Jesus Christ Superstar
The US album cover for the 1970 release of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Music	Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics	Tim Rice
Productions	1971 Broadway 1971 Vilnius 1971 Budapest 1972 West End 1975 Madrid 1977 Broadway 1984 Madrid 1992 Australia 1994 Prague 1996 West End revival 1998 UK Tour 2000 Broadway revival 2001 UK Tour 2003 US Tour 2004 UK Tour 2007 Madrid 2007 South Korea 2008 Iceland

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Released as a double-album in 1970, it highlights the political and interpersonal struggles of Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The action largely follows the canonical gospels' accounts of the last weeks of Jesus' life, beginning with Jesus and his followers arriving in Jerusalem and ending with the Crucifixion. Twentieth-century attitude and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the political depiction of the events. Stage and film productions accordingly feature many intentional anachronisms. Image File history File links Jcs_us_cover. ... Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948) is a highly successful English composer of musical theatre, and also the elder brother of cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. ... Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is an English Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award winning lyricist, author, radio presenter and television gameshow panelist. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... Not to be confused with Vilnius city municipality. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... For other uses, see Budapest (disambiguation). ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Spanish capital. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the Spanish capital. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... For other uses, see Prague (disambiguation). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... This article is about the Spanish capital. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973, Oscar-nominated film adaptation of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, about the last weeks of the life of Jesus. ... Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970 rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. ... The Whos Tommy, the first album explicitly billed as a rock opera A rock opera is a rock music album or stage production that resembles the form of an opera. ... Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice (born 10 November 1944) is an English Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award winning lyricist, author, radio presenter and television gameshow panelist. ... Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948) is a highly successful English composer of musical theatre, and also the elder brother of cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Iscariot redirects here. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... A biblical canon is a list of Biblical books which establishes the set of books which are considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular Jewish or Christian community. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Crucifixion (disambiguation). ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Look up Anachronism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas who is depicted as a conflicted, tragic figure who is not satisfied with what he views as Jesus's lack of planning, and alarmed by the relatively recent claims of his divinity. Iscariot redirects here. ... For other uses, see Tragedy (disambiguation). ...

Plot and songs

Act I

After an overture the production starts with a musical monologue from apostle Judas Iscariot, who expresses concern over Jesus' ever rising popularity as a "king" and the negative repercussions that it will have ("Heaven on Their Minds"). While Judas still loves Jesus, he believes that Jesus is just a man and that the movement is getting too large and will eventually be seen as a threat to the higher order. Judas believes, once this comes to pass, not only will Jesus receive the consequences, but so will all of his followers. Unlike Jesus, Judas views the movement as a secular quest to end poverty and aid the poor. However, Judas' warning falls on deaf ears, as Jesus' followers have their minds set on going to Jerusalem with Jesus. As they question Jesus as to when they will be arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus tells them to stop worrying about the future since whatever will happen is already predetermined by fate ("What's the Buzz?").

Recognizing that Jesus is irritated by the badgering from his followers, Mary Magdalene helps Jesus relax by massaging him with ointment. However, Judas expresses concern over the fact that Jesus is associating himself with Mary (a prostitute). Judas says that by associating with her, he (Jesus) is contradicting everything that he says and this, in turn, will be used against him and his followers ("Strange Thing Mystifying"). Jesus gets angry and tells Judas that unless he is without sin himself, he should not be judging the character of others. Jesus then reproaches his apostles of being "shallow, thick and slow," and exclaims that not a single man among them cares about him. This article is about the disciple of Jesus. ... For other uses, see Sin (disambiguation). ...

Mary Magdalene tries to assure Jesus that everything will be all right and attempts to relax him with more ointment ("Everything's Alright"). In response, Judas angrily insists that the money used to obtain the ointment should have been used for more to help the poor. Jesus sadly explains that he and his followers do not have the resources to help every poor person. Everythings Alright is a Jesus Christ Superstar song by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber in which Mary Magdalene--along with the wives of the married apostles--comforts Jesus. ...

Meanwhile, Caiaphas, Annas and other high-ranking proud Jewish priests meet to discuss Jesus and his movement. At this point, his followers continue to grow by the thousands, so much that even the higher order is aware of the hype. Given the size of Jesus' movement and the fact that the movement consists of Jews who are unwilling to accept the Romans as their kings (in contrast to the high Jewish priests), the priests believe that he is becoming a threat to the Roman Empire. And if the Roman Empire is threatened, then many Jews will suffer – perhaps even those who are not following Jesus. As all of the priests attempt to solve the problem of Jesus and his followers, Caiaphas states that the only real solution is to kill Jesus ("This Jesus Must Die"). Yhosef Bar Kayafa (Hebrew יְהוֹסֵף בַּר קַיָּפָא, ), also known as Caiaphas (Greek Καϊάφας) in the New Testament, was the Jewish high priest to whom Jesus was taken after his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, and who played a part in Jesus trial before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. ... Annas (also Ananus), son of Seth, was a Jewish High Priest from AD 6 to 15 and remained an influential leader afterwards. ...

