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Jesus Christ Superstar
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Stage Production Notes
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyrics by Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar started life as a single song, “Superstar.” The single was released in 1969, and its popularity led to a full concept album released in 1970. The album resulted in a fully-fledged stage show performed at the Civic Arena in Pennsylvania in July 1971.
Jesus Christ Superstar was billed as a rock opera and was considered genre defining. As the album was more popular in the US than in the UK, it was decided to first open the show on Broadway.
The rock opera opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in October 1971. The production starred several of the performers who had appeared on the original concept album, including Jeff Fenholt, Ben Vereen, and Bob Bingham. Jesus Christ Superstar ran for over 700 performances, closing in June 1973. Lloyd Webber reportedly hated the production, describing it as “brash and vulgar.”
The West End run took place at the Palace Theatre in August 1972 starring Paul Nicholas, Stephen Tate, and Dana Gillespie. The production was an immense success, and ran for eight years. At the time of its closing, Jesus Christ Superstar was the longest running show in West End history (it now sits at number 21).
Whilst on tour with Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls in 1991, Big Fish Ensemble vocalist and drummer Michael Lorant was inspired to create an updated version of Jesus Christ Superstar that bought the album back to its rock roots. Recorded in Atlanta in January 1994, the album was cast and produced by Michael Lorant. The resulting album, Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection enlisted the work of over 100 Atlanta and Athens based musicians including the Indigo Girls. A concert of the album at SXSW in Austin was filmed live in 1995 and is available on YouTube.
Jesus Christ Superstar was endorsed by the Vatican as part of the year 2000 Jubilee celebrations.
A 25th anniversary production was staged at the Lyceum Theatre in London in 1996. The production was also revived on Broadway in 2000, and again in 2012.
In 2012, Really Useful Group launched an arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Tim Minchin, Melanie C, and reality tv contest winner Ben Forster. The arena tour was filmed in Birmingham and is widely available to view.
An open-air production staged at Regent’s Park in London in 2016 received glowing reviews.
Two film versions of the musical have been released. The first in 1973, directed by Norman Jewison, starred Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, and Yvonne Ellimann. The second, released in 2000, was directed by Gale Edwards, and starred Glenn Carter, Jerome Pradon, and Renee Castle.
Jesus Christ Superstar continues to be performed around the world, and translated into different languages including French, Spanish, and Serbian.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyrics by Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar started life as a single song, “Superstar.” The single was released in 1969, and its popularity led to a full concept album released in 1970. The album resulted in a fully-fledged stage show performed at the Civic Arena in Pennsylvania in July 1971.
Jesus Christ Superstar was billed as a rock opera and was considered genre defining. As the album was more popular in the US than in the UK, it was decided to first open the show on Broadway.
The rock opera opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in October 1971. The production starred several of the performers who had appeared on the original concept album, including Jeff Fenholt, Ben Vereen, and Bob Bingham. Jesus Christ Superstar ran for over 700 performances, closing in June 1973. Lloyd Webber reportedly hated the production, describing it as “brash and vulgar.”
The West End run took place at the Palace Theatre in August 1972 starring Paul Nicholas, Stephen Tate, and Dana Gillespie. The production was an immense success, and ran for eight years. At the time of its closing, Jesus Christ Superstar was the longest running show in West End history (it now sits at number 21).
Whilst on tour with Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls in 1991, Big Fish Ensemble vocalist and drummer Michael Lorant was inspired to create an updated version of Jesus Christ Superstar that bought the album back to its rock roots. Recorded in Atlanta in January 1994, the album was cast and produced by Michael Lorant. The resulting album, Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection enlisted the work of over 100 Atlanta and Athens based musicians including the Indigo Girls. A concert of the album at SXSW in Austin was filmed live in 1995 and is available on YouTube.
Jesus Christ Superstar was endorsed by the Vatican as part of the year 2000 Jubilee celebrations.
A 25th anniversary production was staged at the Lyceum Theatre in London in 1996. The production was also revived on Broadway in 2000, and again in 2012.
In 2012, Really Useful Group launched an arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Tim Minchin, Melanie C, and reality tv contest winner Ben Forster. The arena tour was filmed in Birmingham and is widely available to view.
An open-air production staged at Regent’s Park in London in 2016 received glowing reviews.
Two film versions of the musical have been released. The first in 1973, directed by Norman Jewison, starred Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, and Yvonne Ellimann. The second, released in 2000, was directed by Gale Edwards, and starred Glenn Carter, Jerome Pradon, and Renee Castle.
Jesus Christ Superstar continues to be performed around the world, and translated into different languages including French, Spanish, and Serbian.
Filmed Production Notes
Following on from the boom in live television musicals, NBC announced in May 2017 that it would air a live production of Jesus Christ Superstar on Easter Sunday, (April 1), 2018.
While previous live television musicals have been filmed without an audience on increasingly larger sound stages, Jesus Christ Superstar was slated as a live concert.
