar (OAT RP also US Tour); Evita; Little Shop of Horrors; The Turn of the Screw (OAT RP). City of Angels (Garrick); Sweet Charity, Pacific Overtures, Parade, Passion, Spelling Bee, The Vote (also Channel 4), Committee… (Donmar Warehouse); Martin Guerre (UK Tour); Miss Saigon (UK Tour/ Japan/Sweden); Les Misérables (UK Tour/ Berlin/Belfast/Scandinavian Arena Concert Tour); Sweeney Todd (Royal Opera House/ ENO); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour); Sinatra (Palladium/UK Tour); Nicholas Nickleby (Chichester Festival); On the Town (ENO); Mother Courage (National Theatre); Privates on Parade (Noel Coward); A Chorus Line (Palladium); Urinetown (Apollo); The Last Five Years (The Other Palace); Kiss Me, Kate (Opera North/UK & European Tour); Calendar Girls (UK Tour); The Band (UK Tour/Berlin).
Awards include the 2022 Olivier Award for Best Sound Design, Cabaret at (The Kit Kat Club); Olivier Award Nominations for Jesus Christ Superstar (OAT RP), Pacific Overtures (Donmar Warehouse); Parade (Donmar Warehouse); Mother Courage (NT).
PRODUCERS:
JOHN FROST AND DAVID IAN FOR CROSSROADS LIVE,
IN ASSOCIATION WITH WORK LIGHT PRODUCTIONS