Jesus Christ Superstar

by Tim Rice - Andrew Lloyd Weber

Nancy Sundstrum, preview

Apostles

Chorus

Orchestra

Production Staff

Actor's Journal - Bill Dungjen

2/14-Valentines day-

Blocking Act II
-or-
The need for kneepads

Five weeks to go and it is a musical. Utter chaos until the very last minute. I've never been good at blocking; I don't have the attention span required. It is fun though to see the occasional glimpses of what it is all supposed to look like. I have always loved that part of it. It is fun to stand in the middle of all that confusion and all of a sudden see the actual spirit of the thing take over. Once in a while, everybody hits the notes and falls into step and look out.

2/16-
"Of Course!" (clapping hand to forehead)
-or-
O Me of little faith

I was thinking that 5 weeks was a short time. Now I realize that with the set all but done and the show all but figured out, we are going to have plenty of time to run it and run it and run it. This is where I always get a little giddy. There are so many spaces opening up to insert a little acting you start getting carried away by them. The orchestra is in once in a while and that gives you a real sense of what this thing is going to be like with real music. It has been tough to use the recording to set
blocking, but it also makes the occasional song or two with the orchestra that much more fun.

2/17-
Where's my motivation
-or-
Who stole my trailer?!?

It's a telling thing that as I have gotten older, I have begun to look for more information about the parts I play. All of a sudden I am more interested in being a part of the whole picture and not just looking for a showcase. When you get a little directing in, it changes your perspective. It's interesting how the stage becomes the focus when you quit thinking about the audience. Who ARE all these other people onstage and when did they get here? This is more fun everytime you do it isn't it?

2/18-
The same page
-or-
The gospel according to us

Brian and Terry and I had a nice talk last night about characterization. Charley's Aunt was opening and we had nowhere to rehearse so we sat at the Top of the Park and went over the show stem to stern. Interesting to hear all of the different ideas about the show, it gives us that much more to think about.

2/21-
I'll have an epiphany to go
-or-
What light through yonder windshield breaks?

I found a new twist to explore for Act II in the car this morning. I've been working from one perspective for a while and this will make it a little fresher and a lot more fun. It's true about listening to the words, if you actually listen to them as though it were the first time you'd heard them, you get all sorts of different ideas. The real trick lies in getting that idea across to someone else without explaining it on the internet.

2/22-
Anticipa-a-tion
-or-
"Pilate to Bombardier..."

It was like being a slow, particularly tasty mouse in a flat, empty, parking lot watching a hawk circle overhead. Every time Pilate would get ready to pounce, we'd get jerked back to the beginning of the scene. It all began to get a little maddening. Brett has had the patience of a saint (and you can be sure the irony is not lost on me) while waiting to get to this scene. I am looking forward to seeing what will happen.

2/25-
Here we go!
-or-
Look out for the locomotive

This is where it starts. The steady downhill slide. The slippery slope. This Sunday's run of Act II is the peak of the roller coaster where the you can just see the nose of the first car angle downward. Tuesday will be the first run through with the orchestra and by the time the adrenalin settles down it will be closing night. 3 weeks of introducing musicians, props, costumes, lights, sound, backstage crew, ad infinitum until all of a sudden it's Lights Up for the overture. Keep your eyes open and your hands in the air.

3/6-
Band on the run
-or-
Semper Tympani

Now that the band is in the pit where EVERYONE will be more comfortable, I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do with our last week and a half. The music is sounding good, the blocking is set, the cast is getting excited, and the show is coming together. Of course it wouldn't be a musical if it were ready at this point. Little things will crop up and trickle in right up until opening night. That's my favorite part. The finishing touches that make the show what it is. Look out Jerusalem, here we come.

3/7-
Beware the Ides of March
-or-
How many days?

Now is the time for all good actors to come to the aid of their show. It has come down to the final weeks and things are in their usual state of highly agitated lunacy. The energy is skyrocketing and the concentration is in a downward spiral. Tech Sunday is this weekend and if ever there was a time to be nervous and focused, this is it.

3/8-

Wake Up You're Dreaming
-or-
"What happened to all of my clothes and why am I back in High School?"

