Jesus Christ Superstar
Director: Laura Welsh
Music Director: Gideon Temple
Choreography: Gregory Daniels
The renowned rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice tells the story of the final days of Jesus Christ, brought to life with an electrifying rock score. Experience a timeless tale of betrayal, love, and sacrifice in a show that has captivated audiences for decades.
What's the buzz? The first musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to be produced for the professional stage, "Jesus Christ Superstar" has wowed audiences for over 50 years. A timeless work, the rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally known series of events but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
Loosely based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, "Jesus Christ Superstar" follows the last week of Jesus Christ's life. The story, told entirely through song, explores the personal relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, his disciples, his followers and the Roman Empire.
The iconic 1970s rock score contains such well-known numbers as "Superstar," "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and "Gethsemane." A true global phenomenon, "Jesus Christ Superstar" continues to touch new generations of audiences and performers.
Tickets will be available for purchase on Tuesday, October 1, at bw.edu/tickets.
Performance Schedule
Thursday-Saturday, November 14-16 and 21-23, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 17 and 24, 2:30 p.m.
HISTORY
"Jesus Christ Superstar" was Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's third collaboration (after "The Likes of Us" and "Joseph"). As no one was willing to back their idea as a stage show, the pair first produced the single "Superstar," sung by Murray Head, near the end of 1969, followed by a concept album of the project with MCA in 1970.
The massive success of the record in the U.S. (the album hit number one) created a huge demand for a Broadway production and "Jesus Christ Superstar" opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in October 1971. Starring Ben Vereen as Judas and Yvonne Elliman reprising her role from the concept album as Mary, the show received five Tony nods. The U.K. production premiered the following year with Paul Nicholas in the title role. By 1980, after 3,358 performances, Superstar had become the longest-running musical in West End history at the time.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" has been revived on Broadway three times, most recently in 2012, and was last seen in London in 2019's award-winning Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production at the Barbican. Twice adapted into a film, Superstar has been professionally produced in 42 countries around the world.
On Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, NBC aired a live concert version of the show, featuring John Legend as Jesus, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas, Alice Cooper as King Herod, Norm Lewis as Caiaphas, and Ben Daniels as Pilate.