The first images from Starlight’s upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar which will be staged at Easter in both Kilkenny and Carlow.
1 - Jason Paul Ryan as Jesus
2 - Shane O Riordan, Karl Des Santos, Danny Moloney and Jason Paul Ryan
(Photos By Dave Minogue)
Starlight Stage Productions have been granted rights to perform the international blockbuster musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” in both Kilkenny and Carlow over Easter 2010.
The show which celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year has been performed professionally in hundreds of cities all over the world as well as countless amateur productions. Originally released as a concept album, the show became a massive stage hit and also has been filmed twice. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ Superstar was the first musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to be produced for the professional stage. The show opened on 12th October 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York with the London production opening on 9th August 1972 with Paul Nicholas (Jesus), Stephen Tate (Judas) and Dana Gillespie (Mary Magdalene). By the time it closed, after some eight years and 3,358 performances, it had become the longest-running musical in West End history. The recording of the score of the show, with Ian Gillan (Jesus), Murray Head (Judas) and Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene), topped the American album charts three times.
The most recent West End revival staged at the Lyceum Theatre in 1996 starred Steve Balsamo as Jesus, and there have been many rumours circulating that there will be another revival in the not so distant future.
The score of the show has hit after hit with chartbusting songs such as “I Dont Know How To Love Him”, “Everything’s Alright”, and “Superstar” along with wonderful chorus numbers such as “Hosanna”, “Christ You Know I Love You” and the comical “King Herods Song”. The show was originally billed as a Rock Opera more than a musical but whatever you want to call it JCS has some of the best music you will ever hear in a stage show.
Starlight Stage Productions have previously staged two other Lloyd Webber/Rice productions “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” and “The Likes Of Us“ - The group is delighted to continue their good relationship with Lloyd Webber’s production company The Really Useful Group in London, who awarded Starlight the rights for this show.
Casting will be completed in the next week or two and rehearsals are already under way. However Starlight are still looking out for some more Men !!! The show has lots of male roles for Principal Singers and Supporting Singers so if you are interested give Jason a call on 085 2022038 or email theatre@starlightstageproductions.com
The Donny Tribute Show “Puppy Love” has a new website - www.puppyloveshow.com is now online and will keep fans up to date with upcoming gigs, dates, tours, tickets, news etc. Watch out for new Irish Tour in Spring 2010 and UK dates to be announced later in January.
Donny Osmond himself has just won the US TV show “Dancing With The Stars” and has just completed a fantastic year of the “Donny and Marie” show live in Las Vegas, and the new “Puppy Love” tribute show will recognise material from both these shows aswell as favourites from down through the years.
More details to be announced soon ……………………. Visit “Puppy Love - The Donny Tribute” on Facebook also.
Starlight Stage Productions are all set to present “Beauty and the Beast” the first Annual Pantomime at Kilkenny’s new theatre The Set (www.set.ie) for four performances this coming Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th of January (two shows daily at 3pm and 8pm).
< THE SET THEATRE, KILKENNY
This Childrens Pantomime has been especially written by Starlight’s Jason Paul Ryan who has developed many panto scripts for various groups and schools around the region. What fun will ensue when Belle goes wandering by mistake into the forest and finds herself sent the wrong direction by a pair of fighting Trees, meaning she ends up at the Beasts castle, staffed by some interesting individuals. Back in the Village, Gaston the local hero will have to round up the troups and go to save Belle. In the forest many various fun and colourful characters are on various journeys of their own including a certain famous four characters looking for a Yellow Brick Road !!! ……………….
The Pantomime features a cast of well known Starlight faces including Sharon Molloy, Jack O’Connor, Mairead Doheny, Niall O Riordan, Ailish Carpenter, Erin O’Connor, Terrence Christle, Mairead Coady, Shane O Riordan and winner of The K Factor 2009 - Cassie O’Donnell as Babbette. Jason himself will play the role of Gaston in the show alongside talented Callan teenagers Ali McCann and Claire Funchion who recently starred as Mushu and Mulan in Disney’s Mulan Jr in both Kilkenny and Carlow.
Being a Pantomime version of the classic fairytale there are lots of different songs interspresed throughout the show. Songs to feature will include “Be Our Guest”, “Thriller”, “Home”, “Galway Girl”, “Honey, Honey”, “Best of Both Worlds”, “Belle”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Follow The Yellow Brick Road” and “Beauty and The Beast” itself.
Tickets are on sale now for the shows from The Set Box Office at Langtons on 056 77 65133 or from Starlight Studios at Wallslough Village on 085 770 5239. All seats are € 10.00 for the show.
