YORK Musical Theatre Company will hold auditions for Jesus Christ Superstar on August 9 and 10.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's timeless rock musical is to be staged at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, from November 27 to 30, in place of the previously scheduled High Society.

The show will be dedicated to the memory of the company's former leading man and chairman Richard Bainbridge, whose funeral was held in Sowerby, Thirsk, on Wednesday, when St Oswald's Church was so packed that hundreds stood outside listening to the service through speakers.

Richard, who fittingly was given one last burst of applause and a standing ovation, had the original thought that YMTC should stage Jesus Christ Superstar.

Kathryn Addison, chair of YMTC, says: "The executive committee has been working hard over the past month, and when given the chance to perform such an exciting show, it was too good an opportunity to miss.

"We made the decision on commercial grounds to cancel High Society and replace it with the opportunity offered to us, and we couldn’t be more excited.

York Press:

"We are proud to be dedicating the show to our beloved Richard Bainbridge," says York Musical Theatre Company chair Kathryn Addison

"We are proud to be dedicating the show to our beloved friend Richard Bainbridge, who first had the idea to do the show. We are determined to make it as big a success as possible in memory of him."

Jesus Christ Superstar first emerged as a rock-opera concept album before its Broadway stage debut in 1971 with a score featuring Superstar, Everything’s Alright and I Don’t Know How To Love Him.The show has since played to audiences across the world for more than 40 years, with its musical account of an extraordinary and universally known series of events seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.

The show is sung through and makes demands on any voice, particularly for the lead roles. The Company is looking to cast the following roles and voices: Jesus and Judas, rock tenors; Pilate, rock baritone; Herod, high baritone; Peter, tenor; Caiaphas, low bass/"rocky top"; Annas, Simon, high baritone, and Mary, "exotic". Further roles are a chorus of Priests, Lepers, Apostles, Angels and Soul Girls.

Those aged 16 and over are invited to register to audition by Friday, August 2. Auditions times and details for August 9 and 10 will be sent out once registration has closed. To find out more and to register for auditions, visit membermojo.co.uk/ymtcjoinus.