Where Was Jesus Christ Superstar Filmed

Jesus Christ Superstar Film Locations – Jaya Travel & Tours

Welcome to the OnLocation segment of our series! Today, we’ll be traveling to Israel, where the filming of Jesus Christ Superstar took place. The only thing that is more powerful than the surroundings in this setting are the vocals provided by the incredibly talented ensemble.

Negev Desert, Israel

The Negev Desert encompasses more than half of Israel’s land area. We’ll be focused on the 1973 film, rather than any of the other Jesus Christ Superstar versions (concept album, Broadway production, movie, or that NBC special in which John Legend played Jesus). On the basis of the Broadway rock opera, which originally appeared on the stage in 1971, the film was produced in 2008. Originally written in 1970, the Broadway show is the physical manifestation of lyricistTim Rice’s and composerAndrew Lloyd Webber’s concept album of the same name, which they created together.

The Negev Desert in Israel was the location for the filming of Jesus Christ Superstar.

While searching for three significant locales that figure in the film’s memorable scenes, we discovered three that are well worth seeing for yourself.

Avdat National Park

Since the early centuries of BC, the remains of Avdat National Park have managed to remain standing. Beginning with the boundless Negev desert, textured by scads of sandy hilltops, the picture moves to the present day. Avdat is a little village perched on one of the hilltops. The site has the remains of a Nabataean city that flourished in the early years of BC, and it has appeared in more episodes of Jesus Christ Superstar than any of the other filming locations in the series. Even if it weren’t for the fragments of ancient columns and limestone debris that obviously served as a wall in their former lives, the Avdat ruins would be completely indistinguishable from the surrounding desert landscape.

The Temple of Oboda, which was erected in 9 BC, is now only recognizable by its columns and a massive stone entryway.

Please keep in mind that Avdat is NOT the same as Ein Avdat.

It is well-known for its stunning vistas as well as its hiking trails.

The Bell Cave in Beit Guvrin National Park

The Bell Cave network provides tourists with an opportunity to discover a wonderful world under Beit Guvrin National Park’s surface. In Beit Guvrin National Park, there are over 800 Bell Caverns, but only one of them is referred to be “the most renowned of the caves.” There were performances of “What’s the Buzz?” and “Everything’s All Right” in this location. It is the walls of this specific cave that are curved toward an aperture that lets in a beam of Lion King-level light into the cave’s interior from the outside.

The cave complex is a popular tourist destination for people from all over the world.

It is important to note that the temperature inside is significantly lower than the temperature outside in the desert. On the day you want to visit the Bell Caves, bring a jacket and wear shoes that are suitable for walking.

Beit She’an

One of Beit She’an’s most outstanding archaeological relics is the Roman Amphitheater. Ballads “Trial before Pilate” and “Superstar” were performed at Beit She’an National Park’s historic Roman amphitheater, which has been restored. Prior to the filming of these scenes on its grounds, this location served as the home of ancient civilizations stretching back to the time of the Old Testament. As a result, it is one of the most significant archaeological sites on the planet. A recreation model of the city allows visitors to see what the city would have looked like during its heyday, as well as archaeological remains from numerous historical eras (we’re talking about centuries before Egypt’s dominion!).

Mosaics cover the stone, towering columns flank the road, and the amphitheater appears to be ready to host a show at any time of day.

Israel has a lot of desert, and much more history, than other places.

A representative will make certain that the scene is prepared for your preferred trip.

Where Jesus Christ Superstar Was Filmed

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 musical drama film starring Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Barry Dennen, Yvonne Elliman, Kurt Yaghjian, and Bob Bingham. It was directed by Ted Neeley and co-written by Carl Anderson and Barry Dennen. During the week leading up to the crucifixion, the antagonism between Jesus and Judas takes front stage in the story. The majority of the film takes place in regions with plenty of sand, and some fans may be curious as to where the musical picture was truly shot. The film was really shot on location in Israel, as well as in various other Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan.

Meanwhile, “The Crucifixion” and “The Temple” were filmed in Advat, while “What’s The Buzz” was filmed literally under the Dead Sea at the Beit Guvrin Bell Caves, which are located beneath the Dead Sea.

Finally, the films “Trial Before Pilate” and “Superstar” were both filmed at Beit ‘Shaan, Israel, in a historic Roman amphitheater.

Make sure to go up Twinfinite if you want to learn more intriguing insights about everything related to entertainment!

