JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Resurrects Count de Hoernle Theatre (The Caldwell) in Boca, Now thru 7/15

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Resurrects the Count de Hoernle Theatre in Boca Raton – tonight, July 5 through July 15. Combined Production of Entr'Acte Theatrix & Palm Beach Principal Players.

"Could We Start Again, Please" is more than just another hit song from the rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, it is also the hope and prayer of Boca-based theatre fans when it comes to the much beloved but recently shuttered Count de Hoernle Theatre (a/k/a "The Caldwell").

In an effort to get the theatre's footlights shining again, two sister theatre companies – Entr'Acte Theatrix and Palm Beach Principal Players – are co-producing JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, which will run for 10 performances at the former Caldwell Theatre, July 5-15. The dynamic rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is a musical interpretation of the final days of Jesus Christ that is not so much a story about religion as it is about the emergence of a charismatic rebel who surfaces among an oppressed people to pacifistically challenge the moral state of existing affairs – all told in the musical vernacular of rock 'n' roll, just like HAIR before it.

"JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is now more relevant than ever, particularly with idealistic young people taking to the streets and challenging the political status quo from Egypt's Tahrir Square to the occupiers of Wall Street's Zuccotti Park," says executive Producer Vicki Halmos. "Plus I can think of nothing more appropriate than a musical about resurrection to re-open this fabulous theater."

The dynamic 25-person cast includes:

John Justice Parker (Jesus), who first performed with Palm Beach Principal Players 10 years ago in The Who's TOMMY at the Carefree Theatre while he was still a student at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, where he received several awards from the Florida State Thespian Competition. Since then, he has concentrated his studies in acting, comedy/improv, Shakespeare, and musical theatre at Palm Beach State College, where he wrote, directed, and acted in independent student films. Mr. Parker also was involved with Last Call and P.A.'s Big Day at the Delray Beach Film Festival.

Anthony Nuccio (Judas) is a graduate of the University of Miami, having earned a BM of Music Education & Theater. A versatile musician who plays piano, guitar and saxophone, Mr. Nuccio's incredible vocal range wows his hard rock fans, but he is equally proficient in opera and jazz. He has appeared in numerous hit shows throughout South Florida and in and around his hometown of Philadelphia, including Songs for a New World, The Last Five Years, Reefer Madness, Children of Eden and Pippin.

Val Roche (Mary) is a graduate of the University of Miami's New World School of the Arts, where she received a BM in Musical Theater. Among her many theater credits in the Miami area are Urinetown, The Last Five Years, [Title of Show], and Smokey Joe's Cafe. In addition, she was seen in The House of Bernarda Alba at the Adrienne Arsht Center. A skilled impersonator of Janis Joplin, Cher and Shakira, Ms. Roche is proficient in rock, pop, blues, and musical theater,

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Creative Team:

Roger Blankenship (Musical Director) has a wealth of musical directing experience that spans 30 years. He has served as organist and choir director for a number of places of worship, coaching choirs and vocal performers, and collaborating in music education. He has written and directed musical productions, has grown choirs from a dozen to over one hundred participants, produced holiday pageants, and directed musical theater performances, including numerous theater reviews of his own creation. Over the years, Mr. Blanekship has worked with, and directed, in the musical theater departments at Florida Atlantic University and West Boca High School, and in Washington, D.C. at the Sheridan School, the Columbia Institute of Fine Arts, and the Prince William Center for the Arts. He also has been adjunct professor of music at Florida Atlantic University. His musical theater directing background, in addition to Entr'acte Theatrix, has included the Boca Raton Theater Guild, Infinite Abyss Productions, and many at FAU, among others. Shows that Mr. Blankenship has served as musical director and vocal director include Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Company, Carousel, Evita, West Side Story, Oklahoma! and Fiddler on the Roof, as well as Cole Porter and Irving Berlin reviews. In addition, he has traveled with a German Evangelistic Music Team throughout Germany and South Africa, and has traveled and recorded with a Contemporary Christian music group throughout the U.S. Mr. Blankenship has a BA and Masters in Music.

Currently spending his time between New York and Florida, Beau was born to a theatrical family in Brooklyn. He studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and at HB Studios. He studied theater singing with Julia Sperratore and Helen Gallagher. Beau later taught drama at the Lincoln Center Square for the Arts. It was at this time Beau began working with the Theater Development Fund and helped found New York's famed HALF PRICE TICKET BOOTH. Early in his career, Beau was screen tested and contracted for Warner Brothers. He co-hosted, an early cable variety series on Manhattan's Teleprompter channel. At this time he directed the Johnny Specca musical, SEX IS..? at the Lincoln Center Library Theater. Beau has performed Off-Broadway in FAT FELL DOWN, The Comic Strip Theater's LITTLE LULU AND THE INVISIBLE INK and WILL THE REAL ZOOPERMAN PLEASE STAND UP. Around the country he has delighted audiences with his performances in ANYTHING GOES, THE APPLE TREE, GUYS & DOLLS, and HELLZAPOPPIN! He sang for New York audiences at such cabarets as The Duplex and Upstairs at the Downstairs. He has had numerous television appearances but is most proud to have been a winning contestant on the game shows JACKPOT and THE $20,000 PYRAMID.

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