Unorthodox Religion Non-Traditional Casting Fits Perfectly With The Spirit Of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

Are you ready to re-think your image of Judas?

You’ll get a chance to do just that with this production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which opens tonight at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre for a two-week run.

In a bit of non-traditional casting, Judas will be played by Jennifer Niederloh. Niederloh, best-known for her portrayals of Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” and Gypsy Rose Lee in “Gypsy,” won the job fair and square. She outsang everybody else in the auditions for the role, said director Roger Welch. So he gave her the part, which is in many ways the most important part in the whole show.

Actually, an unorthodox Judas fits perfectly with the spirit of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” This has been a show which has forced audiences to rethink their images of King Herod (song-and-dance clown) and Jesus himself (flower-child guru).

In fact, it has been a show which forced people to rethink the definition of the stage musical itself. When it burst onto the scene in the early ‘70s, this show, along with “Hair,” seemed to be the precursors of an entirely new genre: the rock musical.

Listening to it today, the only thing particularly rock-like about the music is that it contains an electric guitar. If it was a precursor of anything, it was a precursor of the now familiar Andrew Lloyd Webber style: big synthesizer anthems, operatic connecting music and rollicking music-hall numbers for comedy relief (“Herod’s Song”).

Jeffrey Siri plays Jesus in this production. Nancy Sophia Emerson will play Mary Magdalene, who sings the big hit anthem, “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.”

The 15-piece orchestra will be directed by Holladay Sanderson. The Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater is a professional summer-stock theater which performs at Boswell Hall at North Idaho College.

Performances are tonight, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and continuing July 31 and Aug. 1-2. All shows are at 8 p.m. except for the 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $14 for students, available by calling (800) 4-CDATIX or (208) 769-7780.

‘The Pirates of Penzance’

The Pullman Summer Palace tonight opens one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular comic operettas, “The Pirates of Penzance.”

Director Paul Wadleigh and musical director Bruce Bradberry present this lighthearted tale about a bunch of pirates who land on the coast of England, ready to do mischief. They do mischief all right, but not exactly the kind they have in mind.

The show runs tonight, Friday and Saturday, and continues July 30-31 and Aug. 1-2. All shows are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $4 for youth and students. Call (509) 335-7236.

The Pullman Summer Palace is associated with Washington State University’s School of Music and Theatre Arts, and all performances take place at R.R. Jones Theatre at Daggy Hall on the WSU campus.

‘Quixote’

How about this for a deal: A rollicking play about the famous Don Quixote, performed in a grassy park, on a portable multi-level stage, and all for free?

That’s what the One World Theatre company from Seattle is offering this week and next in Spokane and in towns all around the region.

This show, written by Seattle playwright Michael Neff and based on the Cervantes characters, promises plenty of laughs, adventure and an ending in which justice triumphs.

They’ll be in Davenport’s City Park tonight; Spokane’s Riverfront Park Friday and Saturday evenings; Pullman’s Reaney Park on Sunday evening; Walla Walla’s Pioneer Park on Tuesday evening; and Moses Lake’s Amphitheater on July 31. All shows begin at 7 p.m.

Look for these traveling players in their big blue touring van as they cruise through the area. They recommend that you bring a picnic, the kids and your neighbors, but leave the dog at home.

‘The Fantasticks’

The Cutter Theatre in Metaline Falls presents the classic romantic musical “The Fantasticks” for three days beginning tonight.

This 1960 off-Broadway smash is about two parents who invent a feud in order to bring their children together. It uses many simple and timeless theater techniques to tell a simple and lyrical tale. It includes the classic song, “Try to Remember.” It is also the longest running musical of all time.

The Cutter Theater production features Allen Chantry as El Gallo, Kammi Hedrick as Luisa, and Ricky Reneer as Matt.

The show runs tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. as part of Ione’s Down River Days celebration. It will repeat again Aug. 29-31 as part of Metaline Falls’ Affair on Main Street celebration. Tickets are $6, except $4 on opening night. They can be reserved by calling (509) 446-4108 or purchased at the door.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo