Photograph by Mark Kocina
West Valley College Summer Stock students rehearse a dance number for their upcoming production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar.'
Biblical musical comes to West Valley
By Shari Kaplan
When Jesus Christ walked the earth, he and his followers probably never dreamed their lives, as described in the Bible, would be studied, examined, revered and debated by seasoned scholars and religious readers for more than two millennia. No doubt that even further from their minds was the image of actors retelling their Biblical story by way of singing, dancing and rock music.
That's because Jesus Christ Superstar did not premiere until some 1,971 years later. Conceived by Tim O'Horgan, with music and lyrics by the famed Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, respectively, the rock opera overcame opposition from various religious groups to become one of the biggest box office hits of the 1970s. It has now come to Saratoga, where it will be performed July 26-29 in the theater at West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave.
"It's an old, old story told with new music," says Jeff Bengford, a longtime director in the local theater scene who teaches drama at West Valley College and drama and English at Westmont High School. The musical is the highlight of Summer Stock, the name of a course WVC has offered for the past few years.
The program, Bengford says, encourages theatrical-minded teenagers in the South Bay to get involved in acting and introduces them to the college's theater arts department. Whether participants are teens, college students or senior citizens, they all earn college credit for their work in Summer Stock. Some do it for that reason, Bengford says, but many do it simply for fun or to gain experience in community theater.
"It was time to do something hip and modern in Summer Stock. I wanted to do something high schools don't usually do, so I started looking through my catalogs, and this jumped out at me," says Bengford, adding that the musical also calls for around 45 cast members--larger that many productions.
When casting for the show, Bengford says the only parts he decided had to be gender-specific were those of Jesus and Mary Magdalene; he remained open-minded on the others. Consequently, the college's production of Jesus Christ Superstar may be the only one to cast a young woman as the traitorous apostle Judas Iscariot and women as Annas the priest and four of the apostles.
"You can't go into a casting with preconceived ideas, because if you don't get exactly who you want, you're in trouble," he says. "We tried not to hold anybody back from anything."
Among the local talent appearing in this production are Los Gatans Jason Jurman as Jesus, Karyn Serface as Philip the Apostle and Katie Worley as Mary Magdalene; Monte Sereno residents Shawna Downs as Sarah (one of Mary's women) and Ali Hasha as an ensemble member; and Saratogans Kelley Fuller as Thaddaeus the Apostle and Ashley Cauble in the ensemble.
Performances are July 26 and 27 at 8 p.m., July 28 at 2 and 8 p.m., and July 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. All seats are general admission. Call 408.741.2058 for directions and ticket prices.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
