Theater Review: TheatreWorks New Milford Goes All Out With ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

NEW MILFORD — TheatreWorks New Milford is finishing its 2024 season with a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which runs through December 28.

The iconic rock opera tells the extraordinary and universally-known story that follows the last week Jesus Christ’s (played by Dylan Ryan) life. However, the story is seen through the eyes of Judas (Joseph Re), who infamously betrayed Jesus by identifying him to authorities. Loosely based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the story explores the personal relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary (Rebecca Reimold), his disciples, his followers, and the Roman Empire.

Tackling a huge production like Jesus Christ Superstar and bringing it to the small stage is no easy feat, but TheatreWorks New Milford, under the direction of Francis A. Daley, delivers it through their clear passion for show, strong performances, and equally strong lighting and set design.

Originally released as a concept album, Jesus Christ Superstar is entirely told through song, with very minimal dialogue throughout. This means that the show flows from one song into the next, with the lyrics and performances left to shoulder telling the story. However, the cast completely carries the burden and does a phenomenal job. Ryan as Jesus has an incredible voice that conveys both Jesus’ kindness and fierce protectiveness and love for people at the same time.

He showcases his powerful vocals throughout the entire show, but is especially notable in numbers such as “The Temple,” where he condemns the merchants and moneylenders. He raises his voice to the point it overpowers and overwhelms them with its intensity. “Gethsemane” is another haunting number and performance from him, where Jesus contemplates his fate. His voice is rich of hurt, anger, and weakness as he accepts his fate, and makes the number hit audiences as hard as it needs to.

Re is a great Judas, and truly captures his internal conflict of growing concern and frustration with Jesus’s fame and deep love for him. This back-and-forth leads to his ultimate betrayal in “Damned for All Time/Blood Money,” where this tug-of-war is on full display. His raw-sounding voice is a perfect fit as he distressingly runs around the stage, desperately trying to justify his actions to others as well as himself. He showcases his full range of emotions again in “Judas’s Death,” where his voice breaks for what he’s done before he takes his life.

Reimold is the perfect Mary. Her soft, soothing vocals are especially on full display in the iconic ballad “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” where she switches from powerful confidence to raw vulnerability. Even in moments where she isn’t center stage, she actively reaches for Jesus or looks his way, as though she can support him through a glance alone. It’s with equal parts grace and strong-willed protectiveness for Jesus, as well as others, that make her really encapsulate the role.

The entire ensemble honestly deserves praise for their fantastic character-acting. As apostles, they lean on each other like family, spin each other around with bright smiles on their faces. Then as the mob in “Trial Before Pilate (39 Lashes),” they wear wicked grins on their faces and sneer as they watch Jesus get lashed over and over again. Seeing them drop and then transform from scummy merchants to desperate people begging Jesus for help in “The Temple” is a highlight and testament to their range.

There were brief moments where the music overpowered the cast’s voices, and made it difficult to hear what they were singing. However, those moments were few and far between, and did not make the show any less enjoyable.

The lighting was another highlight of the show, especially in “Trial Before Pilate (39 Lashes).” For each time Jesus is struck and a sharp snap sounds through the air, a bright white flash shines over the stage. It makes every lash, paired with Ryan’s pained expression as Jesus, all the more heartbreaking as the number goes on.

The lights will soften to bright, calming pinks in beats like “Everything’s Alright” while transitioning to deep reds in moments of distress or betrayal. It complements the set itself, as well. The set is very beautiful and befitting of the time period, especially with the stars in “Gethsemane.” When Jesus carries the cross towards the end of the show in Superstar, a curtain is drawn towards the front of the stage.

As Judas and the Soul Girls (Victoria Arnold, Maya Jennings Daley, and Emily Zeller) sing, there will be brief flashes of light where the audience can see Jesus as he is on his way to be crucified. It’s an incredibly smart way to fully use the set, and a testament to what the entire cast and crew gave to the project. TheatreWorks New Milford’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar is one no one should miss.

Performances continue weekends until December 28 at TheatreWorks New Milford at 5 Brookside Avenue in New Milford. TheatreWorks New Milford is a multi-award-winning, non-equity theater company which has been performing and bringing joy to audiences for decades. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit theatreworks.us/show/jesus-christ-superstar.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.