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

While on location in the desert, the actors were ordered to “hydrate” every 20 minutes by drinking water. Massive pieces of ice in a variety of colors were brought in from Tel Aviv. The character of Jesus was auditioned for by John Travolta, who was seventeen at the time. However, although he did not earn the role, producer Robert Stigwood kept him in mind for future films. Three years later, Stigwood cast Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever (1977),” which was directed by John Landis. According to the commentary, all of the wind images in the film were captured using real wind.

1. As Jesus in theatrical performances of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Ted Neeley has nearly made a profession out of it for himself.
2. He turned 73 in September 2016, making him the first person to have lived four decades longer than Jesus Christ (who died at age 33).
3. Due to copyright concerns, it has only been utilized onstage in a handful of productions, the most recent (and probably most notable) of which was the 2016/17 European touring production, which starred Ted Neeley in the main character and was directed by Massimo Romeo Piparo, among others.
4. Ted Neeley’s mother stormed out on the set of “39 Lashes” because the scenario was so realistically depicted.
5. Neeley had never laid a hand on little Ted in anything other than a loving manner, and she could not stand the sight of her son being beaten and tortured by anybody else, even though she was well aware that it was all in good fun for them.
6. He was on the verge of passing out from the extreme heat of 41°C (105°F).
7. He was under the impression that Ted Neeley was scheduled to have nails hammered through his hands!
8. NOT IN MY HANDS AT ALL!” Ted Neeley invited filmmaker Norman Jewison to watch him in a matinee performance of The Who’s Tommy (1975), but Neeley was wounded during a performance that was immediately preceding the one that Jewison had purchased a ticket to see.
9. Immediately following, he drove from Los Angeles to Jewison’s hotel in Palm Springs, where he dressed as Jesus Christ for the occasion.
10. The film’s director, Jewison, not only accepted Neeley’s explanation and apologies, but he also granted him the title part in the picture.

“The Last Supper” tableau by Norman Jewison was inspired by the renowned painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, which is placed on a wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy and is known as the “Last Supper.” In doing so, he was able to give particular character names to the dancers who were portraying the Apostles.

He appears at the very end of the painting, in the position depicted by Da Vinci in “Bartholomew.” ‘Peter’ is thought to be the apostle whispering to ‘John,’ who is considered to be the apostle seated directly to Jesus’ right, on the other side of the picture.

She is one of the dancers in the “Simon Zealotes” sequence, and she is a young woman.

Rice wrote new lyrics to the tune of “Kansas Morning” for the solo number for the character of Mary Magdalene, which was performed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice between December 1969 and January 1970, when the production of Jesus Christ Superstar was nearing completion.

Elliman had been perplexed by the romantic nature of the lyrics when she was first presented with “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” because she had been under the impression that the Mary she’d been recruited to portray was Jesus’s mother, who is a very important presence in the Gospel story but is surprisingly absent from the musical.

• Tim Rice penned new lyrics, first for the 1969 Eurovision entry “Try It and See,” and later for the record, concert, and film, which became known as “King Herod’s Song.” It is said on page 169 of the book “The Bible on Film” by Richard H.
• Pitts (Scarecrow Press 1981) that David Cassidy and Micky Dolenz were also considered for the role of Jesus.
• The bus has a number plate with the number 666 on it, which is the traditional number of Jesus’ archenemy Satan, which is shown on the bus.
• He was informed that there had been a conflict and that all of the crew members were required to fight because all Israeli adults are required to serve in the army.
• (This is a commentary from the Superstars (2015) bonus material.) “Jesus Christ Superstar” premiered at the Mark Hellinger Theater on October 12, 1971, and played for a total of 711 performances throughout the course of the year.
• After realizing what was happening, a huge grasp lifted the actor and carried him up the slope.
• (This incident is recounted in the extra part of the documentary Superstars (2015).

Gillan rejected, and his claimed reasons have varied over the years, ranging from a distaste of Jewison to his responsibilities to his band Deep Purple to his duties to his band Deep Purple.

As soon as he confided in his writing partner, Andrew Lloyd Webber, about the situation, Webber exclaimed that it was “the most ridiculous concept he had ever heard in his whole life.” Rice, on the other hand, persisted, and he and Lloyd Webber were able to complete the work in 1970.

This was then developed into a concept album, which was a huge success.

Mr.

In addition to the film adaptation, Lloyd Webber enjoyed the 2018 Jesus Christ Live!

He claimed that this version of the program fully caught the respectful and vigorous attitude that he had envisioned when he initially conceived of the idea for the show.

The notion of Herod as a blazing drag queen, which was introduced in the Broadway performance, was completely scrapped in the film.

As a result, they transformed it to an obese, hippyish, Hugh Heffner-type playboy who was wearing a bathing suit and was on the beach with a bunch of other crazy hippyish people.

