Jesus Christ, Superstar

This June, the Music Museum will unveil what is probably its biggest production with a short (five-show) run: Jesus Christ, Superstar, bannered by a stellar cast of Pinoy rock and alternative musicians.

"The musicians have commitments with their own bands, so we weren't able to get more than five dates from them," says Music Museum Group, Inc.'s Precy Florentino who considers it a major feat to have gathered for this production Noel Cabangon (Jesus Christ), Rico Blanco of Rivermaya (Judas), Cynthia Alexander of Joey Ayala and Bagong Lumad (Magdalene), Jett Pangan of the Dawn (Pontius Pilate), Papadom Gamboa of Tropical Depression (Herod), Karl Roy of P. O. T. (Simon Zealot), Minco Fabregas of Pinwheel as Caiaphas, and Julien Mendoza of Dulaang Talyer and Darryl Shy, Peter and Annas respectively.

Backing them up musically are some outstanding rock musicians as well including Jess Nicolas of Itchy Worms and Rene Tengasantos of Tropical Depression, musical director is Vincent de Jesus of PETA.

The presence of Pinoy alternative and rock singers and musicians in the cast makes this production of the world-famous rock opera different. In fact, the press is already dubbing this the "rock production" of Jesus Christ, Superstar in comparison with the recently-mounted production of the same opera, mainly because of its cast which Precy considers "a major feat" to have assembled.

The other thing that makes this production of Jesus Christ, Superstar different is that it has an environmental twist. For the first time, Jesus Christ will be portrayed as a Pinoy (yes, Pinoy!) fisherman with a banca for an "office"and a big businessman (instead of Roman soldiers) who pollute the Pasig as his tormentors, shouting, "Crucify Him!"

Because of this, the Music Museum Group, Inc. and principal sponsor Ecowood (the eco-friendly plywood that does not use or cut trees from our forests, making it the ideal sponsor for this "environmental" production) are confident they will be able to bring in a lot of people. After all, the environment is a timeless theme with universal appeal, and the presence of today's leading rock and alternative musicians should draw in the younger set. Theater-lovers and Broadway fans, should warm to this three decade-old rock opera first released in October 1970 amidst much controversy. This "environmental" version with Jesus Christ as Pinoy fisherman will probably raise a few eyebrows as well.

"We wanted the young people to see Jesus Christ, Superstar for what it is, a revolutionary play that makes people question a lot of things," says PETA veteran Soxie Topacio, who directs this production that will go onstage at the Music Museum on June 2,3,9,10 and 16.

"It's still the same production, with the same songs (like I Don't Know How to Love Him, Could We Start Again, Please? and the title theme, Jesus Christ, Superstar). We put in some production design to fit the environmental theme."

The production design team is headed by Egai Fernandez, a prominent visual and mural artist with stage designs for various theater productions to his credit. Executive producer is the 70s Bistro which helped out in getting the cast of first-rate rock and alternative musicians, most of whom play regularly at the place.

Soxie reveals that the license they acquired from Two Knights Rights Ltd., London gives them full permission to use the libretto and songs of the original Jesus Christ, Superstar that premiered on the London stage in 1970; but they have leeway to improvise and interpret as they see fit.

The Music Museum, which will be the venue of the production for five nights, played a major part in bringing it to the stage. I've always wanted to have this (Jesus Christ, Superstar) here," says Precy.

Beneficiary of the show is the Sagip-Pasig Movement, a non-profit coalition of more than 200 organizations covering 150 barangays in Metro Manila, dedicated to the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. Precy, who recently joined the ranks of the movement's concerts, hopes that the musical will at least make people think about what they're doing-or not doing-to the environment.