As Jesus and his followers arrive in Jerusalem, they are confronted by Caiaphas, who demands that Jesus disband them. However, Jesus replies that putting an end to the hysteria is impossible ("Hosanna"). Afterwards, Jesus is approached by his apostle Simon Zealotes. Realizing the popularity that Jesus has attained, Simon suggests that he (Jesus) lead his mob in a war against Rome and gain absolute power ("Simon Zealotes"). But Jesus vehemently rejects this suggestion, stating that none of his followers understand what true power is nor do they understand his true message ("Poor Jerusalem"). Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      The apostle...

Meanwhile, Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, reveals that he has dreamed of meeting with Jesus and seen the aftermath of Jesus' death, where he, Pilate receives all of the blame. However, Pilate is not entirely clear of the meaning of his dream ("Pilate's Dream"). Pilate redirects here. ...

Jesus arrives at the temple in Jerusalem and finds that it is being used for selling everything from weapons to prostitutes and drugs. When Jesus arrives, he is furious and demands that the merchants and money changers leave the temple ("The Temple"). Angry and tired, Jesus wanders off and gets confronted by a mob of lepers, cripples, and beggars, all wanting to be healed. However, the mob is too large and Jesus gets overwhelmed. Unable to solve everyone's problems for them, Jesus tells the crowd to heal themselves.

After the mob leaves, Mary Magdalene finds Jesus upset. Mary tells him to rest. ("Everything's Alright-Reprise") While Jesus is asleep, Mary reflects on the fact that while she is in love with Jesus, he is unlike any man that she has loved before. As a result, Mary does not know how to cope with her feelings ("I Don't Know How to Love Him"). Everythings Alright is a Jesus Christ Superstar song by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber in which Mary Magdalene--along with the wives of the married apostles--comforts Jesus. ... Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1971 rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. ...

Meanwhile, Judas worries more and more about Jesus' ever growing movement. He promises to help the priests against Jesus, while emphasizing that he is acting with unselfish motives ("Damned for All Time"). Caiaphas demands that Judas should reveal the whereabouts of Jesus, so that the authorities can apprehend him and imprison him. In exchange for the information, Judas is offered money. Judas initially turns down the offer, as it raises some ethical concerns within him. But he eventually obliges when Caiaphas tells of charities that he can give the money to. Judas decides that it would be better to turn Jesus in before his movement gets any bigger, which would thus lead to the deaths of not only him, but all of his followers as well. Thus, presumably to save the thousands of followers and himself, Judas reveals that on Thursday night, Jesus of Nazareth will be at the garden of Gethsemane ("Blood Money"). The Garden of Gethsemane. ...

Act II

On Thursday, Jesus meets with his twelve apostles for the Last Supper. Jesus realizes, unbeknownst to the apostles, that this will be his last supper with them. As Jesus passes bread and pours wine for his dining partners, he reminds them that they should remember him during supper by thinking of the wine as his blood and the bread as his body. Upon reflection, he angrily exclaims that nobody will even remember him after he dies and that two of his closest friends will betray and deny him. Jesus then reveals that Peter will be the one who denies him, not once, but three times. Before Jesus says another word, Judas reveals to everyone that he is the person who will make the betrayal, but Jesus allows him to go. Judas attempts to explain why he will do it, but Jesus refuses to listen. This makes Judas angry and he blames Jesus for all the trouble that has occurred up until this point. Upset, Judas leaves to find the Roman soldiers and bring them to Jesus ("The Last Supper"). For other uses, see The Last Supper (disambiguation). ... St Peter redirects here. ...

After his apostles go to sleep, Jesus speaks to God, addressing him as "father." Jesus questions God as to why he must be the one to die and what his death will mean in the grand scheme of things. But Jesus recognizes that he cannot go against God's divine plan – whether he knows what his death will mean or not – and agrees to die in accordance with the plan ("Gethsemane").

Judas arrives with the soldiers and, in order to point Jesus out to them, kisses him on the cheek. Afterwards, Jesus gets arrested. As his apostles wake up, they attempt to fight the authorities in order to free their Messiah, but Jesus asks them to put their swords away and let the authorities take him to Caiaphas. As the Roman soldiers take him to Caiaphas, a mob, imitating newsreporters, asks Jesus what he plans to do, but Jesus declines to comment. When Jesus meets with Caiaphas, Caiaphas asks if he is the son of God. Jesus responds: "That's what you say, you say that I am." This answer provides enough justification for the high priests to send Jesus to Pontius Pilate ("The Arrest"). Yhosef Bar Kayafa (Hebrew יְהוֹסֵף בַּר קַיָּפָא, ), also known as Caiaphas (Greek Καϊάφας) in the New Testament, was the Jewish high priest to whom Jesus was taken after his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, and who played a part in Jesus trial before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. ... Pilate redirects here. ...