The song “Could We Start Again Please” was not included on the original album, but it was added in order to capitalize on the success of Yvonne Elliman’s “I Don’t Know How To Love Him,” which was released in 1970 and went on to become a top 10 hit in the United States.

Although it was composed for Jesus Christ superstar, the tune “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” was initially created for a jokey pop song called “Kansas Morning” by Andrew Lloyd Webber with wholly different lyrics, which became the theme song for the program.

Alex Thomson, the director of photography, had to be replaced when he suffered a terrible fall from a camera rostrum while production.

It all started with the song “I don’t know how to love him,” which was later released as the pop song “Kansas Morning” in 1967.

As an added irony, this was released at the same time as several Devil-themed films were released; “The Exorcist” was released in 1973, the same year that “Jesus Christ Superstar” was released.

As a result, following a period of agnosticism in the society from the early to mid 1960s, spirituality had a resurgence in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Despite the concerns, Siskel only awarded it a **1/2, and he acknowledged that it was “definitely anti-semetic,” as he put it.

Norman Jewison states in the DVD commentary that this is the final film to be shot in Todd-AO; nevertheless, the film is credited as having been shot in Todd-AO 35, which is incorrect.

A known Western Asian ancestor was represented by three members of the cast: Josh Mostel (King Herod) is of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, Philip Toubus (Peter) is of Greek Jewish and Russian Jewish descent, and Kurt Yaghjian (Annas) is of Armenian descent.

When film experts Michael Medved and Harry Medved published their book The Golden Turkey Awards in 1980, they named Ted Neeley as the winner of the award for “The Worst Performance by an Actor as Jesus Christ.” Norman Jewison is the dubbed voice of the third man at Peter’s Denial (“But I saw you too / He looked exactly like you”), who says, “He looked exactly like you.”

‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live!’ Will Be Unlike Any Other Live TV Musical For This One Reason

With the staging ofJesus Christ Superstar Live!, NBC will offer you another another live musical to your television screens this year. This performance, on the other hand, will be a little different from the previous live television musicals that have gone before it. Instead of being filmed in a Los Angeles studio, the event will take place at a different location in another city. So, where is the filming of Jesus Christ Superstar Live! taking place? The fact that the production is a rock musical or an opera with no speaking roles makes it logical that the performance would take place in the manner of a concert setting.

• However, unlikeHairspray Live!
• looks to be taking place on a single main stage, which means that it will truly have a concert-like feel to it.
• Brandon Dixon as Judas, Tony-nominee Norm Lewis as Caiaphas, Tony-nominee Ben Daniels as Pontius Pilate, Broadway veteran Jason Tam as Peter, M.
• Tickets for the production are on sale now.
• When it comes to the musical, if you aren’t acquainted with it, it is loosely based on the final week of Jesus’ life before he was crucified, as described in the Bible.
• in addition to the other executive producers.
• ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ has been around for decades, originally emerging as a concept album on a double-LP format.

In fact, the record reached number one on the Billboard album charts, which is why it came as no surprise when it was adapted into a Broadway production in 1971.

It also went on to have two successful runs in London’s West End and a tour of the United Kingdom’s arenas.

The show’s numerous incarnations have garnered a slew of awards, ranging from Tony nominations to an International Emmy Award triumph.

There’s little question that Jesus Christ Superstar Live!

Assuming he wins the EGOT in just competitive categories, Legend would become the first African-American male to do so (both James Earl Jones and Quincy Jones have EGOTs with special awards).

Aside from that, though, the show appears to be really great and entertaining to watch.

Jesus Christ Superstar Live! will premiere on NBC on Sunday, April 1, at 8 p.m. EST. Watch the new video series, Romper’s Doula Diaries, to learn more about Romper’s Doula services. On Facebook Watch, you can watch entire episodes of Romper’s Doula Diaries.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Jesus Christ Superstar

In the 1970s, an opera about Jesus of Nazareth played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between rock ‘n’ roll and musical theater audiences. Despite the fact that the radical songs from Jesus Christ Superstar split religious organizations, they dominated the Billboard charts. The production also heralded the beginning of Broadway’s “British invasion” in the 1970s and 1980s, laying the groundwork for such mega-hits as Cats and Les Miserables to take the stage. In 2018, NBC broadcasted a live rendition of the play, which included John Legend as Jesus and Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene.

1. IT BEGAN AS A CONCEPT ALBUM BECAUSE NO PRODUCER WANTED TO PUT IT ON STAGE.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber and initially performed in 1965 when they were 20 and 17 years old, had their first taste of joint triumph with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1968. Following that, the team turned their attention to another Biblical figure: Jesus of Nazareth. The two of them had a concept for a bold new rock musical that would recount the tale of Christ’s betrayal and execution from the perspective of Judas Iscariot.

