Jesus saves: In Tandem Theatre plans Superstar fundraiser

When the people at In Tandem Theatre hold a fund-raiser, they don't mess around—they just go directly to the big man upstairs. Co-founders Chris and Jane Flieller are celebrating the theater company's 12th anniversary with a concert performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s cheesy Bible rock classic, Jesus Christ Superstar, taking place this weekend. The cast is well known to Milwaukee arts followers, including Tommy Hahn, who plays Judas and will soon take on the lead role in Skylight Opera's production of Rent. Also in the cast is the formidable Angela Iannone, who recently did a one-woman show as Katherine Hepburn for In Tandem’s Tea At Five and has won Chicago's prestigious Jeff Award for her performance in Guys And Dolls. Still wondering why should you spend money to see Jesus Christ Superstar yet again? We asked Jane to sell us on it.

The A.V. Club: Jesus Christ Superstar is a religious story that’s also incredibly cheesy and melodramatic. How are you approaching it for this show?

Jane Flieller: Because it's a concert version, I'm more focused on the music and the sound, like you would see a symphony chorus, but give it a little bit of oomph with costumes and a little bit of movement. I've got some amazing voices, I want to focus on that. It's a concert staging, no dance numbers.

AVC: No whipping?

JF: I'm trying to figure out how I want to do that. Do we go through the whole 40 lashes because of the theatrical impact that makes, just the sound of it? Unlike Ted Neely, he won't fly out of here.

AVC: How has getting your own theater helped your company?

JF: Having a permanent venue has made a huge difference; in terms of planning, marketing, how people find us. Since moving here, our season subscriptions have gone up 69 percent in one year. It's our third year, our second round of season subscriptions, and both years it was right around 69 percent.

AVC: Has the economy been slowing you down?

JF: We've been very, very fortunate this season. I think people are still spending money, they're just spending it carefully. I'm hoping that there's a trend towards more experience and less stuff; "I don't need another television in my house that already has seven of them, I want to go experience something."

AVC: What's your recipe for successful theater?

JF: Our mission is about plays that are strong on storytelling. We know what our technical limitations are. When you're satisfied with knowing what you are, it's easier to spend the time and energy focusing on the work, and you produce good stuff. Chris and I are very product-oriented. You're gonna see a good product.

AVC: Like a well-made cheese.

JF: It's a business. [Laughs.] If you want your business to thrive, it's got to be about your product, and that sends some artistic folks running for the hill "You called it a product!" I don't take that as a negative thing.