By John Posada
originally published: 03/17/2024

(RED BANK, NJ) -- On March 16, 2024, Phoenix Productions presented a special one-night symphonic concert performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, featuring a 35-piece orchestra. James Grausam directed the production and photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera based on the last week of Jesus' life. It features Lyrics by Tim Rice and Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and was the first musical by the duo to be produced for the professional stage.  It was also the very first show by Phoenix Productions 35 years ago at Christian Brothers Academy’s Henderson Theater in the summer of 1988.

A timeless work, the rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.

The cast featured Remember Jones (Judas Iscariot), Anwar Robinson (Jesus of Nazareth), Lora Nicolas Olaes (Mary Magdalene), Jarrod Scott (Caiaphas), Matt DeMarco (Annas), Marc Goldberg (Simon Zealotes), Randy Cooper (Pontius Pilate), and Frank Ferrante (King Herod).

Director James Grausam has directed several productions for Phoenix Productions at Count Basie Center for the Arts, including: Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, Miss Saigon, Tommy, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Songs for a New World, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Spring Awakening, Elf, American Idiot and more.

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Adam Philipson was lead Producer for the first time at Phoenix Productions. Some of his associate producing credits on Broadway include Jagged Little Pill and Outsiders, as well as the West End's Time Traveller's Wife.

The show served as the Count Basie Center’s Winter Gala, honoring SoVonna Day-Goins and Joe Wajda, longtime Phoenix supporters and chairs of the Basie Center’s Phoenix Operations Committee.

Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway in October 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. Notable names in that cast included Jeff Fenholt as Jesus, Ben Vereen as Judas, and Bob Bingham as Caiaphas. The production was nominated for 5 Tony Awards.

Up next for Phoenix Productions is The Prom with performances at Count Basie Center for the Arts on Friday, May 3 at 7:30pm and Saturday, May 4th at 2:00pm & 7:30pm. This is a delightful musical about an end of the year high-school dance. Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So, when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue…and themselves.

The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow—but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is love that brings them all together.

For over 35 years, Phoenix Productions has been dedicated to the mission of providing quality theatrical experiences on both sides of the footlights. Since its first production in 1988, they have produced over 100 main stage shows providing on-stage and back stage opportunities for thousands of talented volunteers.

In 2023, Phoenix Productions merged with its home for over three decades, the Count Basie Center for the Arts (99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank), combining and solidifying its regional impact on the performing arts.

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Together, Phoenix Productions and the Count Basie Center have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to do their best work. The organizations’ continued pledge to deepen their commitments to cultural competency, racial equity and social inclusion is at the heart of the Basie Center’s mission as a nonprofit.

Here are more photos from the production.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. For more than 15 years, John has photographed live events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions. Currently, John has spent the last 3 years concentrating on photographing almost 200 theatre productions for over 70 different theatres. Click here for John's website.

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