Between December 2017, and February 2018, NBC announced various stars would be appearing in the live musical concert, including Alice Cooper as King Herod, John Legend as Jesus Christ, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, and Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas.
On February 26, 2018, the Paley Center hosted a Behind the Scenes panel featuring the show's lead performers, producers, and director. The panel was moderated by New York Times theater reporter Michael Paulson and live-streamed on Facebook.
Tickets to attend the concert at the Marcy Armory in Brooklyn were made available via fansite 1iota.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert aired on NBC television in the United States on April 1, 2018.
The broadcast attracted approximately 9.34 million viewers. Despite the fact it was the most watched television show in its time slot, the numbers were low when compared to NBC’s previous live television broadcasts. For example, the 2013 broadcast of The Sound of Music Live had attracted 18.6 million viewers.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert received generally positive reviews. Noel Murray of the New York Times described it as “a conceptual and artistic triumph,” while David Rooney stated it was “an outstanding production.”
Nearly all reviewers made note of the musical’s stunning finale. The criticisms of the reviewers centered around the uneven sound mix, and the continual interruption created by adverts.
John Legend received mixed reviews for his portrayal of Jesus, while Brandon Victor Dixon was universally praised as Judas. Noel Murray described him as “powerful and charismatic,” while Variety’s Maureen Ryan claimed “Dixon gave heft, complexity and a majestic fatality” to the role.
Following on from the boom in live television musicals, NBC announced in May 2017 that it would air a live production of Jesus Christ Superstar on Easter Sunday, (April 1), 2018.
While previous live television musicals have been filmed without an audience on increasingly larger sound stages, Jesus Christ Superstar was slated as a live concert.
Between December 2017, and February 2018, NBC announced various stars would be appearing in the live musical concert, including Alice Cooper as King Herod, John Legend as Jesus Christ, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, and Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas.
On February 26, 2018, the Paley Center hosted a Behind the Scenes panel featuring the show's lead performers, producers, and director. The panel was moderated by New York Times theater reporter Michael Paulson and live-streamed on Facebook.
Tickets to attend the concert at the Marcy Armory in Brooklyn were made available via fansite 1iota.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert aired on NBC television in the United States on April 1, 2018.
The broadcast attracted approximately 9.34 million viewers. Despite the fact it was the most watched television show in its time slot, the numbers were low when compared to NBC’s previous live television broadcasts. For example, the 2013 broadcast of The Sound of Music Live had attracted 18.6 million viewers.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert received generally positive reviews. Noel Murray of the New York Times described it as “a conceptual and artistic triumph,” while David Rooney stated it was “an outstanding production.”
Nearly all reviewers made note of the musical’s stunning finale. The criticisms of the reviewers centered around the uneven sound mix, and the continual interruption created by adverts.
John Legend received mixed reviews for his portrayal of Jesus, while Brandon Victor Dixon was universally praised as Judas. Noel Murray described him as “powerful and charismatic,” while Variety’s Maureen Ryan claimed “Dixon gave heft, complexity and a majestic fatality” to the role.
“What also worked was placing a live musical in a live theater with an audience and filming it.”
— Linda Holmes (NPR)
— Linda Holmes (NPR)
Several critics notably celebrated the fact that Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert was performed with a live in-person audience. As Linda Holmes noted on NPR, live television musicals have seen “a shift toward theater talent and theater styling. Who knew the best way to put on a show was to just put on a show?”
The musical was released on Region 1 DVD on June 15, 2018, and was briefly available to view on NBC. It received an encore screening on NBC April 12, 2020.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert is currently available on DVD (as an Amazon Associate Filmed Live Musicals may earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
It was announced in October 2023 that BroadwayHD was partnering with NBCUniversal to stream several TV LIVE! musicals including The Wiz Live!, Hairspray Live!, and The Sound of Music Live!, in addition to musicals filmed live on stage including Shrek the Musical and Prince of Egypt.
