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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 26, 2004 Contact: Leland Stein
Director/guitarist Sal Clemente and Producer/drummer Alan Ware are set to begin filming the behind-the-scenes process of bringing a longtime musical dream to fruition. For three years, Clemente and Ware have been recording their own version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, in a private recording studio located (ironically) in a church outside Davis Square in Somerville. “We’d always been fans of the original JCS, even covering one of the tunes on a record back in ’96. That’s what led to the idea of a new version,” Says Ware. Clemente adds, “Every recording out there is basically a rehash of the original. This is a re-invented Superstar—more rock than opera. Think Joe Cocker doing the Beatles with a sound that’s been upgraded to 2004.” The idea to create a “rockumentary” came well after the idea to record the music, but proved to be the impetus to push the project through to its finish.“ It was an incredibly daunting task. Essentially we recorded two full albums--24 songs in all,” says Ware. “We were getting a bit bogged down with the second act and weren’t quite sure how we would promote the album. Once we had the idea to marry the recording process to our filmmaking, we knew we were onto a way to get the music heard.” The film, LOOKING FOR JESUS, will begin with auditions for vocalists February 20 and 21, 2004, move into the completion of the recording, and then climax with a weekend of live concerts at the 500-seat Regent Theatre in Arlington on May 14, 15, and 16, 2004. “When Sal requested a meeting with us, we had no idea what to expect.” says Regent Theatre Marketing and Booking Manager, Leland Stein. “He showed up with his cameraman to film the proceedings, and after hearing just a few minutes of Sal’s concept we were all 100% ready to jump on board the LOOKING FOR JESUS train. It’s just the type of exciting, unusual production that we can sink our teeth into, and one which we’re confident will appeal to our audience.” “We’re thrilled to be doing the concerts at the Regent.” says Clemente, “It’s a unique venue and perfect for the kind of event we want this to be, a real rock tribute to the famous ‘Brown’ album, the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar, before it became a robes and sandals Broadway show.” Details about the recording, the film, the auditions February 20 and 21, and the May 14, 15, and 16 concerts, can be found at www.ultrasonicproductions.com. Ultrasonic Productions produces original music for television and film with songs featured recently on Judging Amy and The Sopranos. Two of their short films have garnered national attention. In 2002, Clemente was selected as a semi-finalist in HBO’s Project Greenlight Director’s Contest. The historic Regent Theatre, Arlington’s “Show Place of Entertainment” since 1916, is currently presenting its third year of performances under new ownership. Located at 7 Medford St. (just off Mass. Ave.) in Arlington Center—a few miles from Cambridge and Boston—the theatre is MBTA and wheelchair accessible with plenty of free parking across the street. For more information call (781) 646-4TIX (4849)
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