Amanda Thompson, part of the company in “Godspell,” performs for Jesus (Rudy Leustek) and John the Baptist (Mark Salerno) during rehearsal Nov. 10. The curtain goes up tonight at 7:30 at Brick Township High School. There’s a young man dancing and singing his way across the stage at Brick Township High School dressed in a rainbow-colored clown’s wig and Ronald McDonald-like shoes.
Yes, it is Jesus.
Seated in the auditorium of the high school as the songs of “Godspell” bounced off the walls last week, Jesus, aka 16-year-old BTHS junior Rudy Leustek, said he used to have stage fright. But now, or hopefully by tonight’s curtain call, that feeling will be far behind him.
PHOTOSBY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Courtney DiGiovanni, part of the company in Brick Township High School’s production of “Godspell,” gets a scare during rehearsal last week. “I’m extremely excited; this is one of my first big roles,” Leustek said. “It’s extremely exhilarating to be Jesus.”
Joining him on stage are John the Baptist and Judas, or Mark Salerno and Ryan Macarthy, as they are known to their fellow classmates. Dancing around the three males in a blur of tie-dyed shirts, colorful skirts, hair scarves and sneakers is the company — consisting of Maria Campos, Dan Castiglione, Elizabeth Connelly, Courtney DiGiovanni, Katie Lindstrom, Kaitlyn Shae, Danielle Simanek and Amanda Thompson. And the chorus rings loud and clear too — Jennifer Baranowski, Hope Rizzolo, Anna Yukus, Stephanie Zuccaro and Joe McKenna.
As the students rehearse, the musical director, Paul Bibelheimer, interjects with an occasional line, a few words of a song. Bibelheimer says that “Godspell,” which was first performed in 1973, is a hippie-style musical taken from the Book of Matthew. The first act consists of parables, while the second act is the story of the Passion of Christ.
But modern-day references are thrown in here and there, as during rehearsal one cast member yelled out, “You are the weakest link, goodbye.”
Play rehearsals began in mid-September, soon after auditions were held. There are 25 dancers in addition to the main cast, a cast that is aided by Lee Morone, the drama director.
As of Nov. 10, Morone said the play was “slowly” coming together. He said it’s the “magic of theater” that just a day or two before opening night, everything falls into place.
“We’re working on getting blocking … the choreography all in sync,” he said.
He said that he’s learned over the years that whether a play is rehearsed for six months or six days, it all comes down to the last minute.
“When their back is against the wall, that’s when the adrenaline flows,” Morone said. “When they realize the show is only a few days away, that’s when it really starts happening.”
And it will start happening tonight at 7:30 at the high school, off Chambers Bridge Road. Additional shows will be Nov. 19 and Nov. 20, also at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $8 for adults, and $6 for students and senior citizens.
— Jennifer Dome