IN THE SPOTLIGHT Humphreys Foundation Consistent in Support The Humphreys Foundation of Liberty, Texas has been a consistent bedrock of support for Theatre Under The Stars since helping underwrite TUTS' second park musical in 1969. That support has continued through 39 successive free musicals at Miller Outdoor Theatre and now extends into the Wortham Center for Jesus Christ Superstar. Established principally for the purpose of promoting the arts in Texas, the foundation was developed through the foresight and generosity of its benefactor, Geraldine Davis Humphreys. Jesus of Nazareth--Eric Kunze* His Disciples Judas Iscariot--Ray Walker* Peter --Ron Lucas* John --Christopher Zelno* James --Joel Newsome* Simon Zealotes--Jeffrey Polk* Andrew --James Whittington* Phillip--Robert M. Armitage* Bartholomew --Greg Roderick* James, the Lesser--Jayme McDaniel* Thomas--Marc Ellis Holland* Matthew--Seth Hoff* Jude --Matthew Thibedeau* Mary Magdalene--Christina Saffran Ashford* The High Priests Caiaphas--Erik Stein* Annas--Peter Marinos* Priest 1--Mathew Kreger* Priest 2 --Richard Carlson* Pontius Pilate--Neal Benari* King Herod--Ray Friedeck* The Women of Bethany and Jerusalem Temple Maiden/ Accuser --Janet Dunn* Herodius--Ruth Bates Pilate’s Wife--Regina Dowling Mariam --Lizzie Lunine* Martha--Marybelle Chaney* Salome--Therese Friedemann* Apostle Woman--Kristina D. Burgess Roman Guards: Guard 1--James Alba* Guard 2--Rob Marrone* Guard 3--Brad Sharp* Guard 4--Greg Daniels* Soul Girls--Therese Friedemann*, Lizzie Lunine*, Kristina D. Burgess* Soul Boys--Greg Roderick*, Rob Marrone*, Robert M. Armitage*, Marc Ellis Holland*, Brad Sharp* Children and Young Adults of Bethany and Jerusalem+:--Crystal Cowart, Morgan Dahse, Cristina Duke, Ashley Gass, Allison Gillingham, Imani Harris, Christopher Havner, Monique Lee, Aaron Mark, Jenna Mark, Kaitlyn Rowney, Charles Swan Offstage Singers--Josh B. Flynn, James C. Holloway, Sasha Shirokov, Deborah Spencer Production Stage Manager--Roger Allan Raby* Stage Manager--Terry Cranshaw* *Members of Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. +Students of TUTS Humphreys School of Musical Theatre ERIC KUNZE (Jesus of Nazareth), a Southern California native, has had the rare pleasure of starring on Broadway in leading roles for the better part of his professional career. He made his debut as Marius in Les Miserables opposite Lea Solonga and went on to star as Chris in Miss Saigon (also on the National Tour) and then as Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees with Jerry Lewis. Off-Broadway, he was seen as Chester in Leopard’s Leap directed by Michael Rupert and played leading roles in the International Tours of The Fantasticks, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. He has received rave reviews for the role of Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat (The Muny, Kansas City Starlight, Sacramento Music Circus and San Diego CLO, earning him a San Diego Critic’s Circle Award). Other regional credits include Billy Lawler in 42nd Street, Charlie in Brigadoon, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (Muny, Sacramento Music Circus), The Wolf/ Prince in Into The Woods (Sacramento), the title role in Pippin (Tour) and Lt. Cable in South Pacific (Sacramento). RAY WALKER (Judas Iscariot) is happy to return to Houston where he last appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Music of the Night. Ray made his Broadway debut as Marius in Les Miserables as well as appearing as Doody in the recent revival of Grease. Other NY and touring credits include Whistle Down The Wind, Joseph, Falsettos and many productions of Jesus Christ Superstar. Ray also appeared at the London Palladium and throughout North America in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber with Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. He has toured the U.S. with Marvin Hamlisch and sung with many orchestras throughout the world, including the Bolshoi Symphony in Moscow. CHRISTINA SAFFRAN ASHFORD (Mary Magdalene). Broadway: Singin’ in the Rain (Kathy Seldon), A Chorus Line (Maggie), Sophisticated Ladies (Hot Note), Drood (Rosa Bud/Edwin Drood), The Music Man (Zaneeta) and Woman of the Year. Concerts: lead vocalist to Herbie Hancock and the Super Sounds (Japan), Sophisticated Ladies with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (U.S., Japan, Paris), A Evening of Pops (University of San