PHOTOS from "Jesus Christ Superstar" by Phoenix Productions

(RED BANK, NJ) -- On March 16, 2024, Phoenix Productions presented a special one-night symphonic concert performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, featuring a 35-piece orchestra. James Grausam directed the production and photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera based on the last week of Jesus' life. It features Lyrics by Tim Rice and Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and was the first musical by the duo to be produced for the professional stage.  It was also the very first show by Phoenix Productions 35 years ago at Christian Brothers Academy’s Henderson Theater in the summer of 1988.

A timeless work, the rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.

The cast featured Remember Jones (Judas Iscariot), Anwar Robinson (Jesus of Nazareth), Lora Nicolas Olaes (Mary Magdalene), Jarrod Scott (Caiaphas), Matt DeMarco (Annas), Marc Goldberg (Simon Zealotes), Randy Cooper (Pontius Pilate), and Frank Ferrante (King Herod).

Director James Grausam has directed several productions for Phoenix Productions at Count Basie Center for the Arts, including: Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, Miss Saigon, Tommy, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Songs for a New World, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Spring Awakening, Elf, American Idiot and more.

Adam Philipson was lead Producer for the first time at Phoenix Productions. Some of his associate producing credits on Broadway include Jagged Little Pill and Outsiders, as well as the West End's Time Traveller's Wife.

The show served as the Count Basie Center’s Winter Gala, honoring SoVonna Day-Goins and Joe Wajda, longtime Phoenix supporters and chairs of the Basie Center’s Phoenix Operations Committee.

Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway in October 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. Notable names in that cast included Jeff Fenholt as Jesus, Ben Vereen as Judas, and Bob Bingham as Caiaphas. The production was nominated for 5 Tony Awards.

Up next for Phoenix Productions is The Prom with performances at Count Basie Center for the Arts on Friday, May 3 at 7:30pm and Saturday, May 4th at 2:00pm & 7:30pm. This is a delightful musical about an end of the year high-school dance. Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So, when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue…and themselves.

The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow—but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is love that brings them all together.

For over 35 years, Phoenix Productions has been dedicated to the mission of providing quality theatrical experiences on both sides of the footlights. Since its first production in 1988, they have produced over 100 main stage shows providing on-stage and back stage opportunities for thousands of talented volunteers.

In 2023, Phoenix Productions merged with its home for over three decades, the Count Basie Center for the Arts (99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank), combining and solidifying its regional impact on the performing arts.

Together, Phoenix Productions and the Count Basie Center have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to do their best work. The organizations’ continued pledge to deepen their commitments to cultural competency, racial equity and social inclusion is at the heart of the Basie Center’s mission as a nonprofit.

Here are more photos from the production.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. Currently, John has spent the last 6 years concentrating on photographing almost 400 theater productions at over 70 different NJ theatres. Click here for John's website.

EVENT PREVIEWS

Gateway Playhouse presents Neil Simon's "London Suite"

(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse presents Neil Simon's London Suite with three performances from July 11-12, 2026. Witty, charming, and unmistakably Neil Simon, London Suite invites audiences into a series of hilarious and heartfelt encounters set in the same London hotel room.

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The Light Opera of New Jersey presents "H.M.S. Pinafore" at the Sieminski Theater Cultural Arts Center

(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- The Light Opera of New Jersey presents H.M.S. Pinafore from July 11-12, 2026 at the Sieminski Theater Cultural Arts Center. This is a comic operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan that satirize the British class system. 

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Pioneer Productions presents encore run of "What the Constitution Means to Me" in Chatham Borough

(CHATHAM, NJ) -- Pioneer Productions is thrilled to announce encore performances of their production of Heidi Schreck's "What the Constitution Means to Me." Following a sold-out run of the show in downtown Morristown earlier this year, the original cast and production team have partnered with Chatham Borough to present an encore weekend July 11-12, 2026 at the Stanely Center.

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Skyline Theatre Company presents Shakespeare on the Porch with "Much Ado About Nothing"

(BLOOMFIELD, NJ) -- Skyline Theatre Company presents Much Ado About Nothing with performances July 17-18, 2026 as part of its Shakespeare on the Porch series. The Bard's ultimate rom-com comes to life on the porch of the Oakeside Mansion.

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Main Street Theatre Company presents "The Music Man JR."

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Aspire Performing Arts Company presents Green Day's American Idiot

(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- Aspire Performing Arts Company presents Green Day's American Idiot from July 17-19, 2026 at the Barn Theatre. The band's powerhouse album is brought to life in this electric-rock musical of youthful disillusion. The production features two sets of casts.

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The Theater Project presents "Too Fat For China" by Phoebe Potts

(UNION, NJ) -- The Theater Project presents Too Fat For China from July 17-19, 2026 in the DMK Black Box Theater. Comedian Phoebe Potts' one-woman show follows the surprises and painful realizations of her adoption journey with humor and candor.

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Iron Mountain Stage Company presents "46 Plays For America's First Ladies"

(RINGWOOD, NJ) -- Iron Mountain Stage Company presents 46 Plays For America's First Ladies from July 11-19, 2026. A biographical, meta-theatrical, genre-bending ride through race, gender, and everything else your history teacher never taught you about the founding of America.

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"Chip and Gus" - a comedy with balls comes to Florham Park on July 20th

(FLORHAM PARK, NJ) -- On Monday, July 20, 2026, Chip and Gus, a comedy with balls will be presented at The Thomas H. Kean Theatre Factory. The play is performed, directed, and created by John Ahlin & Christopher Patrick Mullen. Showtime is 7:30pm.

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The Theater Project presents "Having Our Say" by Emily Mann

(UNION, NJ) -- The Theater Project's 2026 summer season will begin with a bang with a production of Having Our Say, Emily Mann’s 1995 Tony Award-nominated drama about "two 'maiden ladies' with century-old stories to tell", July 11-21, 2026 at the DMK Black Box Theatre.
 

FEATURED EVENTS

Shrek: The Musical

Saturday, July 11, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, NJ

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My Fair Lady

Saturday, July 11, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
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The Little Mermaid

Saturday, July 11, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
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IHCA-NJ presents Natya Darpan 2026

Saturday, July 11, 2026 @ 12:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ

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Shrek: The Musical

Sunday, July 12, 2026 @ 3:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees Drive, Manasquan, NJ

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