ENTERTAINMENT: With only days left to go now, tickets are selling like hot-cakes for Letterkenny Musical Society’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar in An Grianán Theatre (March 1-5) with this year’s show promising to be one of the group’s best ever.
That’s no mean feat considering Letterkenny Musical Society is famed for its shows of absolute quality, packed with stellar performances, but with Director Billy Patterson set to step away from his role after this year’s show, they have pulled out all the stops to really make this one to remember.
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera with the apostle Judas as one of its central characters.
That’s a role played to perfection by the incredibly talented Giles Murray, who, in recent years, wowed audiences as Wild Bill in Calamity Jane and Nathan Detroit in Guys and
Dolls.
The character of Jesus is played by Kieran Connor from Derry who fits his role so well that even his fellow cast members are constantly in awe.
“He sings the role so beautifully that when he finishes singing at rehearsals the rest of the cast applaud, he is that good,” show Director Billy Patterson said in an interview last week.
In the same interview, the Director was at pains to point out the sheer depth of talent there is available in the area when it comes to putting on a show like this.
That’s highlighted again in the casting of Ciara Gallagher in the role of Mary Magdalene.
Ciara, who took the lead as Audrey in last year’s production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ demonstrates her versatility and ability with a powerfully moving performance that will surely tug at the heart strings of the An Grianán audience.
Local chef Martin Anderson takes to the stage as well and a tastier role could never have been cooked up for him than that of King Herod, who brings a moment of light-hearted frivolity to a show that takes the audience on a roller-coaster emotional ride.
The real strength of the Letterkenny Musical Society however comes from the depth of talent at its disposal for the entire show, not just for the main parts and this year’s production has an ocean of talent at its disposal.
Supporting roles come from Donal Kavanagh (Caiaphas), David Walsh (Peter), Mark Leonard (Annas), Niall McDonagh (Simon Zealotes) Chris Duddy (Pontius Pilate) and a large ensemble of male and female characters, while the breath-taking music this year is under the watchful eye of musical director Mark Bradley.
Produced by Noel O’Donnell and Directed by Billy Patterson, the Choreography is by Rebecca Thompson, while the ever-vigilant Margaret Hartle and her team makes sure everything backstage runs like clockwork.
Jesus Christ Superstar will open on Tuesday night, running to Saturday when there will also be a matinee performance.
Tickets are on sale at the box office at An Grianán, but some shows are already sold out and the rest are expected to follow before the curtain opens on Tuesday night.
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