Diego and Powell Symphony Hall with Richard Haymen, Conductor). Recent recordings include Joan of Arc (Joan), Singin’ in the Rain (Kathy Seldon), Masada (Hannah), Pocahontas II, Aladdin, Cinderella, Mulan, Gepetto, Magic Flute (animated/voice of Queen of the Night), Lady and the Tramp II and A Bug’s Life. Television: "Pacific Palisades," "General Hospital" and "Another World." Regional: My Fair Lady (Eliza), Show Boat (Magnolia), The Sound of Music (Maria), Kopit/Yeston’s Phantom (Christine), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Milly), Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary), A Chorus Line (Val), Company (April), Me and My Girl (Lady Jacqueline), Kiss Me, Kate (Bianca), No, No, Nanette (Nanette), Grease (Sandy), Sally (Sally), Damn Yankees (Lola) and L.A.’s Reprise series of The Pajama Game (Gladys). Christina resides in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Matthew N. Ashford, and daughers Grace, 7, and Emma, 23 months. NEAL BENARI (Pontius Pilate) was seen on Broadway as King Marchand in Victor/Victoria opposite Julie Andrews. He also toured the country starring as Captain Von Trapp opposite Marie Osmond in The Sound of Music, which brought him to TUTS’ Music Hall stage in 1994. Other Broadway credits include Chess, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat, Roza, The First and The Merchant of Venice with Dustin Hoffman. National Tours: Les Miserables, On Your Toes and Annie. Regional: Pharoah/Elaborate Lives: Legend of Aida (Alliance Theatre), Pangloss & Voltaire/Candide (Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh), Stone/City of Angels (San Jose). TV: The Cosby Mysteries, HBO’s Emmy-nominated And the Band Played On and Law and Order. Film: Sea of Love with Al Pacino. Neal co-stars in life with his wife, Michelle, and their proudest production, their daughter Hannah. ERIK STEIN (Caiaphas), originally from California, played Stephens in the Off-Broadway production of Captains Courageous at the Manhattan Theatre Club and one of the charity men in A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. He has worked for Goodspeed Opera House as Max in The Pajama Game and the Carpenter in Gotham! Erik just completed playing Murphy in the workshop of the new musical The Molly McGuires. Other credits include Kismet at North Shore Music Theatre, The Fantasticks (El Gallo), Peter Pan (Hook), Lend Me a Tenor (Max), and Frankenstein (The Creature). His favorite role is that of husband to wife Jax. He is glad to be here. RAY FRIEDECK (King Herod). Broadway/ Off-Broadway: Ragtime (J.P. Morgan), King David (Inaugural Production at Disney’s New Amsterdam), A Christmas Carol (Mr. Fezziwig/Madison Square Garden with Tony Randall, Roddy McDowell, Hal Linden, Ben Vereen), Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly. National tours: The Phantom of the Opera (Ubaldo Piangi/ directed by Harold Prince), Big River (Judge Thatcher/Silas Phelps). Regional: Sweeney Todd (Beadle Bamford/St. Louis Rep), Oliver! (Mr. Bumble/Sacramento Music Circus), The Sound of Music (Max), Man of La Mancha (Sancho), Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely Johnson), Brigadoon (Mr. Lundie), Big Giant Pants (Chicago’s Second City Etc...). Ray is making his TUTS debut in Jesus Christ Superstar, a show he has wanted to do since his high school swing choir performed a medley of the show’s hit songs!! Ray was born and raised north of the Cheddar Curtain (Wisconsin). PETER MARINOS (Annas) - Broadway: Mary Sunshine/Fosse’s Chicago, Magaldi/Evita, Marinakos/Zorba, Fakir/The Secret Garden; National Tour: Evita, Zorba and Gus/Cats; Regional: Emcee/Cabaret, Father/Violet, King of Siam/The King and I. Thanks to old friend Jamie Rocco for making this TUTS debut so exciting. Peter dedicates this performance to Houston’s own Rick and Tim and to his life partner, John. RON LUCAS (Peter) has just returned from Stuttgart, Germany, where he performed the role of John in Miss Saigon. Previously seen in Jesus Christ Superstar as Judas, Ron has been seen in Five Guys Named Moe, film videos and soap operas, and he tours in his one man show, The Nat King Cole Songbook. Regional credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Elegance of Ellington, Hair, Godspell and Billy Eckstein in Mr. B. Changed the Key. Ron also sings with the vocal quartet All Four Fun, writes songs and jingles for Dupont Corporation. He narrates and sings educational tapes for school children. JEFFREY POLK (Simon Zealotes). Shows include Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Australia, Japan, 1st National Tour), Five Guys Named Moe (Ovation Award - NY, LA, 1st National Tour), The Music Man/Marcellus (West Coast Tour), Guys and Dolls/Benny Southstreet, Hello,Dolly!