On Palm Sunday, March 20, at 11:45 AM Chelsea Community Church with St. Peter's
Chelsea will recreate the last week in Christ's life in music and scripture,
featuring music from Jesus Christ Superstar to songs of the Passion and
traditional folk hymns sung by a professional cast. Scott Benedict, formerly
of The Washington Opera, will perform the role of Jesus. The ACT of Northern
Virginia nominated Mr. Benedict twice as "Best Male Lead in a Musical." Tenor
William Daniel Grey, who sang Jesus in the original Jesus Christ Superstar
Broadway production, will play Judas, a role he performed in the first national
company of Superstar at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Mary Magdalene is
being sung by soprano Tracy Silvia of the cabaret duo known as "The Gotham
Girls." Concert artist and soprano Pam Palmieri, who will play Mary, was
a finalist in the 2004 International Song of Peace Competition in Tipperary,
Ireland. Baritone Bill Safkow, who performed on NPR as a soloist with the
Santa Fe Desert Chorale, will sing Billy Sprague and Niles Borop's stirring
"Via Dolorosa."
Other featured singers include sopranos Mary Sheeran and Lynne Robinson,
baritone Russell Cook (King Herod), bass Wayne Kammerer (Caiaphus), and tenors
Mario Haigler (Peter) and Rick Carrier (Pontius Pilate).
Chelsea Community Church's annual Palm Sunday musical pageant is entitled
Superstar Jesus Christ, and it takes place in historic St. Peter's Chelsea
at 346 West 20th Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues). Chelsea Community
Church is a lay-led non-denominational Christian church for people of all
faiths and of uncertain faith. St. Peter's is an Episcopal church.
In addition to selections from the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber Superstar
production, music will include "Love Changes Everything," from Andrew Lloyd
Webber's musical Aspects of Love, Charles Gounod's "O Divine Redeemer," George
Bennard's "The Old Rugged Cross," and the American folk hymn "Were You There?"
The Palm Sunday musical pageant was written and directed by Rick Carrier,
a member of Chelsea Community Church. The service is free. An offering will
be accepted. For more information call 212-886-5463 or visit
www.chelseachurch.org.
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Amira Mor International
Entertainment Company
