On a quiet evening in the village of Dennison, music could be heard along Grant Street coming from the third-floor windows of the municipal building.
It鈥檚 tech week for the Waterford Players and the cast and crew are perfecting final details like sound, lighting and costumes before opening night of 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar,鈥� the first major musical production for the group since its founding in 2023.
Andrew Lloyd Webber鈥檚 rock opera, which debuted on Broadway in 1971, reimagines the final week of Jesus鈥� life from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus in exchange for thirty pieces of silver.
Of the 20 or so cast members of 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar,鈥� all are local from Tuscarawas County and neighboring Stark County.
Not only is this the first major production for the Waterford Players, it鈥檚 also the first time performing in a permanent home. The auditorium on the top floor of Dennison鈥檚 Village Hall underwent several years of renovations and upgrades, including an expanded stage.
鈥淚t's been a great responsibility, because I told all the people that we are making history here because you only have one chance to give a first impression,鈥� said Jonathan Jurado, the show鈥檚 director. 鈥淣o matter what happens, this is going to be the memory that the people are going have for the first play.鈥�
Jurado鈥檚 love of theater began at age 9 in Mexico, and he鈥檚 performed in more than 60 plays. He came to the U.S. eight years ago and previously worked with a small community theater in Deersville, about 25 minutes southeast of Dennison.
This will be the seventh show he鈥檚 directed, but his first in the U.S. 鈥� another in a series of milestones for this performance.
Jurado said one thing he enjoys about 鈥淛esus Christ Superstar鈥� is that there are many different ways to stage the show and make it unique.
He also said he hopes the audience is pleased with this production and eager to see what the Waterford Players do next.
Accessible art for all
Laura Gray, Waterford Players鈥� founder, was always surrounded by music as she grew up on a farm near Dennison. Her five children all enjoy the performing arts, but she said options are limited in southern Tuscarawas County compared to cities further north.
鈥淔or us, it鈥檚 like a good 45-minute drive to get to New Philadelphia or Dover,鈥� Gray said. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 just kind of prohibitory for a lot of people.鈥�
Creating the Waterford Players was a way to fill that gap.
In addition to theater, the organization has also hosted dance classes, a music theory workshop, a teen talent show and a performing arts camp for kids.
The main goal from the very beginning has always been centered on accessibility, she said, not just for the audience but also for the performers.
鈥淪ometimes people think they're curious about theater or they're serious about performing but they're scared, and it feels like, 鈥極h, I'm not good enough,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e fostered an environment where they feel comfortable to come join us.鈥�
The youngest performer is Gray鈥檚 10-year-old daughter while older members are in their mid-60s. And in a community where artistic opportunities are more limited than in other areas, Waterford Players provide an option for multiple generations to perform or see live theater.
鈥淚t gives the people an option for south Tuscarawas County that is closer to them,鈥� Jurado said. 鈥淚f they know and they get hooked with us, then we're going to be a big benefit, not only for the community but for the Waterford Players and for everybody.鈥�
鈥淛esus Christ Superstar鈥� runs Friday through Sunday on the third floor of the municipal building at 302 Grant St. in Dennison.