/Barnaby, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat/Judah, Jesus Christ Superstar/Simon, My One and Only (more than 10 productions), E.F.X./u.s. Michael Crawford (Las Vegas). Also TV and commercials. JAMES ALBA (Guard 1). Superstar is Jim’s third show for TUTS. He most recently appeared in TUTS’ Guys and Dolls and last summer in Larry Gatlin’s Texas Flyer. Shows at the Alley Theatre include Love! Valor! Compassion! and A Christmas Carol; at Houston Grand Opera, A Little Night Music, The Flying Dutchman, Carousel, Billy Budd, Arabella, The Mikado and The Tales of Hoffman. Jim’s done Reno; Jim’s done Vegas; Jim’s done Galveston; Jim’s done moved to New York. About time. Thanks for love and support from great friends and a great family. ROBERT M. ARMITAGE (Phillip, Soul Boy) is happy to return to TUTS, where he recently performed in Guys and Dolls. On Broadway, he was a member of the company of Victor/Victoria at the Marquis Theatre. He has shared the stage with many great performers like Julie Andrews, Liza Minelli and Chita Rivera. Thanks to his family and friends. RUTH BATES (Herodius) has performed with TUTS in Follies, Me and My Girl, Crazy for You, two productions of 42nd Street, Makin’ Whoopee!, Oliver!, Gigi, Texas Flyer, Zorro and Guys and Dolls. Elsewhere, she’s performed in Gypsy, toured nationally and internationally with various dance companies and currently performs with Synapse, a non-profit organization serving the community through modern dance. For you, Allis. KRISTINA D. BURGESS (Apostle Woman, Soul Girl) is currently a member of the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company as well as an instructor. She has toured nationally with Sesame Street Live and performed with Houston Grand Opera. Other plays include Sweet Charity, The Robber Bridegroom and Sunday in the Park with George, and she recently appeared as a guest artist with LaJaz Dance Co. Kristina is pleased to be making her debut with Theatre Under The Stars and would like to thank her friends and family for their love and keeping her out of the asylum. RICHARD CARLSON (Priest 2) served last summer as Associate Director to Frank Young on the World Premiere of Zorro, The Musical. Broadway: The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (Workshop); Off-Broadway: Rainbow Dancing (Actor’s Studio); National Company: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Regional favorites/ TUTS: Chaplin (standby for Anthony Newley in title role), Little Mary Sunshine (Billy); Seattle’s 5th Avenue: Me and My Girl (with Jane Connell), Here’s Love (with Marcia Mitzman); Los Angeles: The Nerd (title role) with Sandahl Bergman and Tony Dow. Training: Stella Adler, Marietta Marich, Jose Quintéro. MARYBELLE CHANEY (Martha, Dance Captain) most recently performed Agatha in TUTS’ Guys and Dolls and last summer was Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain for the World Premiere of Zorro, The Musical. Among her favorite TUTS roles Doatsey Mae (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Rosalia (West Side Story), Bebe (A Chorus Line), Fruma-Sarah (Fiddler on the Roof), Tiger Lily (Peter Pan), Mrs. Dilber (Scrooge) and Nancy (The Boy Friend/ Divorce Me Darling!) She has toured nationally in Evita and with Ausha Bosley and now teaches at University of Houston. CRYSTAL COWART (Young Ensemble) was just accepted as a freshman at High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Now in her sixth season and a student teacher with the TUTS Humphreys School, her favorite show credits include ...Charlie Brown, Joseph... Dreamcoat, Oliver! and The Music Man. MORGAN DAHSE (Young Ensemble) is entering her first year at Saint Agnes Academy. She is completing her second year as a Professional School student of HSMT and performs with TUTS ON TOUR. She has previously been seen at TUTS in Oliver!