I didn't mention them yesterday because I had subliminally suppressed them, but I had them again last night. SHOW DREAMS. They are getting weirder and
weirder. Last night, for instance, John Rocker, the controversial baseball player, and I were playing tennis in a great big basement and then I was on
stage and the whole audience was looking at me expectantly. I, of course, had no idea what to do or say. I hate those. At least things are going well
in real life. It is gratifying to see all the pieces coming together into a very nice package. Very hard work, but very exciting.

3/9-
Hey hey Mama, said the way you move...
-or-
Of Amice and Amen

That pre-show choir is going to get the house jumping. I sat and listened to them rehearse last night and they are going to have people out of their seats and in the aisles. The music is great and the singers are into it.


3/10-

He ain't heavy, he's my...wife?
-or-
What's wrong with this picture

It's always fun to see yourself in the newspaper or on TV isn't it? I'll be having my fill of that for the next week. Not only did I make the front page, I am slated to appear on TV 7&4 with Terry on Wednesday morning and on WTCM and WCCW and WLDR next week as well.
There are some perks to being Jesus after all.

3/13-

As though 'twere a mirror...
-or-
Who's that other Jesus?

Tonight, Jacob Kramer takes over as Jesus. It will be interesting to see how we look up there. It's a new experience for me to be able to sit outside the show and look in. I think it will help me with some of the spots I'm having trouble with to be able to see what I have to react to.
The band sounds great, the cast is in the zone, and the tech is coming together nicely.

3/14-

Understudy/Overachiever
-or-
Walking under Jacob's ladder

WOW! I mean it. I can't imagine having a big part in the show on regular nights, then having to learn all of the blocking and music and developing
characters for TWO additional roles at the same time. Kudos to Jacob Kramer for doing a fabulous job. While it was fun to sit and watch the show last
night, I couldn't help but think of how Jacob will need the dark night tonight to regroup and come back as Judas. I am impressed. He did a great
job for being tossed to the lions like that, I look forward to seeing his performances. Give him a slap on the back when you see him and congratulate
him on a job being well done.

3/15-

All fired up and no place to go
-or-
T-minus 48 hours and counting...

OK. Now you can officially color me excited. I hadn't really decided it was going to happen until I did the interviews with 7&4 and WCCW this morning. Now everyone I see tells me that they are looking forward to it and have tickets for such and such a night and they'll be in the front row.
It is such fun to have Friday to look forward to. I think we have a strong show and the remaining rehearsals will allow us to clean up the minor problems that we've been having.

3/16-

Tomorrow, Tomorrow . . .
-or-
One Day More . . .
-or-
Yipes!

Well, tonight is final dress rehearsal. This is the last chance for tweaking before we actually see a crowd. Even though this is treated like a performance, it isn't and everybody knows it. There were a few trouble spots I could pinpoint last night, I missed a couple lines by getting too into a scene, but all in all I think we are good to go.
We got the makeup problems covered up, and the costume troubles are ironed out. (Couldn't help it, Sorry.)
After the rehearsal, I was totally exhausted, It's been a long time since I've been on an actual stage to perform an actual show. I had forgotten how draining it can be. Even so, when I got home, I couldn't sleep for about a half-hour. What a strange mix of emotions and adrenalin.
This is great fun and I am looking so forward to it.

3/17-

Overture, light the lights...
-or-
... we know you're rooting for us, but now we have to go....

It all comes down to this. We sat backstage last night and shook our heads saying, "Wow, that went so quickly!", and "Gee, I can't believe it's already opening night." Someone pointed out that we auditioned in January. Now that is hard to believe. It has been three months of solid immersion into this musical. Even with 4 weeks of performances, it won't seem like a 4 month
commitment. The people have been great. Very friendly and likable and a joy to get to know.
It's opening night, the time for mush and gush. The time when everyone is family and the energy is running 300%. The time when you get to the theater 2 hours early and let the vibes take over. It's why we all do this. Let's be honest about it. What a rush. There's nothing like it anywhere else.
I'll see you onstage.

