If you – like me – skim articles in the spirit of getting the gist while conserving your time, then let me just jump to the lead: GO SEE THIS SHOW. I’m a Mac-Hayden super fan which is how I got this gig blurbing for Trixie’s List, and I’m just gonna say that Jesus Christ Superstar is one of the absolute best that our local jewel box of a theater has produced in the five years that I’ve been frequenting it. The energy, the music and the casting are perfection. Stop reading now and get your tickets for the final weekend because they will sell out!
Okay. Now that you have your tickets secured, our other reviewer, Lodro, will give you the 10,000 reasons you will not be disappointed:
When I was in high school, I was a bit of a theater nerd. I played roles like Hamlet, Peter Pan, and the Elephant Man. But when it came time for Jesus Christ Superstar, I got about thrity seconds into my singing audition before being unceremoniously handed the role of Stage Manager.
I mention this because Jesus Christ Superstar is a remarkably difficult musical to pull off. There’s no traditional exposition followed by a song to explain what’s happening—the entire show is sung. It’s a wall-to-wall musical experience, jam after jam. And then, in the final thirty seconds, it pivots from toe-tapping energy to gut-wrenching exposition—in the best, most powerful way possible.
Which brings me to this: Jared Goodwin is one of the best things to happen to the Mac-Haydn in years. His performance as Jesus is phenomenal, but it’s his voice that truly elevates the production. In a show where everything is music, he shines.
Right alongside him in talent is Jacob Atkins as Judas. He’s gripping, pitch-perfect, and utterly magnetic. I couldn’t take my eyes off him any time he was on stage. A standing ovation for Judas wasn’t on my summer bingo card, but he earns it, night after night.
And then there’s Fiona Phelps as “The Guide”—a consistent, mysterious presence throughout the play. Is she the devil? The embodiment of sin? A neutral tour guide for destiny? Who knows—and honestly, who cares? She’s mesmerizing. The way she moves, contorts, and threads us through the narrative is stunning.
The entire ensemble is phenomenal. I don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes over there, but I’ve never seen such a unified cast at the Mac-Haydn. Cydney Gleckner brings great warmth and presence to Mary Magdalene. And a special shoutout to Mikel Hunter for injecting much-needed levity as King Herod—his solo is a highlight.
The production design is equally top-notch. Sam Landy’s costumes? Fantastic. Andrew Gmoser’s lighting design? Inventive and elegant, conjuring a dozen distinct worlds on a single, simple stage. Kaitlyn Frank’s choreography? Literally jaw-dropping. And credit to John Saunders, who clearly has a knack for attracting top-tier talent to the Mac-Haydn. For that, I am deeply grateful.
Bottom line: this show is fantastic. Cancel your weekend plans and see it twice.
Click here for tickets.
I would love to see it as a national touring group like Broadway Across America. I saw it twice and it indeed went to the top of my favorites. It is simply stunning though there is nothing simple about it. It was as close to perfection as any Broadway show I have witnessed. It needs to run longer than 2 weeks!!! Jared and crew; I SALUTE YOU‼️‼️