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. GREGORY DANIELS (Guard 4) is thrilled to be back at TUTS where he as been seen in Makin’ Whoopee!, Oliver!, Gigi and Texas Flyer. He has just recently completed Animal Crackers at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Other credits include national tours of Funny Girl with Deborah Gibson, Anything Goes with Mitzi Gaynor, The Radio City Spectacular with Susan Anton and the European tours of A Chorus Line and West Side Story. He has also been seen in such shows as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Tommy and The Great Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York. Thanks, Michael, for always being there. And a big thank you to TGC! REGINA DOWLING (Pilate’s Wife) comes to us from Los Angeles, CA. She is originally from Oklahoma City, OK. Her favorite regional roles include Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Betty Blake in The Will Rogers Follies, Amalia in She Loves Me, Grace in Annie, Sandy in Grease and Frankie in On Your Toes. She is thrilled to be making her TUTS debut with Jesus Christ Superstar. CRISTINA DUKE (Young Ensemble) is an 8th grade honor student at St. Michael. Theatre: Joseph..., Gigi, Oliver!, Phantom, The Music Man, Singin’ in the Rain, Gypsy, The Wizard of Oz and ...Charlie Brown. Cristina also works in film and television. JANET DUNN (Temple Maiden/ Accuser) is thrilled to be making her debut at TUTS! Other credits include Casa Mañana, North Shore Music Theatre and Westchester Broadway Theatre. Thanks to God for all the blessing and to friends and family for all the love and support. Also- thanks, Jamie! For you, Grandpa. Isaiah 40:31. JOSH B. FLYNN (Offstage Singer) is currently singing with Houston Grand Opera chorus and has traveled the country with Joint Heirs with Jesus Gospel Quartet. He is happy to be making his TUTS debut. THERESE FRIEDEMANN (Salome, Soul Girl) is thrilled to be working with Jamie Rocco again in his glorious adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar. Other credits include the 1st National Tour of Crazy for You, Strike Up the Band at Goodspeed Opera House, Singin’ in the Rain at Paper Mill Playhouse and ...Forum at North Shore Music Theatre. ASHLEY GAAS (Young Ensemble) is a sophomore at High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She has been performing since the age of three in such shows as Hello, Dolly! and Oliver! She is presently studying with TUTS’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. ALLISON GILLINGHAM (Young Ensemble) is a seven-year-old student at Eiland Elementary. She has been a student at TUTS’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre for three years. She is active in her church and enjoys reading and T-ball. IMANI HARRIS (Young Ensemble), age 10, loves every aspect of entertainment, singing, dancing, acting and modeling. Imani was featured in the Foley’s Fall ‘98 catalog. Now in her second year with TUTS’ Humphreys School, she is a member of TUTS ON TOUR. She has been recognized by Duke University’s Talent Identification Program for academic excellence. CHRISTOPHER HAVNER (Young Ensemble) marks his ninth TUTS production since Here’s Love in 1992. He last appeared as Sir Tom in Camelot with Robert Goulet. Chris has also performed for Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet, and he aspires to play Mr. Mistoffelees in Cats. .JAMES C. HOLLOWAY (Offstage Singer) has performed in opera, recital and oratorio in the U.S. and abroad. Recent highlights: tenor soloist, Mozart’s Requiem/Liverpool Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah/ Manchester Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Raymond Leppard; Haydn’s The Creation/Rishon-Le Zion Orchestra under Maestro Phillipe Entremont; title role, Loden’s King David (world premiere)/ New Israeli Opera -Tel Aviv; summer workshops at Israeli Opera and Israeli Vocal Arts Institute. Affiliated with Houston Grand Opera since 1983. SETH HOFF (Matthew) returns to TUTS, where he also appeared in Guys and Dolls and Singin’ in the Rain. A Madison, WI, native based in Chicago, he has also worked at the August Opera, North Shore Music Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, 5th Avenue Musical Theatre and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. MARC ELLIS HOLLAND (Thomas, Soul Boy) made his Theatre Under The Stars debut this season at the Arena Theatre in Guys and Dolls. Credits include Cats (Broadway, Tour IV and Vienna), The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, Song and Dance, La Cage aux Folles and West Side Story, to name a few summer stock shows. He would like to thank