International cabaret icon Reuben Kaye will join the Australian tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar later this year.
The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production will star Kaye as Herod, the king of Jerusalem. The role will mark a somewhat full-circle moment for Kaye, who initially got his start as Magaldi in a European tour of Rice and Lloyd Webber's musical Evita before breaking into the cabaret scene. Hailing from Melbourne, last year Kaye came under fire by religious extremists for his comedic approach to Christianity, and he cites many of the vaudevillians who influenced Lloyd Webber's original composition as his own inspirations.
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Australian theatre star Peter Murphy will also join the tour as Pilate in Sydney and Perth. Murphy previously played the role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar's Scandinavian tour. Both Kaye and Murphy will join Michael Paynter (in Sydney and Melbourne) and Robert Tripolino (in Perth) as Jesus, Javon King as Judas and Mahalia Barnes as Mary. Caiaphas will be played by Elliot Baker and Annas by John O'Hara.
The Australian tour will open in Sydney November 6, and continue through Perth and Melbourne in the first quarter of 2025.
The tour's ensemble and swings will be Joshua Dormor, Darcey Eagle, Josh Gates, Samuel Harmon, Melanie Hawkins, Marie Ikonomou, Graeme Isaako, Ethan Jones, Tana Laga'aia, Bella Massey, Danielle Matthews, Calista Nelmes, Adam Noviello, Stellar Perry, Nathan Pinnell, Daniel Raso, Clay Roberts, Josh Spiniello, Bree Tipoki, and Liam Wigney.
A global phenomenon, Jesus Christ Superstar was originally released as a concept album and opened on Broadway in 1971. The original Australian production opened at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney in May 1972, followed by seasons at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne and other cities, playing for more than 700 performances.
The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, selling out consecutive engagements in 2016 and 2017. The production played a West End engagement at the Barbican in 2019 before returning to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in a concert version during summer 2020, and recently completed a North American tour.
The Regent's Park production was helmed by director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie, alongside designer Tom Scutt, lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Nick Lidster, and music superviser Tom Deering. The Australian creative team includes associate director Shaun Rennie, musical director Laura Tipoki, resident choreographer Bree Tipoki, associate lighting designer Gavan Swift, and associate sound cesigner Michael Waters.
For more information, visit JesusChristSuperstarMusical.com.au.