3/21-

Getting ready for the second coming
-or-
I'm baaaaack

Wow. What a weekend. Sunday it was all I could do to sit up and take nourishment. It may have been the cast parties, but that tech week takes it out of you. Friday was like a well oiled machine, everyone ripped it up. Only one slip-up for me, I dropped a line on the cross (and couldn't get down to pick it up). That opening night energy sure pays off.

Saturday was like a well oiled stairway. Still a good show, but a few more slips than we would have liked. It's amazing how long a burble can affect your performance. I dropped a line in Gethsemane (well covered, but dropped all the same) and it took forever to get back into the groove. I fell out of the moment and it was like peering in through a window at a party you'd
been locked out of. Hey, it's cold out here, let me in, let me in.. It wasn't so bad really, just disturbing to have had a such a great show one night and slipped up the next. You can bet your boots that won't happen this weekend. I've been resting and conserving energy.

3/23-

I Remember Manna
-or-
And now, for my next trick...

Here we go for week #2. After a brushup rehearsal last night, we are ready to go again. I wasn't really looking forward to the brushup, but now I am glad we did it. It made me all hyped up again. I had fallen into a low energy period this week and now I feel energized again. This is a four show weekend for everyone else (Jacob is Jesus for the matinee). I am really looking forward to putting on the "Garbo" hat and glasses and sneaking in to see the show from the balcony. It will be nice to see an actual performance for once.


3/27-

Will you look at that...?
-or-
Wow, we ARE good!

I had the chance to sit and watch a performance of our show yesterday  afternoon. What an amazing thing. I knew it was a good show and a talented  cast, but I had no idea it was this good. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I mean, I know all the words and none of the blocking is a  surprise, but I was captivated. Jacob did a fine job and I look forward to seeing him do other roles. He deserves to have a lead all to himself and soon. What a great opportunity, everyone should get a night off to see the fruits of their labor.

3/29-

Price check on salvation in aisle 9...
-or-
Jesus has to eat too

Susan and I went to Sam's Club and Meijer for groceries last night and at least a 1/2 dozen people stopped us to compliment our show. I've been thinking all day long about the community aspect of our theater and I've realized that it goes beyond the people we involve onstage or behind the scenes. The area has come to depend on us for not just entertainment, but for a little local celebrity as well. I have autographed several programs for people, and can't help but giggle inwardly while I'm doing it. I don't mind, but it is just a community theater after all. I guess the best part of the whole evening was in the car on the way home when Susan laughed and wondered if it was weird for people to see Jesus and Mary Magdalene shopping for mayonnaise and arguing about which cous-cous was the best.

3/31-

Out like a lamb
-or-
Nice jacket, is that fleece?

Even after the weeks hiatus, the show runs beautifully. Susan and I have been discussing it and it is beginning to get to the point of pre-nostalgia already. We are trying to set every minute of each show into memory because it will be over before we know it. We'll have our lives back and we'll start to wander around the house with that vague feeling of something missing. "Shouldn't we be at rehearsal? Oh, that's right..." It takes so little time to get through such a long commitment. I'm going to miss it, but I am determined to enjoy it while I can.

4/3-

Thank God It's Friday
-or-
Jeepers Creepers

Sometimes you have a show that everyone nails. Ours was Friday. There were points where we were so on it was creepy. That gives you the willies
sometimes. Bart told Brian and I about a aura-type thing that he noticed  during one of our scenes, he said it broke up and whirled off like a vortex.
I personally have never heard anything like that before. I guess I mean that I have never been able to attach that kind of comment to something that
I was personally involved in. I must admit I am skeptical about that kind of thing, but WOW!!! I am less so after that moment in Act II. Do you see
what I mean about creepy? What a great experience.

4/5-

3...2...1...
-or-
Last Call

Boy oh boy, I will certainly miss this show. We have three more  performances to go and I am already sentimentally cataloging things about this experience and trying to organize a whirlwind of things that I want to accomplish before it's over... getting cast and crew e-mail addresses, photos of everyone, trying to come up with an appropriate thank-you-type-gesture for everyone who has made this such fun. It's going to be a strange void for a while. On the positive side, I have been energized to fill that void with other pursuits, both artistic and otherwise. The playhouse is so much more than a place to be involved in the theater. It expands your family and opens up new doors everytime you walk inside. Plus, you get applause, what more could you ask?