The musical was released on Region 1 DVD on June 15, 2018, and was briefly available to view on NBC. It received an encore screening on NBC April 12, 2020.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert is currently available on DVD (as an Amazon Associate Filmed Live Musicals may earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
It was announced in October 2023 that BroadwayHD was partnering with NBCUniversal to stream several TV LIVE! musicals including The Wiz Live!, Hairspray Live!, and The Sound of Music Live!, in addition to musicals filmed live on stage including Shrek the Musical and Prince of Egypt.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Marcy Armory, Brooklyn
Producer: Universal Television, The Really Useful Group, Marc Platt Productions, Storyline Entertainment, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, John Legend, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius, Alex Rudzinski
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Director: David Leveaux, Film: Alex Rudzinski
Musical Director: Nigel Wright
Choreography: Camille A. Brown
Scenic Design: Jason Ardizzone-West
Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
Lighting Design: Al Gurdon
Cast:
John Legend (Jesus Christ), Alice Cooper (King Herod), Sara Bareilles ( Mary Magdalene), Brandon Victor Dixon (Judas), Norm Lewis (Caiaphas), Ben Daniels (Pontius Pilate), Jason Tam (Peter), Jin Ha (Annas), Erik Gronwall (Simon Zealotes)
Theatre: Marcy Armory, Brooklyn
Producer: Universal Television, The Really Useful Group, Marc Platt Productions, Storyline Entertainment, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, John Legend, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius, Alex Rudzinski
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Director: David Leveaux, Film: Alex Rudzinski
Musical Director: Nigel Wright
Choreography: Camille A. Brown
Scenic Design: Jason Ardizzone-West
Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
Lighting Design: Al Gurdon
Cast:
John Legend (Jesus Christ), Alice Cooper (King Herod), Sara Bareilles ( Mary Magdalene), Brandon Victor Dixon (Judas), Norm Lewis (Caiaphas), Ben Daniels (Pontius Pilate), Jason Tam (Peter), Jin Ha (Annas), Erik Gronwall (Simon Zealotes)
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Lorraine Ali, “NBC's 'Jesus Christ Superstar Live' shouldn't have worked. Here's why it did,” Los Angeles Times (April 2, 2018)
- Kristen Baldwin, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert was a glorious glitter bomb: EW review,” Entertainment Weekly (April 2, 2018)
- Jennifer J. Bogdanski, “A Musical About Jesus Christ?”, www.timrice.co.uk
- Anthony Crupi, “JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR' RATINGS ARE A LITTLE SHY OF MIRACULOUS,” Ad Age (April 2, 2018)
- Lyn Gardner, “Jesus Christ Superstar - review,” The Guardian (Sept 23, 2012)
- Leslie Goldberg, “Sara Bareilles Joins NBC's 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Live,” Hollywood Reporter (Jan 6, 2018)
- Adam Hetrick, “Jesus Christ Superstar U.S. Arena Tour Abruptly Canceled,” Playbill (May 30, 2014)
- Linda Holmes, “'Jesus Christ Superstar' Brings Strong Voices To A Familiar Story,” NPR: All Things Considered (April 2, 2018)
- Adrienne Jones, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live! An Updated Cast List,” Cinema Blend (Dec 2017)
- Ryan McPhee, “John Legend Will Star in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live!” Playbill (Dec 19, 2017)
- Noel Murray, “Review: In ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ an Old Story for (Yet Another) New Millennium,” New York Times (April 2, 2018)
- Joe Otterson, “‘Hamilton’ Alum Brandon Victor Dixon Joins NBC’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live’” Variety (Feb 22, 2018)
- Dino-Ray Ramos, “‘Hamilton’ Star Brandon Victor Dixon To Star As Judas In NBC’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’” Deadline (Feb 22, 2018)
- David Rooney, “'Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert': TV Review,” The Hollywood Reporter (April 1, 2018)
- Maureen Ryan, “TV Review: ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert’ on NBC,” Variety (April 1, 2018)
- Mark Shenton, “Full Cast Announced for U.K. Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar,” Playbill (Aug 22, 2012)
- Hank Stuever, “NBC’s live ‘Superstar’ rose up from its own chaos and found salvation in the end,” The Washington Post (April 2, 2018)
- Brittany Spanos, “NBC Plots Live 'Jesus Christ Superstar' for Easter 2018,” Rolling Stone (May 10, 2017)
- Kate Stanhope, “NBC Sets 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Live Musical for Spring 2018,” The Hollywood Reporter (May 10, 2017)
- Matt Tamanini, "BroadwayHD, NBCUniversal Signing Deal to Bring Live Musicals to Streamer," Streamable (Oct 5, 2023)
- Laura Thompson, “Tim Minchin, Chris Moyles, Mel C in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, O2, review,” The Telegraph (Sept 22, 2012)
- Ray Waddell, “’Jesus Christ Superstar' Tour Failed Due to 'Horrific' Ticket Sales, Says Promoter,” Billboard (June 6, 2014)
- Press Release, “Jesus Christ Superstar UK Arena Tour,” AndrewLloydWebber.com (May 16, 2012)
- Press Release, “Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE Arena Tour DVD/Blu-Ray released!” AndrewLloydWebber.com (Nov 20, 2012)
- Press Release, “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” New Arena Production Rocks Cinemas This Fall,” Fathom Events (Oct 9, 2012)
- Press Release, “JOHN LEGEND SET FOR TITLE ROLE IN NBC’S ‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT!’ FROM BROOKLYN, N.Y.” NBC Universal (Dec 19, 2017)
Websites
- Really Useful Group, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” AndrewLloydWebber.com
- Jesus Christ Superstar official website, accessed via: http://www.jesuschristsuperstar.com/about/
- Tim Minchin, “Tim Minchin 2,” A Bit of A Chat with Ken Plume podcast (Jan 30, 2013)
Written by Luisa Lyons (January, 2018. Updated Feb, April, and June 2018, and March 2020.)