Meanwhile, Jesus' apostle Peter is confronted by an old man, a soldier, and a maid by a fire. Each state that they remember seeing him with Jesus, but to all three people, Peter denies that he knows him. Peter's denial is witnessed by Mary, who, after the three people leave, asks Peter why he denied Jesus. Peter responds that he had to do it in order to save himself, since he would possibly be arrested and prosecuted if it is discovered that he is a close friend of Jesus. Mary wonders how Jesus knew ahead of time that Peter would deny him ("Peter's Denial").

When Jesus is brought to Pilate, Pilate mocks him. When Pilate asks Jesus if he is the son of God, Jesus gives Pilate the same answer that he gave Caiaphas: "that's what YOU said" (in the original recording). Pilate is unsatisfied with his answer, but eventually comments that since Jesus is from Galilee he is not under his jurisdiction, and sends him to King Herod ("Pilate and Christ"). For other uses, see Galilee (disambiguation). ... Herod Antipas (short for Antipatros) was an ancient leader (tetrarch, meaning ruler of a quarter) of Galilee and Perea. ...

King Herod has heard all the hype about Jesus and is excited to finally meet him. He asks him lots of things - "Change my water into wine" - "Walk across my swimming pool", but Jesus ignores him. Herod decides that Jesus is just another phony messiah and does not even want to take the time to prosecute him. Herod sends him back to Pilate ("King Herod's Song").

In a scene added for the Broadway production, the apostles and Mary Magdalene wistfully remember the beginnings of their movement and solemnly wish that they could just start again ("Could We Start Again Please?").

At this point, Judas has seen Jesus, beaten and battered by the authorities. Feeling extreme guilt, he meets again with the high priests and expresses regret over what he has done. Judas feels that in the aftermath, he will be blamed for the death of Jesus and will forever be remembered as a traitor. Caiaphas states that Judas has nothing to be ashamed of and that what he has done will save everyone. However, this does nothing to rid Judas of his guilt. As Judas is left alone, he feels betrayed by God for having chosen him, within the divine plan, to be the one to betray Jesus. Judas blames God for murdering him and hangs himself ("Judas' Death").

Jesus is brought back to Pilate for his trial. Pilate asks Jesus to defend himself, but Jesus barely speaks. Pilate asks the crowd if they would crucify their king, to which the crowd declares "We have no king but Caesar!". (In the Broadway production, a stanza is added where Pilate admonishes the crowd for their sudden respect for Caesar, as well as how they "produce Messiahs by the sackful". Pilate goes on to declare that while Jesus is not mentally stable, and should be imprisoned, he (Jesus) does not deserve to die, and demands that the crowd give him a reason to do so. The crowd breaks into an improvised pep rally style cheer about how Jesus has defied Rome. Pilate calls the crowd hypocrites, for their hatred of Rome is far greater than that of Jesus.) Reluctant to kill Jesus, Pilate attempts to satisfy the crowd's bloodlust by flogging him. After 39 lashes, however, the crowd is still unsatisfied. At this point, Jesus is so badly beaten that Pilate cannot handle the guilt. Hoping that he can somehow free Jesus, Pilate pleads with him to defend himself. But once again, Jesus refrains from any such defense. With the crowd screaming for Jesus' crucifixion and with Jesus refusing to give a reason for Pilate not to kill him, Pilate reluctantly agrees to crucify him. Pilate declares that if Jesus won't defend himself, Pilate now "washes his hands" of his death ("Trial Before Pilate"). A cheerleader is flipped upside-down during a pep rally routine before a football game. ...

As Jesus prepares to be crucified, he is met by the spirit of Judas. Judas questions why Jesus chose to arrive in the manner that he did and if what happened to him was really part of a divine plan ("Superstar").

Jesus slowly dies on the cross ("The Crucifixion"). The play ends with an orchestral piece, "John 19:41." The title is a reference to a verse in the Bible about Jesus being laid in the tomb (Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid John 19:41) For other uses, see Bible (disambiguation). ...

Music

Instrumentation

The musical is scored for Piano, Flute/Piccolo, Flute/Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Horn, 2 Trumpets, Trombone, Drums, Percussions, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Violin I and II, Viola and Cello.

From album to Broadway

Main article: Jesus Christ Superstar (album)

The UK album cover for the 1970 release of Jesus Christ Superstar.