4/7-

With eyes like teacups
-or-
What a recovery

Well, Jacob never ceases to amaze. After a somewhat (literally) shaky  start, he pulled off a fantastic performance as Judas last night. During  his first song, he faced me down with really big eyes and a slight case of  the shakes. He slipped a little on lyrics, but after a great recovery, he went on to get more and more comfortable and really ended the show like a champ. What a great job.

4/10-
The end…
-or-
It is finished…

After four months of work and play revolving around this endeavor, the last  weekend came crashing to a halt last night. The final weekend of the show was a rousing success, nothing less than I had come to expect. At the final curtain of closing night, there was the usual cheer from the cast and then an unusual amount of tearful hugging. At the cast party afterwards there  were the presentations of gifts and the Thank You’s and the exchange of e-mail addresses and phone numbers and the promises to get together.
Sunday morning, not long after everyone went home, we all found ourselves at strike. That didn’t take too long and everyone went to enjoy the company at Joe Rice’s house. It wasn’t until I dropped Pilate off at his apartment and headed home that it really sunk in that this show had ended. I got almost a mile from the house before I realized that I was indeed a little weepy and missing the show already. Admittedly, I was a little tired, but this show got to me. It was a truly emotional experience. My performance took more out of me than any I have done to date. The people were a joy to be acquainted with and to work with. The moments on stage have left an indelible impression on me; I will not be the same after this experience.
As a final note to this wonderful production, I will simply say that it has been my honor and privilege to have been a member of this wonderful cast. The dedication and professionalism of the people I spent the last four months with deserves recognition. I think I said it best while explaining my experiences at the playhouse to Brett. I consider the people I have met at Old Town over the years to be family. The people who are new to the theater community take some time to get to that point, but they get there all the same. Thank you very much for being involved with this production, I will enjoy your addition to my family and I look forward to seeing every one of you on- and off- stage again. My hat is off to this fabulous cast and crew.
Congratulations on a powerful and moving experience.
My love to all,
(Ex) Jesus
K. William Dungjen






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Brian Dungjen Journal

Brian Dungjen, Actor Journal

March 15, 2000

Well we were "dark" last night and I am grateful for the rest my throat is getting. Monday the cast got to work with Jacob Kramer in his role as understudy for the character of Jesus. I love those experiences. Working with the understudy keeps everyone on their toes. Just when you've gotten comfortable and things are going well in the regular run of the show (not that everything is the same from day to day anyway) everyone is thrown for a loop. Having to act and react to something tantalizingly familiar and yet just different enough to be noticeable makes you rethink things you've been doing in a groove (some might say rut). Personally I think that this "re-inventing" process is, not only fun and interesting, but desirable and necessary. Having said that...HEY, they get to do it again tonight as Jacob takes over for me! I, on the other hand, get another night of rest and the fabulous opportunity to watch what Jacob is doing. Not to mention shamelessly steal the things I like. I will also enjoy the opportunity to see what the show is looking like two days, yes I said only TWO DAYS, before we open. This has been one of the easiest of rehearsal processes for me, it's the third time I've done this show. I only mention this because, until now, I haven't been as excited or nervous as with other productions. Today, however, I feel the butterflies and other indications of emotional distress that one's internal organs tend to give. It's about time. Break a leg Jacob. I look forward to a good show.

March 16, 2000

Well I guess even I can make mistakes. Ahr. I thought Jacob was doing his gig as understudy for Judas last night, but no. Having thought that was the case I stopped at Rancho Grande, on the way to the playhouse, and had a sizable meal, bad plan. The food was delicious, however the effect of a full stomach on nights' worth of hard "musical expression" is not a good thing. The rest of the cast, on the other hand, was great. They looked great and sounded fantastic. Every day they improve noticeably. I love that. Each rehearsal is more enjoyable than the last, so much so that I started writing these journal entries. Anyway, tonight is our last rehearsal before opening and we will have the traditional final dress "audience". It will be good to have some reaction, other than that of the few production people who have been watching us from the beginning. No dinner for me. Hopefully I'll be in the right condition to do what I'm supposed to do. See you all there.