It’s possible that the seeming setback was a blessing in disguise.

In Rice’s words, “doing it on record” made it shorter, eliminated the book, made it more modern, made it more rock, gave it more energy, and helped it to be more identifiable with a younger audience.

We didn’t realize it at the time because, in large part because of Andrew’s encouragement, we were attempting to compose for the stage rather than for the album.

2. A BOB DYLAN LYRIC INSPIRED THE MUSICAL’S DEPICTION OF JUDAS.

In the hymn “With God on Our Side,” the line “Did Judas Iscariot have God on his side?” was sung by Judas Iscariot himself. Tim’s beginning point for the text, according to Lloyd Webber, who subsequently explained the line. In any case, Iscariot was not an ignorant guy, and how much of the final outcome was a result of what was necessary given the political climate of the time?” According to Rice, Judas Iscariot is depicted in the Bible as a “cardboard cut-out image of wickedness,” and he set out to humanize Judas in Superstar.

3. ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER WROTE PART OF THE TITULAR SONG ON A NAPKIN.

In a 2015 interview, the composer said that he couldn’t remember precisely when the now-iconic tune initially came to him, but that he did remember that he had forgotten it: “What I do remember, though, is that I forgot it.” When the song sprang back into his thoughts one day in 1969 when he was strolling along London’s Fulham Road, he was thrilled. “I happened to be passing a restaurant. It was named Carlo’s Place, and the proprietor was someone I knew a little bit. I walked into the restaurant and asked for a sheet of paper, which they gladly provided.” He recalled what had happened.

4. THE MELODY OF “I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM” WAS TAKEN FROM AN UNRELATED SONG CALLED “KANSAS MORNING.”

Rice and Lloyd Webber collaborated on the song “Kansas Morning,” which was created as a tribute to the Sunflower State and released in 1967. In the lyrics of one song, “I adore the Kansas morning,” the singer said. “I’m looking out my window at Kansas mist.” Later, while working on the score for Superstar, the musicians reworked an old song and added new words, giving birth to Mary’s Act I solo. Webber has agreed that the tune does resemble a subject from Felix Mendelssohn’sViolin Concerto in E Minor, which he composed for his daughter (1845).

“That was something I simply took in.”

5. YVONNE ELLIMAN WAS CAST AS THE ORIGINAL MARY MAGDALENE AFTER LLOYD WEBBER HEARD HER SINGING AT A NIGHTCLUB.

As part of his search for vocalists for the concept album, Lloyd Webber paid a visit to the famous Pheasantry Club in Chelsea to see whether a jazz singer playing there might be a good match for Pontius Pilate. He was unsuccessful. As Lloyd Webber said to The Daily Mail in 2012, “I concluded he was completely inappropriate for the job,” but “his warm-up performance, a stunning 17-year-old Hawaiian girl named Yvonne Elliman, playing herself on the guitar, was fantastic.” I looked around and saw everything I had wished for Mary Magdalene there in front of me.” In a telephone conversation with Rice, who “agreed that we had discovered our Mary,” he said.

Elliman would go on to become the only member of the album’s cast to reprise her part on Broadway, in the show’s 1971 arena tour, and in the film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar, released in 1973.

6. LLOYD WEBBER HATED THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY PRODUCTION.

The original Superstaralbum, which consisted of two discs, was published in September 1970, and by February 1971, it had risen to the top of the Billboard charts. Soon after, American fans began organizing illegal live performances in churches and theaters around the country, prompting producer Robert Stigwood to suggest that an officialJesus Christ Superstarconcert tour be staged in conjunction with the film. The inaugural performance was held on July 12, 1971, at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Many critics, including Clive Barnes of The New York Times, were critical of the production, which was directed by Tom O’Horgan.

It all had a certain resemblance to the first time one saw the Empire State Building.

Lloyd Webber, on the other hand, disliked it to the extreme.

7. IT OFFENDED RELIGIOUS GROUPS.

“It’s a hot topic right now.” According to entertainment journalist Tim Cainonce, “Christina Aguilera’s performance of the national anthem before the Super Bowl was a flub.” “When it was first launched, there was a lot of controversy around it.” The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith and the American Jewish Committee both expressed their opposition to the program. The American preacher Billy Graham was likewise not a fan of the musical, accusing it of bordering on “blasphemy and sacrilege” and expressing his displeasure with the fact that it does not include the resurrection.

leads young people to explore their Bibles, to some extent it may be useful.