The opera was first heard as an album before being staged on Broadway and later in London's West End. On the original album, the part of Jesus was sung by Ian Gillan, the lead singer of Deep Purple who later also worked with Black Sabbath and others, and that of Judas by Murray Head. The future Gary Glitter had a one-liner as a priest and Michael d'Abo appeared as King Herod. The title song, "Superstar", sung by Judas, and "I Don't Know How to Love Him", sung by Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman) about her relationship with Jesus, were both big hits. A cover of the latter song, recorded by singer Helen Reddy, would also reach the top 15 on the U.S. pop singles charts in early 1971. Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970 rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. ... Image File history File links Jcs_uk_cover. ... Image File history File links Jcs_uk_cover. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945 in Hounslow, London), is an English rock music vocalist best known as the lead singer for Deep Purple. ... This article is about the rock band. ... For other uses, see Black Sabbath (disambiguation). ... Murray Head on the cover of his album Passion. ... Gary Glitter (born May 8, 1944) is an English rock and pop singer and songwriter who had a string of chart successes with a collection of 1970s glam rock hits including Rock and Roll parts 1 & 2, I Love You Love Me Love, Im the Leader of the Gang... Michael dAbo (born 1 March 1944 in Betchworth, Surrey) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the former lead vocalist of Manfred Mann. ... Herod I, also known as Herod the Great was an ancient king of Judaea. ... Superstar is the somewhat of a title song from the famous 1971 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. ... Iscariot redirects here. ... This article is about the disciple of Jesus. ... Yvonne Elliman album cover photo c. ... 2003 Greatest Hits compilation Helen Reddy (born October 25, 1941 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian pop singer and actor. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ...

The original album has a strong and often very aggressive^{[citation needed]} rock flavor that is very different from Webber's later work. This is in part due to the emotive singing of Murray Head and Ian Gillan and the playing of well-known rock session musicians such as guitarists Neil Hubbard and Chris Spedding, bassist Alan Spenner and drummer Bruce Rowland. The musical arrangements are often multi-layered, featuring rock and classical elements, and contain many abruptly shifting dynamics and time signatures. Neil Hubbard is a British guitarist who performed with The Grease Band, Joe Cocker and played on the original 1970 concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar. Categories: | ... Christopher John Spedding (born June 17, 1944) is an English rock and roll and jazz guitarist best known for his session work. ... Alan Spenner (died 11 August 1991) was a British bass player who performed with The Grease Band, David Coverdale, Joe Cocker, Kokomo Roxy Music and played on the original 1970 concept album, Jesus Christ Superstar. ...

Early community productions

In June of 1971, the "first" US staged version was performed at Southold High School in Southold, New York by students of the school.^[1] However, other unauthorized productions were also going on at the time, eliciting a response in court from the authors, eventually shutting down several hundred productions between them before the official premiere (and becoming a benchmark in copyright law). The show remains a favorite for community and regional theater, sometimes with women taking male roles (particularly Judas)^{[citation needed]}. The Town of Southold is in Suffolk County, New York, USA. It is located in the northeastern tip of the county, on the North Fork of Long Island. ...

Original Broadway production

On October 12, 1971, the show, directed by Tom O'Horgan, opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on Broadway. The Broadway production received mixed reviews, as reviewers from the New York Times deemed it to be a heartless overhyped production; Andrew Lloyd Webber has also criticized it harshly.^[2] The show starred Jeff Fenholt as Jesus, Ben Vereen as Judas and Bob Bingham as Caiaphas. Barry Dennen, the original Pilate on the "Brown Album," had been living and working in London when he recorded the LP. He was back in the States in time to play Pilate on Broadway. Yvonne Elliman, the original Mary Magdalene, was also a part of the cast. Kurt Yaghjian sang Annas. Ted Neeley and Anita Morris also appeared in the cast. Carl Anderson stepped into the role of Judas when Vereen fell ill, and the two performers later took turns playing the role. The show closed after an 18 month run. is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... Tom OHorgan (born May 3, 1926) is an American theatre and film director and composer. ... The Mark Hellinger Theatre, at 1655 Broadway and 237 West 51st Street in New York City, was built in 1930 and operated as a theatre (under various names) until 1989. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Jeff Fenholt Jeffrey Craig Fenholt (born 1951) is a singer noted for his performance as the title character in the Broadway theatre adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar. ... Ben Vereen (born October 10, 1946) is an American actor. ... Bob Bingham as Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar [1973] Robert Bob Bingham born 29 October 1946 in Seattle, Washington USA is an actor and singer. ... Barry Dennen (born Feb. ... Ted Neeley at The Peace Center in Greenville, SC on May 13, 2007 after a show. ... Anita Morris (born 14 March 1943 in Durham, North Carolina – died 2 March 1994 in Los Angeles, California of ovarian cancer) was an American actress. ... Carl Anderson (February 27, 1945 – February 23, 2004) was an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his Golden Globe Award nominated portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar. ...

Controversy

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The Broadway show and subsequent productions were condemned by some religious groups. Tim Rice was quoted as saying "It happens that we don't see Christ as God but simply the right man at the right time at the right place." Time, Nov. 9, 1970. Rice went on to say "We are basically trying to tell the story of Christ as a man. I think he increases in stature by looking at him as a man." Life magazine, May 28, 1971. Some^{[citation needed]} Christians consider these comments, as well as the omission of the resurrection, to be sacrilegious. They also found the character of Judas too sympathetic and some of his criticisms of Jesus offensive.^[3][4] At the same time, some^{[citation needed]} Jews said that it bolstered the anti-Semitic claim that the Jews are responsible for Jesus' death by showing most of the villains as Jewish (Caiaphas and the other priests, Herod) and showing the crowd in Jerusalem calling for the crucifixion.^[5][6] Many religious groups protested outside the theater during the first Broadway production.^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Sacrilege is in general the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Yhosef Bar Kayafa (Hebrew יְהוֹסֵף בַּר קַיָּפָא, ), also known as Caiaphas (Greek Καϊάφας) in the New Testament, was the Jewish high priest to whom Jesus was taken after his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, and who played a part in Jesus trial before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. ...

