The Collegiate Chorale
Ted Sperling, Artistic Director, 73rd Concert Season Presents

NOT THE MESSIAH (He’s a Very Naughty Boy)

Inspired by Monty Python’s The Life of Brian
By ERIC IDLE and JOHN Du PREZ

Featuring
LAUREN WORSHAM, Soprano
VICTORIA CLARK, Mezzo-soprano
WILLIAM FERGUSON, Tenor
ERIC IDLE, Baritone-ish and Narrator
MARC KUDISCH, Bass
LYNNE MARIE ROSENBERG, Sheep Lady
THE COLLEGIATE CHORALE
ORCHESTRA OF ST. LUKE’S
MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK METRO PIPE BAND (Brendan Gomez, James M. Feeney, Donal Morrisey, Scott M. Gajdos)
TED SPERLING, Conductor and Director
Lighting Designer: FRANCES ARONSON
Sound Designer: SCOTT LEHRER
Stage Manager: LINDSEY TURTELTAUB
Wardrobe Supervisor: RACHEL TOWNSEND

Carnegie Hall
57th Street & Seventh Avenue
212-247-7800 or www.carnegiehall.org
December 15 & 16, 2014

Your first clue should be in the title – NOT THE MESSIAH (He’s a Very Naughty Boy). Your second is the Monty Python model, and third is Eric Idle as Creator, Narrator, “Baratone-ish Singer, and Instigator. This is a night full of sacrilegious irreverent innuendos, sarcasm, and just out-and-out fun. Idle and John Du Prez are responsible for this convoluted version of one of the oldest stories around. In this comic oratoria the mixed musical styles include pop, country, Broadway, doo-wop, hip hop and Greek chorus. You can throw in the New York Metro Pipe Band for good measure. Idle defines it as “Baroque-N-Roll.”

Based on the movie The Life of Brian, William Ferguson is the reluctant Messiah conceived by Mother Mandy (Victoria Clark) as the result of a financial transaction that involved the display of her ample bosom. Lovely Lauren Worsham is Brian’s love interest, and Marc Kudisch’s deep bass voice provides a variety of male characters. The Sheep Lady (Lynne Marie Rosenberg) occasionally joins in the madness. And make no mistake, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s directed by Tony and Drama Desk Award Winner Ted Sperling is in on the plot. Not only providing impressive music but also creative choreography, they are worthy of quite a few chuckles themselves.

Orgasms, prostitution, shoe worship, Bob Dylan impressions, transgender dreams, and Romans running amok – this ain’t your momma’s Messiah but it sure is fun.

- Laurie Lawson -