3-20-00

OK, so I missed an entry last week. Oh well, I guess I spent too much time getting ready for the opening night celebrations that it slipped my mind. But hey, here I am the Monday after opening weekend and I survived. There was some worry (largely on my part) that, because we had a great final dress rehearsal, we might have trouble concentrating as we should for the opening night performance. Boy, was I wrong. The cast, crew and orchestra were dead on. The show went off without a hitch and the audience loved it. (Or at least so they said afterwards during the opening night reception.) Well, I may have exaggerated slightly about the without a hitch thing. We were having trouble with some of the body mic's. Mine in particular. I went through four seperate sets before the night was over. I am sad to say that it was not my brightest moment. Whether because of opening night jitters, or just my own short-fused temper, I had what can only be described as a "prima-donna hissy fit". I can only apologize to the wonderful sound crew and the cast who were forced to watch this sad episode. They are all very forgiving people, fortunately, and are not overtly upset with me as of this date. Saturday's performance was, in many ways, even better than opening night. This cast, crew and orchestra are proving wrong all of the accepted theatre cliche's about "bad dress, good opening" and "second night let-down". I look forward to a great and fun run of this show. The parties (if that is any indication) have been a hoot...these are some very fun people. See you at the theatre.

 >

March 31, 2000

OK. We are into our third week of the show. The dreaded Thursday performance has come and gone. I am happy to report nothing too distressful. I was a little worried. Monday, after the second week's worth of shows, I was very hoarse, croaking out every syllable I uttered. This may have more to do with all the fun we were having at Fred's party after the Sunday matinee, rather than the stress of the role, but I was worried. However, last night went off just fine. Although I was a little on the dry side and may have been psyching myself out, things went well. The entire cast has amazing powers of energy recuperation. With only three days off everyone was full of energy and focused to a laser-like intensity. These people are good. Not to mention very fun to work with. We have arrived in the comfort zone of the run and everyone seems to be having huge amounts of fun. So far none of that comfort is showing through in anyone's performance. Everyone seems as fresh and new as opening night. I am looking forward to each and every show that we have left (even to the point of being jealous of Jacob's understudy show next Thursday). See you at the theater.

April 10, 2000

Well all is done in regard to our production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". All is not said however, and chances are it will be a long time before it is all said. It has been quite an experience. Since the theatre bug bit me I have worked with many different casts, each with its' own unique "flavor", but this cast was one of the special ones. Each and every cast member, orchestra member and/or crew member gave this production something great. This combination of people was one of those happy coincidences (perhaps I am not giving Terry enough credit here) which makes you feel as if you don't ever want to let go of the moment. The emotional bond this cast developed was one of the strongest I have felt in a very long time. Each person made a huge commitment, both emotionally and artistically. The power of each and every performance could be felt physically. There were moments onstage which grabbed you and shook you with their intensity. That is a feeling which is very rare, sadly enough, coming only with a tantalizing infrequency which keeps you looking for the next "theatrical goldmine". I will be reliving these moments, in the theatre of my mind, for a long time to come. They are indelibly imprinted there and the memories of which, while sure to be coming with less frequency with the passage of time, will not lessen in their visceral impact. I will be mourning the loss of this experience for quite some time. At the final cast party, strike and party at the home of Joe Rice we all made the inevitable vows of "keeping in touch" exchanging phone numbers, email addresses etc.. All the time knowing (in the back of our minds) that it will not be the same. We all have our own lives to lead, different paths to walk and goals to move toward. As we begin to diverge from this wonderful mutual experience, I can only hope that I am able to hold onto my friendships with these people. This is one of the bittersweet facts of the community theatre experience, you form the bonds of family with people and then, like families everywhere, you must each go your own way and only some of your lives will remain intertwined. I am fortunate in this instance, as some of this group was actually family and they cannot get away from me even if they want to. Sorry to be rambling along my maudlin way here, to paraphrase the Grateful Dead..."what a long joyous trip it's been..." I want to thank everyone for making the last four months of my life a period I will remember forever as one filled with joy, laughter, awe, love and more emotions than I can express here. Thank you. I love you all and look forward to many nights and days of laughter-filled reminiscence.

Brian, formerly known as Judas.

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Bill Dungjen Journal