The play was banned in South Africa for being "irreligious."^[7]

Other 1970s productions

The first stage performance of Jesus Christ Superstar in Europe was performed on the 25th of December, Christmas, in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1971.

Jesus Christ Superstar was performed in 1971 in Hungary. The performance was based on the original studio version, and the band and orchestra parts were transcribed to a five piece rockband. The group, Korong, whose Tibor Miklós wrote the Hungarian lyrics, was, after a few enormously successful performances in Budapest's university clubs, banned from performing it. Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... For other uses, see Budapest (disambiguation). ...

Superstar opened at the Palace Theatre in London in 1972, starring Paul Nicholas as Jesus and Stephen Tate as Judas. This production was much more successful, running for eight years and becoming the United Kingdom's longest-running musical at the time (it was later surpassed by other works but remains the fifth longest-running). During its 20th anniversary, the production featured Paul Nicholas from the original cast as Jesus. The Palace Theatre, London, is an imposing red-brick building that dominates the west side of Cambridge Circus, and is located near the intersection of Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road. ... Official Biography Paul Nicholas became a household favourite with his role as Vince in the BAFTA Award-winning BBC television series Just Good Friends and for LWT’s major drama series Bust for which he was nominated Best Actor. ... Stephen Tate is a British actor. ... Official Biography Paul Nicholas became a household favourite with his role as Vince in the BAFTA Award-winning BBC television series Just Good Friends and for LWT’s major drama series Bust for which he was nominated Best Actor. ...

In May 1972 the original Australian production opened at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, later moving to the Palais Theatre in Melbourne^[8]. Directed by Jim Sharman, the cast featured Trevor White as Jesus, Jon English as Judas and Marcia Hines as Mary Magdalene (the first black woman to play this role); other cast members included Reg Livermore, Doug Parkinson, John Paul Young and Stevie Wright. It ran until February 1974. Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only country to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/Oceania. ... Jim Sharman was born 12 March 1945 in Sydney, Australia, as James David Sharman. ... Jon English. ... Marcia Hines (born July 23, 1953) is an American born singer who achieved great success in her adopted homeland of Australia. ... Reg Livermore, born 11 December 1938, is an Australian actor, singer, theatrical performer and television presenter. ... Doug Parkinson is an Australian singer who first came to fame with his band Doug Parkinson In Focus in 1969 and had numerous hits on the Australian Top 40 charts. ... John Paul Young John Paul Young (June 21, 1950–) is an Australian singer. ... Stephen Carlton Stevie Wright (born December 20, 1948, in Leeds, Yorkshire) is an Australian musician and songwriter who has been called Australias first international pop star[1]. From 1965-1969 he was the lead singer for the Sydney-based rock and roll band The Easybeats, widely regarded as the...

In 1976, Jesus Christ Superstar began its first U.S. national tour with a company managed by Laura Shapiro Kramer. The tour continued until 1980. In 1977, the musical was performed at the first annual Illinois High School Theater Festival. Jesus was portrayed, in this rendition, by an African American woman. Laura Shapiro Kramer (b. ...

1990s productions

The North American touring revival of "Superstar" in 1992, titled the AD Anniversary Tour, starred Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson reprising their 1973 film roles as Jesus and Judas and getting rave reviews for their performances. This production also starred both Dennis DeYoung of Styx and James O'Neil (Founding Artistic Director of the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, CA) as Pontius Pilate, and Syreeta, Irene Cara, and Christine Rea as Mary Magdalene. Originally expected to run for three to four months, the tour ended up running for five years. North American redirects here. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Ted Neeley at The Peace Center in Greenville, SC on May 13, 2007 after a show. ... Carl Anderson (February 27, 1945 – February 23, 2004) was an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his Golden Globe Award nominated portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar. ... Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973, Oscar-nominated film adaptation of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, about the last weeks of the life of Jesus. ... — Dennis DeYoung (born February 18, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American singer, songwriter, keyboard player and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure which lasted from 1962 to 1999. ... Styx is an American rock band that has been popular since the 1970s, with such hits as Come Sail Away, Babe, Lady, Suite Madame Blue, Mr. ... Syreeta Wright (August 3, 1946 – July 6, 2004), who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a singer-songwriter active from the 1960s until her death. ... Irene Cara (born Irene Escalera on March 18, 1959, in The Bronx, New York City) is an American singer of African, Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. ...

