With Jesus Christ Superstar finishing its final performance a few weeks ago, Danbury High School officially closed out its spring musical season. As actors took their final bows and crew members packed away microphones, props, and spotlights, the end of the production marked an emotional moment for many students—especially graduating seniors.
The rock-opera style musical follows the final week of Jesus’ life through dramatic performances and energetic music. While DHS has a long history of theater productions, Jesus Christ Superstar had never before been performed at the school. Unlike previous musicals such as Hairspray and Mamma Mia!, this year’s production stood out because of its unconventional style and more serious themes, creating a unique experience for both students and audiences.
Although actors spend months rehearsing choreography, vocals, and scenes, many students do not realize how much work happens behind the scenes. Crew members often begin their most intense work during “Tech Week,” the two weeks leading up to opening night when lighting, sound, props, and scene changes are fully integrated into the production.
“The biggest challenge I faced when working on the show was putting everything together two weeks before opening night,” said senior crew member John Wilcox.
Wilcox explained that his responsibilities included setting up props and microphones while also operating a spotlight during performances. Despite the pressure of Tech Week, he said the production finally came together before opening night was one of the most rewarding moments of the experience.
“One successful moment I had when working on the show was when the entire show as a whole finally came together as a finished product before opening night,” Wilcox said.
Along with technical experience, Wilcox said he developed skills in microphone setup and spotlight operation while also learning the importance of teamwork and professionalism.
“I worked with the cast and crew to make sure everything got done in a timely, professional manner and helped my peers with anything they needed,” he said.
For cast members, the experience brought a different set of challenges. Senior Michael Oppermann played James the Elder, one of Christ’s twelve apostles. According to Oppermann, balancing stage presence while keeping his character believable required careful performance choices.
“Having a standout character without exaggerating wasn’t always easy,” Oppermann said.
Despite the challenge, Oppermann said one of his favorite moments came during the sequence from “Hosanna” to “Simon’s Song,” where the excitement and energy of the cast transformed the atmosphere on stage.
“The joy we feel when Christ enters Jerusalem, it’s almost childlike,” Oppermann said. “The moment we start dancing, it feels like a drug.”
Like many theater students, Oppermann described performing as an experience that allows actors to step outside themselves and fully immerse themselves in another perspective.
“It feels like you’re in another world, like you’re seeing from the eyes of another person,” he said. “The more you perform, the less it feels like you’re being watched.”
As the curtain closed on this year’s production, both cast and crew reflected on the months of preparation, collaboration, and dedication that went into bringing Jesus Christ Superstar to the DHS stage. For many seniors, the production served as not only the end of a musical season, but also one of their final memories in the theater program.
“Like track practice, it’s the smaller details that shape the final outcome,” Oppermann said. “You don’t always have to have the biggest presence in the room, as long as others know that you care.”