all the angels and fairies in his life. I love you, Steve. MATTHEW KREGER (Priest 1), a native of Topeka, KS, is happy to be performing with TUTS for a second season. He was last seen in Camelot with Robert Goulet and last season’s Zorro. Matthew is a cross-over performer doing both opera and musical theatre with many credits to his name in both fields. He would like to thank God, his family and Rebecca for their continued support throughout his career. MONIQUE LEE (Young Ensemble), an 11-year-old student at Sugar Land Middle School, previously has appeared on stage in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat and A Christmas Carol. A student of TUTS’ Humphreys School and a soloist at Opera Camp, she has performed in three commercials just since February. She thanks God for her talents. LIZZIE LUNINE (Mariam, Soul Girl) has appeared for Theatre Under The Stars as a Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls, as a Pirate wench in Zorro, The Musical, in Camelot with Robert Goulet, as a Parisian in Gigi, a flower vendor in Oliver!, Phyllis in 42nd Street, Louise in Crazy for You and Fleure in Phantom. After two European tours of Evita, the National tour of Mame and Mame with Juliet Prowse in Lake Tahoe, Lizzie is thrilled to be working with TUTS and staying close to home with twins Molly and Zachary. AARON MARK (Young Ensemble) has performed in six TUTS shows including Phantom and Oliver! He recently appeared in Alley Theatre’s A Christmas Carol and in Main Street Theatre’s Nine (as Little Guido). A seventh grader, Aaron also performs with TUTS ON TOUR. JENNA MARK (Young Ensemble) is a fourth grader at River Oaks Elementary. She has appeared in TUTS productions of Oliver! and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Jenna also performs with TUTS ON TOUR. ROB MARRONE (Guard 2, Soul Boy) has appeared with Irene Cara and Ted Neeley in the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. Also, in the tour of Man of La Mancha with Robert Goulet. He performed in several Off-Broadway shows and on every episode of last year’s CBS-TV show Central Park West. Rob just finished a run of his solo show, Laughing Matters. JAYME McDANIEL (James, the Lesser) is pleased to make his debut at TUTS. Superstar marks Jayme’s return to the stage after recently beginning his Directing and Choreographing careers. On stage he’s appeared in Hello, Dolly! (with Carol Channing), Big River (Paper Mill), Chicago, The Boy Friend, Crazy for You, The Will Rogers Follies, The Most Happy Fella and a lot more. This one’s for my family. JOEL NEWSOME (James) was last seen Off-Broadway in the Jewish Repertory’s production of Kuni-Leml. He spent last summer in San Francisco in the award-winning Dames at Sea. He has also been seen productions at Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, North Carolina Theatre, Westchester Broadway and The Caldwell Theatre. This is Joel’s fourth production of Superstar with director Jamie Rocco. KAITLYN ROWNEY (Young Ensemble) is a 7th grade student at Spring ISD’s Twin Creeks Middle School. A second-year Humphreys School student, her TUTS credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat, Gigi, Oliver!, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and TUTS ON TOUR. GREG RODERICK (Bartholomew, Soul Boy) is a resident of NYC. Recent credits include Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest and Adam in Children of Eden, both at Florida’s Seaside Music Theater, in which he won a regional best actor award for his role in Children of Eden. Other credits include a Varése Sarabande CD recording of Cinderella, Cousin Kevin in Tommy and tours around the U.S., Europe and Brazil. BRAD SHARP (Guard 3, Soul Boy), a Virginian now residing in NYC, studied Music Industry at James Madison University. He has performed in several aspects of entertainment. Some include: Damn Yankees (Joe Hardy), West Side Story (Tony), shows at Walt Disney World (Pocahontas, Hoop Dee Doo Revue, Beauty and the Beast), Universal Studios (Graveyard Revue), Royal Caribbean Cruises, King’s Dominion, numerous industrials, TV/ 87th & Broadway (pilot), Inside Out (Disney Channel). Brad is now focusing on recording and hopes to release a solo album early next year. All praise to J.C. All my love to Keesha. DEBORAH SPENCER (Offstage Singer) performed in the West Coast premiere of Sunday in the Park with Geroge, the title role in The Merry