When it comes to musicals, “Jesus Christ Superstar” stands out. A rock opera pioneer, it’s a story steeped in real, complex, relatable, human emotion — fear, jealousy, faith, love, betrayal, loss. And some big questions, both spiritual and political. Despite all that it conveys, there are very few words spoken — it’s a passion play that is completely sung and danced.
This week, May 28-30, it will be sung and danced (and designed, lit, costumed, and otherwise staged) by talented teens as this year’s Rising Stars Project production at The Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle. Tuition-free, Rising Stars Project is a unique opportunity for youth ages 14 to 19 to explore careers in musical theater through professional mentorships in theater design and technology, performance, artistic leadership, and arts administration, as well as a professional rehearsal process and performances.
Students from schools across Washington have brought their all to this year’s program and production. Watching them, it is hard to believe they aren’t a professional company. On stage, voices soar to incredible heights. Cast members’ grasp of the emotional stakes of the story is crystal clear — and mesmerizing. Behind the curtains, the student crew doesn’t miss a beat.
Jess Ellison, The Fifth Avenue’s associate director of education, oversees program logistics and is one of the program’s professional mentors in arts administration. They say students saw the many difficult elements of the show and didn’t flinch.
Eliana Green as Judas Iscariot and Isaiah Hyde as Jesus of Nazareth at The 5th Avenue Theatre. (Photo: Cesar Cabrera)
A Theatrical Challenge
“Jesus Christ Superstar is an ambitious, emotionally charged piece that asks students to bring incredible passion and vulnerability to the work,” Ellison says. “It’s a challenging production, and I think what makes this year so special is how willing everyone is to lean into these challenges.”
For example, Ellison points out, the music for “Jesus Christ Superstar” is very complex; the stage crew has to deal with a host of technical challenges; and the costume and wardrobe department has to confront “so many quick changes.” Not to mention the wide range of makeup looks and techniques used.
“I think what makes this year so special is how willing everyone is to lean into these challenges,” Ellison adds. “Watching these students rise to the challenge has been inspiring.”
The students say it’s the play itself that calls participants to aspire to higher heights. As the name suggests, the musical reimagines the final days of Christ’s life through the eyes of Judas, the disciple biblically accused of betraying him.
“When I found out I was going to be part of [it], I felt a mix of excitement and gratitude, but at the same time, I was fearful,” says Isaiah Hyde, who plays Jesus of Nazareth. “’Jesus Christ Superstar’ is such an iconic show, and getting the opportunity to step into the role of Jesus at The 5th Avenue Theatre feels both surreal, humbling, and terrifying, because you want to make sure the role is done with respect. It’s one of those roles that immediately makes you realize the responsibility that comes with it, not just vocally or physically, but emotionally too.”
In fact, every role in the demands vocal range precision. Hyde’s delivers powerful agony in the garden as he waits for Judas to betray him. Judas, played by Eliana Green, rocks the house with the fireworks-worthy title song.
Nathan Daymond as Caiaphas and Renda Tuffaha as Annas. (Photo: Cesar Cabrera)
The Process
The Rising Star Program runs for two to three months, mirroring one mainstage show at the theater each year. While the mainstage production of Jesus Christ Superstar was underway and had its run earlier in May, students shadowed their mentors to begin skill-building: “Our shadowing happens while the mainstage production is running and allows students to go backstage during performances to see how the show is run from backstage,” Ellison explains. “It provides students with an additional touchpoint to the mainstage production and gives them a really unique opportunity, while also preparing them for what they’ll do during the show.’
The set was left onstage for the student show after the professional production closed. And the Rising Stars costume, wardrobe, hair, and makeup teams began resizing costumes and wigs to fit students. Students rehearsed the show over many weeks.
Ellison works hard to ensure that every student has their moment in the spotlight. Because understudies aren’t guaranteed a performance on our stage, they perform the full show for invited family members.
“The showcase is such a great moment to let them shine and let their families see how much work they’ve been putting into the program,” Ellison says.
Isaiah Hyde as Jesus. (Photo: Cesar Cabrera)
The Students
Autumn Holt is the drummer for the production (in case you’ve never seen the show, rock opera means pulsating rock music). Holt sats she was inspired to apply to the Rising Star because it offered the chance to meet working artists, including bassist Christ Jones. And, she learned a lot from Music Director and mentor Aimee Hong.
“Throughout this show, if I ever had a question, Aimee would always find the answer,” Holt says. “There hasn’t been a moment I felt like I couldn’t talk to her. She has truly made this show amazing.”
Like the actors, Holt understands her role: “I am the drummer. To me, this means from the first note I play to the last, I am keeping the time for everyone. Although most of this show is on click, a metronome that follows the song, the feel and energy come from the drummer. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to play with this orchestra pit.”
Ava McCallum, who plays Mary Magdalene, was so excited when she learned she’d been accepted to Rising Stars she says she “may have thrown my phone across the room and shrieked.” She’d auditioned five times for other 5th Avenue Theater productions. McCallum was mentored by Molly Sides, who played Mary in the professional production, and is also the lead singer of the Seattle rock band Thunderpussy.
