Sara Hecht, a junior at Sacred Heart Greenwich plays Jesus Christ. March 1, 2018 Photo: Leslie Yager
At Sacred Heart Greenwich the cast and crew of Jesus Christ Superstar are ready to take the stage at school’s Lennie and John De Csepel Theatre on Saturday March 3 at 7:00pm and Sunday March 4 at 3:00pm.
As tech week wound down on Thursday, the 31 member cast benefited from the addition of a live band.
“I love the drums,” said Andy Bella a junior from Old Greenwich. “The band just makes it that much better.”
“The show has a much more abstract and modern feeling,” said sophomore Zada Brown from Mt. Vernon. “Plus, we wear modern clothing.”
For Sara Hecht a junior from Ridgefield who plays Jesus Christ, the show is unique experience. “It’s the first time I’ve played a guy,” she said. Previously she was cast as Charlotte Lucas in Pride & Prejudice.
“The show makes a Biblical subject more edgy,” said junior Caroline Janney. “You can dance to it. You can cry to it. You can laugh to it.”
The girls, who are in grades 9 through 12, have been rehearsing for two months, having auditioned before December break. The time commitment is significant. In fact, it’s the equivalent of participating in a varsity sport. Typically the girls rehearse after school until 6:00pm, but tech week keeps them in the auditorium until 9:30pm.
Upper School girls at Sacred Heart Greenwich will perform Jesus Christ Superstar on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. Photo: Leslie Yager
The show is directed by Michaela Gorman, an English and Drama teacher in the upper school who is also a Sacred Heart alumna from the class of 2005.
Music direction is by Sean Lowery. The choreography is by Christine Parente. Costume design is by Danielle Gennaro, who happens to also be an alumna in the class of 2005.
“I love the girls and their enthusiasm,” said Gorman who has been a teacher at the school for five years, and directing plays there for four years.
“She’s so dedicated and passionate,” said Andy about Ms. Gorman. “She is a great role model, and she even has a photo of us as the background on her phone. She’s the rock of this program. We call her ‘Gore Mom.'”
For her part, Ms. Gorman said she loves directing plays at Sacred Heart. Each year the girls perform a fall play and a winter musical. Last year’s winter musical was Fiddler on the Roof.
“It’s important to do new and different plays, and this is a real departure for us,” Ms. Gennaro said. “It’s exciting to see the girls rise to the occasion and take on non literal staging and very different choreography.”
The girls do participate in an audition process but everyone is included in the cast.
Some students who participated in a winter sport finished their season in time to volunteer as stage crew. Some girls choose to be in the ensemble.
Tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar at Sacred Heart Greenwich are $10 at the door; $5.00 for students.
Sacred Heart Greenwich is located at 1177 King St in Greenwich. Don’t miss it! It’s a toe tapping treat and the cast is bursting with talent.
Upper School girls at Sacred Heart Greenwich will perform Jesus Christ Superstar on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. Photo: Leslie Yager
Upper School girls at Sacred Heart Greenwich will perform Jesus Christ Superstar on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. Photo: Leslie Yager
Upper School girls at Sacred Heart Greenwich will perform Jesus Christ Superstar on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. Photo: Leslie Yager
Upper School girls at Sacred Heart Greenwich will perform Jesus Christ Superstar on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. Photo: Leslie Yager
Upper School girls at Sacred Heart Greenwich will perform Jesus Christ Superstar on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. Photo: Leslie Yager
Upper School girls at Sacred Heart Greenwich will perform Jesus Christ Superstar on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. Photo: Leslie Yager
Left to right: Costume designer Danielle Gennaro, Sara Hecht (Jesus Christ), Zada Brown (Judas), director Michaela Gorman and Andy Bella.
Student artwork for promotional material was done by Daisy Steinthal, Lauren Hay and Michala Rodgers.