A 1992 Australian concert cast, starred John Farnham as Jesus, Jon Stevens as Judas and Kate Ceberano as Mary Magdalene. The Australian production was produced by the entrepreneur Harry M. Miller. John Peter Farnham (born July 1, 1949) is an English-born Australian pop singer. ... Jon Stevens (born 1962) is a New Zealand-born singer, now an Australian citizen. ... Kate Ceberano, born 17 November 1966, is an award winning Australian pop vocalist entertainer, and Scientologist. ... This article is about the disciple of Jesus. ... Harry Maurice Miller (born 6 January 1934) is an Australian promoter and publicist. ...

A concert version was performed on November 15 and 16, 1998 to launch the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, California. Three performances were given, starring Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson and the company from the AD Anniversary Tour. All three shows were sold out, and RTC is now in its 9th Season as a theatre company in Ventura, CA.^{[citation needed]} Coordinates: , Country State County Ventura Government  - Mayor Christy Weir  - Senate Tom McClintock (R)  - Assembly Pedro Nava (D)  - U. S. Congress Lois Capps (D) Area  - Total 32. ...

In 1994, a New Zealand production (also produced by Harry M. Miller) saw changes in production style, such as the rock guitar solo introducing the show played by a guitarist on a spotlighted, elevated platform, and costuming which included a complete lack of sandals. Jesus was played by Darryl Lovegrove; Caiaphas by Frankie Stevens, elder brother of Jon Stevens (the two played together on stage when the production toured Australia, with Jon in his previous role as Judas); and Judas by the stage, television and cinema star Jay Laga'aia. Red laser was used to represent the whip during the scourging; similarly lasers were used for the wounds of the crucifixion. The show closed with an expanding cone of green laser, centered on Jesus' crucified corpse, shining through mist to eventually envelop the whole audience. Jay Lagaaia (born September 10, 1963 in Auckland, New Zealand) is an actor. ...

Also in 1994, a stage version titled Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection was produced and performed in Atlanta, Austin and Seattle. This version featured many musicians from the Atlanta alternative scene, including the Indigo Girls members Amy Ray as Jesus and Emily Saliers as Mary Magdalene, and fellow guitarist Michael Lorant as Judas. This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. ... City nickname Emerald City City bird Great Blue Heron City flower Dahlia City mottos The City of Flowers The City of Goodwill City song Seattle, the Peerless City Mayor Greg Nickels County King County Area   - Total   - Land   - Water   - % water 369. ... Indigo Girls are an American folk rock duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. ... Amy Ray, born on April 12, 1964 in Decatur, Georgia, is a singer-songwriter and member of the Indigo Girls. ... Emily Saliers, born on July 22, 1963 in New Haven, Connecticut, is a singer-songwriter and member of the Indigo Girls. ... Michael Lorant is a singer-musician, best known known for lending his music talent and voice in the CD Jesus Christ Superstar: A Ressurection, a successful project done by Indigo Girls. ...

In 1997, Superstar was revived in London. Directed by Gale Edwards, this version of Superstar was updated to appeal to a new generation of fans. It starred Steve Balsamo and Zubin Varla as Jesus and Judas. Referred to as the "Lyceum Production," it was relatively successful. This eventually led Gale Edwards to restage the show for a UK tour, followed by a video starring Glenn Carter as Jesus and Jerome Pradon as Judas. This "new" interpretation of the show was revived on Broadway in 2000 again starring Carter, but a last minute change made Tony Vincent, who had played Simon in the video, step into the role of Judas. It opened to mixed reviews and closed quickly. It was more popular in its UK/European run; it opened in 1998 and closed around 2001. // Steve Balsamo was born in Wales on 19 May 1971. ... Zubin Varla is a British actor and singer. ... The Lyceum Theatre is a theatre located in London, on Wellington Street near Covent Garden in the West End. ... Glenn Carter was born on 27th March 1964,in Staffordshire, England and grew up in Liverpool. ... Jérôme Pradon was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France on 3 June 1964. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... Tony Vincent, original name Anthony Peter Strascina is a singer and actor and was born in New Mexico on July 25, 1973. ... Simon is a common name, from Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן (Shimon), meaning hearkening or listening.[1]. Simon can refer to: // Simeon II of Bulgaria Simon of Bet-Titta, a Christian martyr Simon of Bet-Parsaje, a martyr of Iran with Mana of Bet-Parsaje Simon of Sudbury Simon, Metropolitan of Moscow Simon... This article is about the year. ...

2000s

In 2002, a national tour was begun with the 1980s rock star Sebastian Bach as Jesus and Carl Anderson once again as Judas. Bach received mixed reviews, while Carl Anderson was again praised. In April 2003, following a disagreement with the director, Bach was replaced with the Broadway star Eric Kunze. Carl Anderson eventually left the show after being diagnosed with leukemia and died in 2004. He was replaced by Lawrence Clayton, who had appeared as Simon and understudied the part of Judas in the previous national tour. Also see: 2002 (number). ... This article is about the rock singer. ... Carl Anderson (February 27, 1945 – February 23, 2004) was an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his Golden Globe Award nominated portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar. ...

