This fall, the Louisville Youth Choir will be taking the stage for their 50th season. But according to LYC’s executive and artistic director Terri Foster, they’ll be doing things a little differently.
“We have been waiting on approval for a big co-production of a full-scale musical,” Foster says.
She says while individual members or groups from the youth choir have been featured in larger productions, like the Louisville Orchestra’s presentation of Bernstein’s “Mass,” the group as a whole has never been involved in a production like that.
But Wednesday morning, Foster received the final approval for the youth choir’s musical.
Well -- actually, their rock opera.
Foster says LYC will team up with the Sacred Heart School for the Arts to put on Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
The 1970 musical -- which began as a concept album -- is loosely based on the gospels' accounts of Jesus’ last day. It is sung completely through with no spoken dialogue, making it a perfect choice for LYC’s first foray into musical theater, Foster says.
“The choir throughout its history has had the opportunity to do drop-ins and sing certain parts, but our singers will be actively auditioning for parts in the show,” Foster says.
But the musical is just one part of LYC’s big plans for their 50th year. Another element is the launch of the youth choir’s endowment fund. Their board has set a $50,000 fundraising goal this year.
“That really speaks to our board as far as being forward-thinking and wanting to make sure the choir sustains itself for another 50,” Foster says.
One of the key organizational points for LYC is that no child who auditions and is accepted in the choir will be turned away for being unable to pay registration fees.
“Additionally, any student who signs up is really paying only about 40 percent of the cost to be involved in the choir thanks to donors,” Foster says.
The Louisville Youth Choir’s 50th season officially kicks off with their fall concert on Oct. 21. “Jesus Christ Superstar” will come along later in the year -- leaving you (and me) plenty of time to break out the original cast recording of the show in preparation.