Widow and leading and supporting roles in many musicals in Los Angeles. Since moving back to Houston she has sung three seasons with Houston Grand Opera chorus. Deborah is very happy to be back at Theatre Under The Stars. CHARLES SWAN (Young Ensemble) makes his debut performance with TUTS in Jesus Christ Superstar. Other theatre credits include Anything Goes, Damn Yankees, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Oliver!, The Boy Friend, Hello, Dolly! and The Pajama Game. MATTHEW THIBEDEAU (Jude) is pleased to return to Houston after playing Wanenis in Makin’ Whoopie! in ‘97. Matthew lives in NYC, where he just returned from playing Danny Zuko in the South American tour of Grease. Favorite performances include Sunset Boulevard, Godspell, West Side Story, Hercules, Stars in Your Eyes, Camilla and singing at Radio City and The Hollywood Bowl. God bless family and everyone. JAMES R. WHITTINGTON (Andrew) is excited to be a part of Theatre Under The Stars’ production of Jesus Christ Superstar. This marks James’ third production of Superstar. He has performed as Purse, Electra and Caboose in the European production of Starlight Express. He made his movie debut in the NBC mini-series The Temptations. Some of James’ favorite credits include Paul in A Chorus Line, Eddie in Damn Yankees and roles in Evita and Dreamgirls. He thanks God for the many blessings and his mother for her continuous love and support. CHRISTOPHER ZELNO (John) made his Broadway debut as Dazzle in the Tony-nominated Starmites. His regional work includes Goodspeed Opera, La Jolla Playhouse and the St. Louis Muny. Television credits include "The Rosie O’Donnell Show," "Today" and "The 1989 Tony Awards." Chris is a proud and grateful member of the Broadway Gospel Choir. Love and best wishes to Phil. ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (Music), born in 1948, is also the composer of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat, the film scores of Gumshoe and The Odessa File, Evita, Variations and Tell Me on a Sunday (combined as Song & Dance), Cats, Starlight Express, Requiem (a setting of the Latin Requiem Mass), The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, By Jeeves (an acclaimed reworking of his earlier Jeeves) and his new musical Whistle Down The Wind. His awards include six Tonys, four Drama Desk Awards, three Grammys (including that for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for Requiem in 1986) and five Laurence Olivier Awards. He is the first recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ Triple Play Award. In 1997 he and Sir Tim Rice were awarded the Golden Globe for Best Original Song for the Evita movie soundtrack. In 1982 he became the first person to have three musicals running in New York and three in London, an achievement repeated throughout the 80's and 90's. In 1996 the London production of Cats became the longest running musical in West End and Broadway theatre history. Andrew Lloyd Webber, through The Really Useful Group, produces not only his own, but other writers’ works, including Shirley Valentine, Lend Me a Tenor and La Bête. In 1988 he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Music, and in 1992, a knighthood for services to the arts. He was inducted into the American Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and given the Praemium Imperiale Award for Music in 1995. In 1996 he received the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre. In January 1997 he was elevated to the peerage as Lord Lloyd Webber of Sydmonton. TIM RICE (Lyrics) was born in 1944 in Buckinghamshire. He was educated at Lancing College and briefly at the Sorbonne, Paris. His first song to be published and recorded was "That’s My Story" in 1965, for which he wrote both words and music. He has written the entire book and lyrics for four musicals that have played on Broadway following their hit London runs - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Chess - plus one, Blondel, that only appeared in his native West End. He has recently translated the French-Canadian musical Starmania into English with a view to a London production. An album of songs from the show has already been a huge hit in Europe under the title Tycoon. Tim Rice joined forces with Alan Menken to write three songs for Disney’s Aladdin, including the Academy Award-winning "A Whole New World." His other Disney collaborations include writing