Spotlight On: Cheyana Rose
Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. Get to know Cheyana Rose who is in the ensemble of our production!
Introduce yourself to our audience.
Hi! I’m Cheyana Rose. I’m a full-time biology student at Central Connecticut State University, where I’m on the executive board of our all-treble a cappella group. I also work as a barista, and I’ve been vocally trained for the past 12 years. “Jesus Christ Superstar” has been one of my favorite musicals for a long time, so getting to be part of this production is really special to me. Outside of theater, I’m a huge Zelda fan, and I spend a lot of my free time with my dachshund, Ollie.
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’ve learned over the years that warming up is just as important as singing. I usually start with breathing exercises, lip trills, sirens, and scales before rehearsals. I also try to stay really hydrated and give my voice time to recover when I’m not rehearsing. Since I’ve been training for so long, I’ve figured out what my voice needs to stay healthy.
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 try not to think about how much of the show is left. I stay focused on what’s happening in each moment and let the story carry me from scene to scene. The music has so much energy that it really helps keep you going, and being surrounded by such a committed cast makes it even easier.
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?
At its core, it’s a story about people. It’s about loyalty, doubt, power, love, betrayal, and how different people see the same events. Those are things that people still relate to today, so even after all these years, the story still feels meaningful.
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 think people today are more open to seeing different interpretations of familiar stories. Everyone comes into the theater with their own perspective, and that’s okay. Our job is to tell the story as honestly as we can and let audiences take away whatever speaks to them.
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?
It’s definitely intense! There’s a lot of singing, movement, and staying focused, but everyone has been incredibly supportive of each other. We work hard, laugh a lot, and keep each other’s energy up, which makes the long rehearsals really enjoyable.
How do you balance full-time jobs, school, or family commitments with an intense community theater rehearsal schedule?
It definitely takes planning. Between being a full-time biology student, working as a barista, rehearsing, and being involved with my a cappella group, my schedule stays pretty full. I rely on my planner on my iPad, stay organized, and remind myself that I’m doing all of this because I genuinely love it.
Community theater casts often become incredibly tight-knit very quickly. How did this specific cast build its chemistry and trust during rehearsals?
I think it happened naturally. Everyone came in wanting to put on the best show possible, and we’ve spent so much time together that friendships formed really quickly. It’s a very supportive group, and you can feel that both in rehearsals and on stage.
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 people leave feeling like they experienced something powerful. Whether it’s the music, the performances, or the story itself, I hope there’s something that sticks with them after they leave the theater. And if they’re singing one of the songs on the drive home, that’s an added bonus!
“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
