An Interview with The Director
We sat down with the Director and Music Director of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Joe Murphy, to ask him for his vision of the show, how he and his team cast the production, and working with Woodside Musical Theatre.
Here is the first of a two-part series...
On the Show...
When did you first encounter JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and what was your reaction to it at the time?
JM: I was first exposed to JCS like many others…by finding the original concept album (brown cover) when I was 16. I was JUST getting into musical theater AND spending a lot of time at a Christian youth group along with being confirmed by the Catholic Church. It was a very pivotal time for me with two very dear parts of my life coming together.
What has your relationship with this show been over the years — has your understanding of it changed
JM: As a kid, growing up I lacked emotional connection to the stories in the bible. I really tried to connect and involve myself but it just didn’t stick until this musical came along. I found myself so much more invested in the story of the Passion. As I’ve gotten older, and as I’ve put my “director hat” on for this show, I’ve realized everyone (even our known villains) have their versions of a story and a reason for their actions (appropriate or not). Seeing the Passion through Judas’ eyes (as this musical does), it helps me to realize everyone’s lived experience is different and I feel I’m slower to judge because of it.
Why did you want to direct this show now?
JM: I’m excited to play a part in the reemergence of Woodside Musical Theatre after the COVID shutdown. In choosing a show for the fall, we went with The Wedding Singer but also discussed JCS. Wanting to keep the ball rolling, I thought we could do JCS in the spring, near Easter. We are also piggybacking off the success of the production of JCS at the Hollywood Bowl, of which Sara and I were both in attendance. I’m also excited to include so many colleagues of mine in this wonderful orchestra. We love working with my fellow Bay Area musicians so when presented with the opportunity to direct and music direct THIS show with the full orchestration, I couldn’t pass it up!
Is there a particular character, moment, or lyric in the show that resonates with you personally?
JM: I remember listening to the CD of JCS while lying in my bunk bed in high school before falling asleep and the words and characters seemed soooo real to me. And when Jesus sang Gethsemane, the story came to life and I began to cry while listening. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music and Tim Rice’s lyrics give us a chance to witness what a conversation between Jesus and his Father would look like when Jesus may have been the most vulnerable and doubtful. We often forget that Jesus was a human being with human emotions and Gethsemane brings those to life. I can’t think of anything more intimate and sincere than listening to Jesus admitting he’s scared and tired but ultimately, he will do God’s will. I get chills just thinking about this. What a moment.
What do you think people often misunderstand about JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR?
JM: Luckily, in the musical theater bubble, I don’t hear many people misunderstanding the musical too much. But I do hear concerns and complaints about the content, as it takes some liberties and is not 100% biblically accurate. To me, getting a different perspective of the Passion is not a bad thing. There were other historical figures involved in the story of Jesus and they had feelings and a take on the whole situation as well. Some believe the musical is blasphemous. I’d urge those people to come to see the show and explain how the Passion, told from another point of view, is blasphemous.
on Casting and Characters...
How did your vision influence the way you approached casting?
JM: For me, the voices and the connection needed to be there. Gender, race, ethnicity aside. Sing the heck out of the show and arise feelings and connections through your story telling me. This is what I asked of the actors at callbacks and that’s what we got in the cast you’re going to see.
Were there any casting decisions that surprised even you?
JM: Honestly, I was surprised I was so open to casting a woman as the role of Jesus. In my head, I questioned whether or not it would work for me and for the audience. But at the callbacks, Sarah not only brought her voice (trained at the SF conservatory) but she made us weep in her connection to the lyrics. She told the story of Jesus so sincerely that it took me by surprise. We were all in agreement that she’d absolutely earned the role, and we are excited for audiences to experience her performance.
How do you see the relationship between Jesus and Judas in this production? Jesus and Mary?
JM: I see Jesus as I read him in the bible. He’s got an objective and a mission to open up the gates of heaven and to preach to his followers along the way. He loves Judas and values him but Judas doesn’t trust Jesus’ actions and grows scared for his life and for the lives of those around him. Mary’s relationship with Jesus is purely devotional, not physical in any way. She loves him more unlike anyone else in her life and is devoted to him and his teachings.