six new songs for the stage production of Beauty and the Beast and writing the lyrics (to Elton John’s music) for The Lion King and Aida. He earned Oscars for both Aladdin and The Lion King. As chairman of the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, Tim Rice presides over an organization that distributes nearly $90 million annually to artistic and sporting ventures in the United Kingdom. He runs his own cricket team and writes regularly about the game in the Daily Telegraph. JAMIE ROCCO (Director/ Choreographer). Director and/or choreographer: Wizard of Oz (Broadway with Roseanne, National with Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, Jo Anne Worley); Tokyo Premiere, Singin’ in the Rain; New York Revival, Henry, Sweet Henry (Lambs Theatre); London, Doin’ What Comes Naturally; Regionally, Jesus Christ Superstar, Big River, Cabaret, Singin’ in the Rain, Annie, Beehive, The Rocky Horror Show, Into the Woods, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, A Little Night Music, Guys and Dolls, She Loves Me, The Sound of Music, All Night Strut, Shout!, Grease, That’s Mario, Chess, Violet and many others at some of the country’s finest regional theatres, including Paper Mill Playhouse, Sacramento Music Circus, Theatre Under The Stars, The 5th Avenue Musical Theatre and many others. Commissioned: A Country Christmas Carol (Dramatic Publishing); Co-created: Nite Club Confidential and Rock & Roll Christmas. Directed and produced: Broadway Sings for the Heartland (Ed Harris, Ben Vereen, Sandy Duncan and 50 others). As a performer, on Broadway played Rum Tum Tugger in Cats, toured internationally with Duke Ellington Band in Sophisticated Ladies and sang in concert at Carnegie Hall, The Shrine Auditorium and on tour with Herbie Hancock and The Super Sounds. Former Producing Director of Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma; Founding Director of Mandance and Interim Artistic Director of Stage One. MICHAEL BIAGI (Music Director/Conductor) is pleased to be returning to Houston for this TUTS production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Michael just finished a highly successful engagement with Pittsburgh CLO, conducting Bye Bye Birdie starring Rue McClanahan and West Side Story with Eric Kunze. Michael has worked extensively with Tommy Tune, conducting his personal concert appearances, many with the Manhattan Rhythm Kings, as well as national tours of Tommy Tune Tonite, Bye Bye Birdie, Grand Hotel and Grease. This past fall found Michael at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre with Tommy Tune and Sandy Duncan in Two for the Show. Michael has been proud to serve as Music Director/Conductor for such luminaries as George Burns, Jerry Lewis, Carol Channing, Rudolf Nureyev and Charles Pierce. MICHAEL ANANIA (Scenic Design) previously has been represented at TUTS by designs for The Merry Widow, The Desert Song, Jesus Christ Superstar, Me and My Girl Singin’ in the Rain and Gigi. Other credits -- Broadway : A Change In The Heir, Run For Your Wife, Canterbury Tales and The View From Here (Lamb’s Theatre). New York City Opera: A Little Night Music ("Live from Lincoln Center"), The Pajama Game starring Judy Kaye, The New Moon ("Great Performances"), The Desert Song, The Most Happy Fella, 110 in the Shade, Wonderful Town, The Merry Widow ("Live from Lincoln Center"), La Boheme and Liliane Montevecchi’s revue Back on the Boulevard at the Kaufman Theatre in New York. World Premieres of the operas Desire Under The Elms, Transformations, Lord Byron for New York Repertory Theatre. The Bottom Line: Darlene Love, Portrait of a Singer; A Hot Minute; Just Once; Leader of the Pack. He has also been resident designer at Paper Mill Theatre for the past decade. RAY DELLE ROBBINS (Costume Design) earned her BA from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in Costume Design, her career of more than 30 years. Fourteen of those were spent with Houston Ballet. She also has designed for regional ballet companies, as well as Ballet Santiago in Chile and Lone Star Revue in Palo Duro Canyon. Most recently she designed and executed full length productions of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty for Corpus Christi Ballet and designed the 1999 Momus gowns for the Galveston Mardi Gras. A longtime associate of TUTS, Ray Delle is in her eleventh season as TUTS’ resident designer. JEFF DAVIS (Lighting