In August 2004 a new national UK tour began, directed by Bill Kenwright. Originally scheduled to end in December, the tour's success resulted in a longer run, and it continued through August 2005. Glenn Carter reprised his role as Jesus and the British pop singer James Fox played Judas, with Emma Dears as Mary Magdalene. Bill Kenwright CBE (born 4 September 1945, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England) is an actor and producer. ... Glenn Carter was born on 27th March 1964,in Staffordshire, England and grew up in Liverpool. ... Hold Onto Your Love single James Fox, real name James Mullett, (born April 6, 1976 in Cardiff, South Wales) is a pop music singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. ...

A live-in-concert, one-night only, performance of JCS took place at The Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on August 13, 2006, reuniting Ted Neeley, Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen from the 1973 film, Broadway and Los Angeles productions of the show, as well as Ben Vereen (the original Judas on Broadway), and Jack Black as Herod. The performance also featured Larry Friedman as Annas, Chris Carey as Caiaphas, and Chuck DiMaria as one of the priests. All three were featured performers in the AD Anniversary Tour between 1993 and 1997, as well as the world-famous^{[citation needed]} Agape Choir. The performance benefitted YouTHeatre-America!, and The Ricardo Montalban Theatre. Ricardo Montalban (born November 25, 1920 in Mexico City) is a television and film actor. ... is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other persons named Jack Black, see Jack Black (disambiguation). ...

Also in 2006, a tour (originally billed as "The Ted Neeley Farewell Tour", now billed as the new "A.D. Tour"), starring Ted Neeley as Jesus and Corey Glover (of rock band Living Colour) as Judas, began in September and has played over 120 venues to date, with bookings through 2009. Ted Neeley at The Peace Center in Greenville, SC on May 13, 2007 after a show. ... Corey Glover (born November 6, 1964 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician. ... Living Colour is an American heavy metal band formed in New York City in 1983 by guitarist Vernon Reid. ...

On the 20th and 21st of March 2008, Drew Sarich, who had previously done two tours of the show (as Jesus and Judas respectively), reprised his role as Jesus opposite Serkan Kaya as Judas in Vienna, Austria. Drew Sarich (b. ... For other uses, see Vienna (disambiguation). ...

Other international productions

The show has become a cultural phenomenon and has been produced many times, including productions in Ireland, Hungary, India, New Zealand, Italy, France, Mexico, Chile, Bulgaria, South Africa, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Greece, Australia, The Philippines, Panama, Colombia (Misi Group), Croatia (Theater Komedija), Bolivia (where it was also released as a TV movie) and many more. Two notable Jesuses were Takeshi Kaga of Iron Chef fame in the 1976 Japanese version, and the singer Camilo Blanes Cortés aka Camilo Sesto in the 1975 Spanish one. In Germany, the show can be seen every year in different productions by a number of the country's repertory theaters. Takeshi Kaga (鹿賀 丈史 Kaga Takeshi) is a well known stage and movie actor in Japan, and is probably best known internationally for his portrayal of Chairman Kaga in the Japanese television show Iron Chef produced by Fuji TV. His birth name is Shigekatsu Katsuda (勝田 薫且 Katsuda Shigekatsu). ... Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai With the above words begins each edition of Iron Chef, a Japanese television program produced by FujiTV. The original Japanese title is Ironmen of Cooking ). It began airing on October 10, 1993 as a half-hour show and after 23 episodes, it was expanded to a... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Camilo Blanes Cortés (born September 16, 1946) better known in the entertainment world as Camilo Sesto is a Spanish singer and composer who enjoyed fame during the 1970s and the 1980s. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Other recordings and broadcasts

In 1980 the first ever Polish production of Jesus Christ Superstar appeared on stage, starring Marek Piekarczyk as Jesus and Andrzej Sledz as Judas. The show was well received by many in Poland and has been revived many times since.

In 1994, a studio recording under the name of "Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection" was released and starred various artists including the Indigo Girls. A video recording of their performance at SXSW in Austin was released as well but went out of print after only a few months. Bootleg copies still remain.

In a 1996 radio production for BBC Radio 2, Jesus was played by Tony Hadley, Judas by Roger Daltrey and Mary Magdalene by Frances Ruffelle. Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE (born 1 March 1944), is a rock vocalist, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. ...

Around 1999/2000, a Italian performance of Jesus Christ Superstar was broadcasted on radio. The cast starred Paride Acacia as Jesus, Egidio La Gioia as Judas and Olivia Cinquemani as Mary. Carl Anderson appeared on this recording as well, singing the song Superstar. In 2000 a national tour began which was directed by Carl Anderson and starred many of the same cast members from the radio broadcast.

In 2005 the first Dutch national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar began in The Netherlands. Produced by Joop van den Ende the production starred Dieter Troubleyn as Jesus, Martin van der Starre as Judas and Casey Francisco as Mary. Jamai Loman who previously won the Dutch version of Idols played Simon. The tour was a great success and ran for 2 years straight.