SHOW DATES and PERFORMANCE TIMES -
Sunday 3rd of January - 3.00pm
Sunday 3rd of January - 8.00pm
Monday 4th of January - 3.00pm
Monday 4th of January - 8.00pm
Disney’s MULAN JR is Starlight’s junior musical for 2009 and it is being staged in both Kilkenny and Carlow. The show played at the Watergate Theatre on Monday 9th of November and now is gearing up for two performances at Carlow’s brand new GEORGE BERNARD SHAW THEATRE - Sat 28th NOV at 8pm and Sun 29th NOV at 3pm. The cast and crew are working hard in the run up to the Carlow show. Book tickets on 059 917 2400
MULAN JR IN BOTH KILKENNY AND CARLOW - NOVEMBER ‘09.
Today, Thursday 8 October, Andrew Lloyd Webber unveils his brand new production “LOVE NEVER DIES” at a global launch in London. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long awaited new show will have its World Premiere in London at the Adelphi Theatre on Tuesday 9 March 2010 followed by New York on Thursday 11 November and in Australia in 2011.
“LOVE NEVER DIES” continues the story of ‘The Phantom’, who has moved from his lair in the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of Coney Island, far across the Atlantic. Set 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of ‘The Phantom’ from Paris, this show is a rollercoaster ride of obsession and intrigue…in which music and memory can play cruel tricks…and ‘The Phantom’ sets out to prove that, indeed, “LOVE NEVER DIES”.
“The Phantom of the Opera”, based on the French novel by Gaston Leroux, has proved a huge success the world over and has been seen by over 100 million people, making it the single most successful entertainment entity in history. The show has been translated into 15 languages and appeared in over 25 different countries including China, Brazil, Poland and Korea. “The Phantom of the Opera” opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London on 9 October 1986 starring Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford and celebrates its 23rd London birthday tomorrow on 9 October. “The Phantom of the Opera” won a staggering 50 awards worldwide, whilst global album sales currently stand at over 40 million copies.
Ramin Karimloo will create the role of ‘The Phantom’ in “LOVE NEVER DIES”, having already played the role to great acclaim in “The Phantom of the Opera” in London. Ramin’s other stage credits include starring as ‘Enjolras’ in “Les Misérables” in the West End, ‘Chris’ in the UK tour of “Miss Saigon” and ‘Artie Green’ in the UK tour of “Sunset Boulevard”. Ramin also played ‘Raoul’ in the West End production of “The Phantom of the Opera”, as well as the role of ‘Christine’s Father’ in Joel Schumacher’s film, making him the only actor to play all three of ‘Christine’s’ loves.
Sierra Boggess will create the role of ‘Christine’ in “LOVE NEVER DIES”. Sierra made her Broadway debut creating the lead role of ‘Ariel’ in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”, receiving both Drama League and Drama Desk Award nominations and a Broadway.com Audience Award for ‘Favourite Breakthrough Performance’. She also understudied the role of ‘Cosette’ on the Broadway National Tour of “Les Misérables”. In 2007 Sierra was handpicked by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince to originate the role of ‘Christine’ in a brand new production of “Phantom - the Las Vegas Spectacular”. “LOVE NEVER DIES” marks Sierra’s West End debut.
Glenn Slater, lyricist, was nominated for the 2008 Tony and Grammy Awards for Disney’s theatrical production of “The Little Mermaid”. He is lyricist on the current London production of “Sister Act”. Bob Crowley, set and costume designer, recently worked on “Phèdre” with Helen Mirren at the National Theatre. His many award-winning productions include “The History Boys”, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”, Disney’s “Aida”, “Mary Poppins” and “The Year of Magical Thinking”. Choreographer Jerry Mitchell recently made his directorial debut with “Legally Blonde” on Broadway and also choreographed the award-winning musical productions of “La Cage aux Folles”, “Hairspray” and “The Full Monty”. Director Jack O’Brien directed the award-winning London production of “Hairspray” and won Tony awards for the Broadway productions of Tom Stoppard’s “The Coast of Utopia”, “Hairspray” and the 2004 production of “Henry IV”. His other productions include Stoppard’s “The Invention of Love”, “The Full Monty”, “Hapgood”, “Damn Yankees”, “The Little Foxes”, and operas including “Street Scene” at New York City Opera and “Il Triticco” at the Metropolitan Opera later this year.
The World Premiere of “LOVE NEVER DIES” will take place in London on 9 March 2010 at the Adelphi Theatre. Previews begin on 20 February. The show will then premiere in New York on 11 November 2010 and in Australia in 2011.
The “LOVE NEVER DIES” album was completed in September 2009 and will be released on Wednesday, 10 March 2010, the day after the World Premiere in London.
