 |
Clarion University department of visual and performing arts will present the new, coming of age musical, “Jesus in India,” Nov. 18-22 in Marwick-Boyd Little Theatre.
The musical is open to the community, but those who are uncomfortable with a controversial portrayal of Jesus are discouraged from attending, and, because of language, the show is not recommended for children.
"Jesus in India" is a fictitious story following Jesus' life around his 18th year. The play proposes a "what if" scenario, showing Jesus as a young, rebellious teenager. It is not intended to be historically correct, said Marilouise "Mel" Michel, professor of theatre in the department of visual and Performing Arts and director of the musical.
The idea of Jesus traveling to India is not new. There is evidence that supports that Jesus did, indeed, spend his "lost" years traveling to and through India.
The original play, "Jesus in India," was performed Off-Broadway in 2013. Interested in producing the show, Michel requested the script from playwright Lloyd Suh. Upon realizing it was not a musical, the theater department requested permission to adapt and "musicalize" the play.
Brent Register, Ph.D., music professor, composed an entire new score. The University Theatre's production will feature Register's original work scoring Suh's own words, as well as additional lyrics written by Michel. Clarion alumnus and part-time theatre faculty member Karl Jacobson was also asked to collaborate on the musical's set and costume designs.
"The play, while set 2,000 years ago, is really a more contemporary – anytime, if you will – exploration of what it could have been like for a teenager to almost literally bear the weight of the world on his shoulders," Michel said. "The play is very, very funny, as teenagers often are, and the music Dr. Register composed is beautiful and haunting."
The role of Jesus is very human, Michel said, and he does partake in activities with which teenagers often experiment. Nonetheless, the director expects the audience to recognize Jesus' character by his spirit and compassion.
"I am fascinated to explore the full humanity of Jesus while acknowledging that he can also be fully divine," Michel said.
Junior Samuel Atwell, an acting major from St. Marys, will play Jesus. Stephanie Bonnici, an exchange student from Malta, and Victoria Heckert, a sophomore musical theater major from Red Lion, will alternate performances in the role of Abigail, Jesus' traveling companion and not-quite girlfriend. Logan Honsaker, a junior acting major from Twinsburg, Ohio, plays the maharaja Sushil, a teenage musician Jesus encounters along his journey. Senior musical theatre major Kiah Harrington-Wymer of Brookville is cast as Mahari, Sushil's slave girl who "connects with" the young Jesus. Harrington-Wymer is performing "Jesus in India" to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts graduation project. Freshmen Justin Baumgarten of Philipsburg and Heather Mahoney of McDonald are understudies.
Stage manager is Courtney Chaplin of McMurray, and assistant stage manager/dramaturg is Gabrielle Kashner of Columbia. Lighting designer is Thomas Feather of Windber, student sound designer is John Dobson of Mercer, and student properties designer is Cierra Southerton of Honesdale.
Show times are 8 p.m. Nov. 18-21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22 in Marwick-Boyd Little Theatre. Tickets are free for university students with ID, $9 for children 12 and under, and $12 for adults. For tickets visit www.clarionuniversitytickets.com or call 814-393-2787. If available, tickets can also be purchased at the door.