On 22 April 2008, the song "Superstar" was performed on American Idol by contestant Carly Smithson, before getting eliminated the following day.

Films

Main article: Jesus Christ Superstar (film)

A film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar was released in 1973, and was the eighth highest-grossing film of that year. The film, directed by Norman Jewison, was shot in Israel and other Middle Eastern locations. Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson were both nominated for 1974 Golden Globe Awards for their portrayals of Jesus and Judas. Bob Bingham reprised the role of Caiaphas, having played the part in the original Broadway production. Barry Dennen (Pontius Pilate) and Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene) were the only performers who remained from both the original recording and Broadway cast. Though it attracted criticism from some religious groups, the film was generally well received.^{[citation needed]} Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973, Oscar-nominated film adaptation of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, about the last weeks of the life of Jesus. ... // Events The Marx Brothers Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. ... Norman Frederick Jewison, CC, BA, LL.D (born July 21, 1926) is a Canadian film director, producer, and actor. ... Ted Neeley at The Peace Center in Greenville, SC on May 13, 2007 after a show. ... Carl Anderson (February 27, 1945 – February 23, 2004) was an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his Golden Globe Award nominated portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar. ... The Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... Bob Bingham as Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar [1973] Robert Bob Bingham born 29 October 1946 in Seattle, Washington USA is an actor and singer. ... Yhosef Bar Kayafa (Hebrew יְהוֹסֵף בַּר קַיָּפָא, ), also known as Caiaphas (Greek Καϊάφας) in the New Testament, was the Jewish high priest to whom Jesus was taken after his arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, and who played a part in Jesus trial before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... Barry Dennen (born Feb. ... Yvonne Elliman album cover photo c. ...

A further film adaptation was released in 2000, starring Glenn Carter as Jesus, Jérôme Pradon as Judas and Rik Mayall as Herod. The film was directed by Gale Edwards and Nick Morris, and won an Emmy in 2001 for Best Performing Arts film. The style of the film is more like the stage version than the location-based 1973 adaptation, and used many of the ideas from the tour from around that time. Glenn Carter was born on 27th March 1964,in Staffordshire, England and grew up in Liverpool. ... Jérôme Pradon was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France on 3 June 1964. ... Richard Michael Rik Mayall (born 7 March 1958) is an English comedian and actor. ... An Emmy Award. ...

Awards

1972 Tony Award nominations

• Tony Award for Best Original Score - Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Tim Rice
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Ben Vereen
• Tony Award for Best Scenic Design - Scenic Design by Robin Wagner
• Tony Award for Best Costume Design - Costume Design by Randy Barcelo
• Tony Award for Best Lighting Design - Lighting Design by Jules Fisher

The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the composers and lyricists of the best original score written for a musical in that year. ... The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who is voted the best non-starring actor in a musical, whether a new production or a revival. ... The Tony Award for Best Scenic Design is the Tony Award given to a designer for outstanding set design of either a play or musical. ... ... The Tony Award for Best Lighting Design has been given since 1970. ...

1972 Theatre World Award

• Theatre World Award - Ben Vereen (WINNER)

1972 Drama Desk Awards

• Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Composer - Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber (WINNER)

Created in 1955, the Drama Desk Award was created to recognize Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway shows in addition to Broadway shows. ...

2000 Tony Award nomination

• Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical - Produced by The Really Useful Superstar Company, Inc., Nederlander Producing Company of America, Inc.; Produced in association with Terry Allen Kramer

The Tony Award for Best Revival (Musical) has been awarded since 1994. ...

References

1. ^ Suffolk Times article on the original Southold High School production.
2. ^ "Jesus Christ Superstar: A note from Andrew Lloyd Webber"
3. ^ "Jesus Christ Superstar", Critically Examined in Light of The Bible - by E. L. Bynum
4. ^ Free Presbyterian Church - Online Pamphlet
5. ^ SUPERSTAR' FILM RENEWS DISPUTES:Jewish Groups Say Opening Could Stir Anti-Semitism Reasons Given Company Issues Statement - New York Times
6. ^ village voice > news > Mel Gibson's Jesus Christ Pose by Jessica Winter
7. ^ Jesus Christ Superstar: Show facts and figures
8. ^ 1972 Australian production

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Jesus Christ Superstar

• Jesus Christ Superstar at the Internet Broadway Database
• Jesus Christ Superstar Zone.com
• Guide to JCS online JesusChristSuperstar.net.
• Ted Neeley's personal website Neeley On The Road.
• SuKaDe's Ted Neeley website. Teddie Neeley Three - TNT
• Cindi's Ted Neeley and Joseph Fuqua Page
• The Official Andrew Lloyd Webber Site
• JCS at www.timrice.co.uk
• Suffolk Times article on the original Southold High School production.
• Farewell Tour Website The Official Site of Ted Neeley's Farewell Tour.