Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has today announced completed casting for the return of their Olivier Award-winning production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seminal rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which plays again at the theatre from 11 August in an extended run through to 23 September 2017.
Already announced are Declan Bennett, Olivier Award nominee Tyrone Huntley, David Thaxton and Peter Caulfield, who reprise their roles of Jesus, Judas, Pilate and Herod from the 2016 production, which claimed the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.
Maimuna Memon (previous credits including Lazarus, King’s Cross Theatre) takes the role of Mary, with Phillip Browne (Anything Goes, West End) as Caiaphas and Tim Newman (Memphis, West End) as Simon Zealotes. Sean Kingsley (Jersey Boys, UK tour) and Phil King (To Kill A Mockingbird, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) will reprise their 2016 performances as Annas and Peter respectively.
Previous cast members returning to the production are Josh Dever, Rhys Whitfield, Charlotte Riby and Sinead Long. They are joined by Mark Dugdale, Ivan De Freitas, Stevie Hutchinson, Javar Parker, Nuno Queimado, Cleve September, Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, Kirstie Skivington, Christopher Tendai, Tara Young, and Dale White. The Soul Girls are played by Kayleigh McKnight, Lauran Rae and Nicholle Cherrie.
With direction by Timothy Sheader, design by Tom Scutt, choreography by Drew McOnie, musical supervision by Tom Deering, lighting design by Lee Curran and sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, Jesus Christ Superstar was a sell-out in 2016 and, in addition to the Olivier Award win, also received a further five Olivier nominations, for Best Theatre Choreography, Best Lighting, Best Sound, Outstanding Achievement in Music, and Best Actor in a Musical (for Tyrone Huntley).
The 2017 Open Air Theatre season also includes On The Town, (until 1 July) directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie. This is followed by Dickens Uncovered, a season celebrating the greatest storyteller of London life, Charles Dickens. Artistic Director Timothy Sheader directs A Tale Of Two Cities (7 July – 5 August), a new play by Matthew Dunster adapted from the original Dickens novel and, developing their programme of work made especially for families, Caroline Byrne directs a new play version of Oliver Twist Created For Everyone Aged Six And Over adapted by Anya Reiss (17 July – 5 August).