Spotlight On: Lisa Bynes
Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. Get to know Lisa Bynes who is in the ensemble of our production!
Introduce yourself to our audience.
HI I’m Lisa Bynes and I’m in the ensemble of JCS.. it’s my first musical in 40 years…and I’m really excited.
The score for Jesus Christ Superstar is notoriously taxing. What are your specific vocal warm-up routines or rest-day rituals to maintain your voice?
I just relax my body and my vocal chords…
This show is largely a non-stop, sung-through rock rollercoaster. How do you maintain the dramatic arc and emotional stamina from the overture to the curtain call?
I don’t know…lol…I’m just going to get an adrenaline rush and pull the rest out of me.
The musical has been thrilling audiences for over 50 years. What do you think makes this sung-through rock opera still feel contemporary and relevant to modern audiences?
Music transcends all space and time!!!
Historically, this show has faced protests and intense debate regarding its content. Does that legacy of controversy cross the cast’s mind today, or has the cultural perception completely shifted?
I don’t know about anyone else, but I think we’ve moved past the radical opinions but there are always people who might not respect it… I’m actually freer because of it.
From the opening overture to the final curtain, the show rarely stops for a breath. What is the rehearsal environment like trying to maintain that high-octane energy?
Everyone is really here for it!! The whole cast has immense talent and energy on our own.. we are generally happy to be here and that comes across..
How do you balance full-time jobs, school, or family commitments with an intense community theater rehearsal schedule?
I work days, rehearse at night and learn everything in between.
Community theater casts often become incredibly tight-knit very quickly. How did this specific cast build its chemistry and trust during rehearsals?
There are so many of us … I think we became close because of the music..I know Altos are tight!
When local theatergoers leave the venue and head to their cars, what is the main conversation or feeling you hope they take home with them?
I hope they just leave feeling SOMETHING…but strongly with opinion!
“Jesus Christ Superstar” opens on July 31st and runs through August 9th at Connecticut Theatre Company. Tickets on sale now!
“Despite its biblical setting and characters, Jesus Christ Superstar feels strikingly relevant to modern audiences. At its core, the story delves into timeless human struggles — the cost of conviction, the burden of leadership, and the tension between faith and fame. In an age where celebrity culture and social media amplify every public figure’s rise and fall, Judas’s disillusionment and Jesus’s exhaustion under public scrutiny resonate more deeply than ever. Moreover, the show’s themes of political uncertainty, moral compromise, and the clash between individual conscience and authority mirror the dilemmas faced in today’s world.” — RACHEL WONG of Broadwayworld
“‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ is a glorious vocal showcase and an aching human drama.” — EMIL HOFILENA of Theater Fans Manila
“Yet the star, all these years on, remains the musical itself. Now that it no longer shocks, what strikes you is Lloyd Webber’s brilliant conceptual range – not a sentence I find myself writing often – as he innovates in styles ranging from gospel, hard rock, jazz, and funk through to folk, and contemporary classical. Rice’s lyrics remain intelligently provocative too and still feel edgily political.” — RACHEL HALLIBURTON of theartsdesk.com