“It’s been so cool getting to work with her and be inspired by her,” McCallum says. She has such a beautiful voice and such a great interpretation of the character, which has been so amazing to watch. As a rock/folk singer, she really inspires me vocally in a way I didn’t anticipate. She’s like Stevie Nicks and Florence and the Machine mixed together, no one does it like her.”
The Staging
This preview won’t give the unique “near future” setting and costuming of this production — it’d be like giving away the end of a movie. Suffice it to say that it is aimed at young people. It is powerful, a cathedral in its presence, with lighting and colors reflecting the distance between earth and heaven, sacrifice and guilt, confusion and decision.
“One of the things we aligned on very early was that it would be a contemporary setting. We didn’t want to set it in, sort of, “biblical times,” said Bill Berry, Executive & Artistic Director at The 5th and director of the mainstage show, in the program notes. “Why did they write this story with rock music? Because they wanted, I think, for it to feel contemporary and feel like ‘now.’ The show compels us to think about what it would be like to have Jesus walking amongst us today.”
The show parallels what is happening in the world in the lives of young people today.
“Judas and Jesus, both working towards the same goal, but having different ideas about what it’s going to take to get there,” said Berry. “That conflict drives the story, and I think that we live in a world that is similarly full of conflicts. It also discusses a country that has been taken over by another. There’s an existing power structure that Jesus, the apostles, and disciples are fighting against. Jesus is a revolutionary who wants change. I think we live in a world where we see that happening all the time. I think the story still really resonates in a lot of different ways.”
Katie J. Newbury, director-choreographer mentor, agrees: “Young people are highly intelligent, and they often aren’t seen that way. But when they see these things like power dynamics that they recognize on stage, they know it, and they can feel it. And so to be a part of that, I think, draws them in so much more. Young audiences are hungry for a return to seeing people as people, seeing each other’s humanity.”
Something gained
All three students say that Rising Stars and the production have pushed them musically and emotionally.
“It’s pushed me to trust myself more,” Hyde says. “Not just in my choices and to others around me, but to be more vulnerable, more honest, and more intentional with every movement I make. You can’t really fake your way through a role like this, so preparing has meant doing a lot of emotional work just as much as vocal or physical work.”
At the same time, all three agree that what they’ve most gained from the program is connection.
“My favorite part has honestly been the people,” Hyde says. Being surrounded by artists who care this much and who are all working toward the same goal is really special,” Hyde says. “Our whole goal was to tell a story that matters, but to also be respectful and as truthful as we can be. There’s an energy in the room that pushes everyone to do their best work, and that’s been really inspiring.”
A Two-Way Gift
This year, 71 students from 41 schools are involved in the production, including 10 Seattle middle and high schools, and 22 from schools in broader King County.
Ellison says that for those students and their mentors, the giving and receiving are mutual.
“Students bring such fresh perspective and energy to everything that they do, that this program can really just re-ignite your ‘why,’” Ellison says of what mentors take from the program. “The students teach us, the adults and the mentors, so much; they remind us to be flexible, to stay curious, and they remind us to never stop asking how we can learn and grow.”
And for the students?
“This program builds so much leadership and provides incredible opportunities for self-advocacy and growth,” Ellison says. “This is a student-first program, and so we empower students to advocate for what they need, encourage them to lean into curiosity, and we ask them to challenge themselves.
“With this age group, a lot of those asks can feel intimidating, but they embrace the challenge and leave this program with leadership and advocacy skills that they can carry with them to their next chapters. When I was 14 to 19, I would not have been able to show up to a professional environment and engage in work like this. And so to see all of these students, with such busy lives, show up and show out has been so incredible.”
If You Go:
- What: Rising Stars Program “Jesus Christ Superstar”; www.5thavenue.org
- Age restrictions: Best for ages 10 and above. Children under 4, including babes in arms, will not be admitted. This show contains references to death, prop guns onstage, a sound effect of a fired gun, scenes of violence, including, but not limited to, a depiction of suicide and a depiction of whipping, as well as other adult themes and language. This musical also explores themes of faith and religion. Children under 4, including babes in arms, will not be admitted. Sensory Guides are available after the first performance here.
- Dates:
- Thursday, May 28 at 10:30 a.m. Registration required. Educators, schools, and senior groups. Registration is required here for educators and school groups. Registration required here for senior groups
- Friday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 30 at 1:30 p.m. (American Sign Language Interpreted Performance, Open Caption Performance, Audio Described Performance). Post-show talkback with students.
- Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m.
- Location: The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 5th Ave, Seattle.
- Tickets: Adults, $35; students, $30. Get Tickets or call (206) 625-1900 Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. NOTE: The theater is participating in TeenTix for this show. Additionally the theater wants all to be able to experience live theatre: reach out to the guest services department to explain significant barriers that don’t allow them to access the show.