Designer) designed Jesus Christ Superstar for TUTS in 1990. Broadway credits include Duke Ellington’s Play On! (Los Angeles DramaLogue Award), Tartuffe: Born Again, Edward Albee’s The Man Who Had Three Arms, Born Yesterday, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, The Man Who Came to Dinner, I Never Sang for My Father, Ride the Winds, Slab Boys. Off-Broadway: Romance Language (Playwright’s Horizons), Becoming Memories, Album, Portrait of Jennie, Judgement. New York City Opera: 25 productions including The Dreyfus Affair, Marilyn, Kinkakuji, Turandot, Regina, La Traviata, 110 in the Shade, Mathis der Maler, Cavalleria Rusicanna/Pagliacci. Television: "Loving" and "One Life To Live" (ABC), "Skates of Gold" (ABC), "Ice Wars" (CBS), "Great Performances" and "Live from Lincoln Center" (PBS) - La Boheme and La Traviata (1995 Emmy Award), "The Maury Povich Show" (1997, 1998 Emmy Award nominations), "Ricki Lake" and currently "The Sally Jesse Raphael Show." Regional Theatre: Old Globe Theatre, Goodspeed Opera, Philadelphia Drama Guild, Cleveland Playhouse, American Shakespeare Festival, Folger Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Great Lakes Shakespeare Company. BETH BERKELEY (Sound Design) returns to TUTS, having recently designed Guys and Dolls at the Arena with director Jamie Rocco. Other design credits include The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Oliver!, The Desert Song, Paint Your Wagon, Evita, West Side Story, A Chorus Line, The Wizard Of Oz, Follies, Man of La Mancha directed by Albert Marre, The Music Man, 42nd Street, Crazy For You, Me and My Girl, Singing in the Rain, Phantom (Kopit/Yeston), Hot Shoe Shuffle, Zorro, Camelot, Oklahoma!, Day in Hollywood, Night in the Ukraine and Violet directed by Susan Schulman. Other designs currently running are Guys and Dolls at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Musical Theatre and Goblin Market for Seattle’s ACT Theatre. Ms. Berkeley is a member of IATSE Local 15. CATHERINE TUCKER (Hair Design), a successful hairstylist for over thirty years, presently works at a salon in Dallas. Since January 1990 she has designed wigs and hair for over 38 theatre productions. She has co-designed nine productions, including the world premiere favorites Beauty and the Beast and Jekyll & Hyde. She is looking forward to the next three years while TUTS is in transition and the exciting season ahead. ROGER ALLAN RABY (Production Stage Manager) is a Broadway performance veteran who has been a member of Actors’ Equity Association for 38 years. Jesus Christ Superstar is his 49th production for TUTS, with this season marking his 10th year as PSM. He was the PSM for the National tours of Nine, The Tour and Mame and the original Houston company of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He restaged TBLWIT for both the National and Las Vegas companies. He has directed productions of TBLWIT, Carousel and Fiddler on the Roof for TUTS and West Side Story for The 5th Avenue Musical Theatre Company in Seattle. For 17 years he has been the Artistic Director for an ongoing Christmas tradition, Pageant (now called The Celebration of Christmas!), for Houston’s First Baptist Church. TERRY CRANSHAW (Stage Manager) has stage managed many shows for TUTS and the 5th Avenue Musical Theatre Company. Some of her credits include Jekyll & Hyde, Peter Pan, Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella, Kismet, Makin’ Whoopee! and Hot Shoe Shuffle, plus National Tours of Mame and Annie Warbucks. Her resume also includes productions at Alley Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre, Galveston Island Outdoor Musicals, Houston Shakespeare Festival and a European tour of 42nd Street. SHERIE L. SEFF (NY Casting). This production of Jesus Christ Superstar happily marks Sherie’s 19th association with Houston’s Theatre Under The Stars. New York credits include the Broadway and National companies of Annie, Martin Charnin’s Upstairs at O’Neals, Camelot, Annie Warbucks, Tapestry, CBS Live and Further Mo’. Television credits include the CBS Special The Magic of Music for the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and scores of industrials for Cadillac and Disney. Longtime associations include Atlanta’s Theater Of The Stars, The Houng Group, The Ordway Theater and Seattle’s 5the Avenue Musical Theatre. If you have any information on this tour, email me at Evan@evangrubbs.com