However, a small number of groups came to its aid.

8. POPE PAUL VI WAS TREATED TO A PRIVATE, ADVANCE SCREENING OF THE 1973 MOVIE VERSION.

Jesus Christ Superstar has been turned into a film on two occasions: Originally published in 1973, a straight-to-video remake was released in 2000, and a sequel was released in 2003. The former was directed by Academy Award contender Norman Jewison (who also helmed the 1987 film Moonstruck), while the latter was directed by Robert Rodriguez. When the film was shown to Pope Paul VI, the film received positive feedback, which was summarized as follows: He also expressed his appreciation for the film by saying, according to Ted Neeley, who portrays Jesus, “Mr.

9. IT PROMPTED RICHARD O’BRIEN TO START WRITINGTHE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.

The next year, Richard O’Brien joined the London production of Superstar, which he had previously performed in with the touring cast of Hair. In an interview with Pink News, he explained that he had signed a contract to perform in the chorus for three months before taking on the part of Herod. O’Brien’s Herod, on the other hand, was a conceited Elvis impersonator, and the powers that be were unimpressed. “When it came down to it, they decided they didn’t want me to be Herod. “They handed me three hundred pounds and told me to get out of there,” O’Brien stated.

I was enraged by the fact that they had the audacity to refer to Superstar as a rock opera. There are some good songs on the album, but it isn’t rock & roll in the traditional sense. WritingRockywas a delight since my passion for authentic rock and roll served as the inspiration for the songs.”

10. ONE PRODUCTION’S SEARCH FOR A LEADING MAN TURNED INTO A REALITY TV SHOW.

Superstar, a televised competition in the manner of The Voice, was introduced by the British television network ITV in 2012. There was a new Jesus Christ Superstar concert tour in the works in the United Kingdom at the time, and the series, which was created by Lloyd Webber, allowed scores of hopefuls to compete for the role of Jesus on the big screen. Finally, Ben Forester, a Sunderland local, was crowned the winner; he went on to perform on the tour alongside former Spice Girl Mel C. (who also served as a judge on the show).

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’: ‘a tour de force of wobbly-eyed emotion’

Read our review of the original ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ arena tour to learn more about Andrew Lloyd Webber’s YouTube debut. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous musicals are being released on YouTube, with ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ being the first to be released over Easter weekend (obviously). Tim Minchin, Mel C, Chris Moyles, and Ben Forster feature in the production, which was shot during a 2012 arena tour of the United Kingdom. Would you want to see a sneak preview? Here’s what we thought of the O2’s inaugural night in 2012.

• After all, this is a program whose attempts at cutting-edge modernity included selecting its lead through the failure ITV talent competition ‘Superstar.’ As a result, it has all the modern credibility of an inebriated uncle dancing at a wedding reception.
• The backdrop of designer Mark Fisher’s pseudo-Banksy murals is awash with disembodied social networking messages such as “What’s the buzz?” while crusties put up pop-up tents in an attempt to portray Jesus’ disciples as the Holy Land’s counterpart of the Occupy movement.
• A dreadlocked keffiyeh-wearing Judas Iscariot, Tim Minchin totes his black rucksack around as a weird post-7/7 symbol of evil, the film is directed by Tim Minchin.
• As a result of the characters’ recasting of the Roman elite as not only overcoat-wearing City bankers, but as a clan whose emblem also features an Illuminati-referencing triangle, it is a marvel that they don’t all appear on stage with the word “Eeeevilll” tattooed across their foreheads.
• The cast, on the other hand, is without a doubt brilliant in every way.
• Mel C’s exceedingly likable performance could just be the most convincing thing she’s done this century, according to several critics.
• In addition to this, acclaimed actor Ben Forster’s Jesus engages in a face-off with Judas that culminates in a testicle-rupturing falsetto-geddon of pure lunacy that leaves the audience in stitches.

Connor’s production, on the other hand, has a hard time staying together.

Similar to Black Lace doing a show in Fabric, this is an interesting concept.

It’s as if Andrew Lloyd Webber is attempting to dress in the garb of a member of UK Uncut in order to get acceptance.

Despite this, it’s impossible to ignore the ecstatic whoops of the enormodome audience.

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Jesus Christ Superstar

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” an adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Broadway rock opera, tells the story of Jesus Christ (Ted Neeleylast )’s days from the perspective of Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson), his betrayer. Increasingly concerned that Jesus is falling for his own hype, losing the principles of his teachings, and becoming too close to the prostitute Mary Magdalene, Judas begins to doubt Jesus’ credibility (Yvonne Elliman). In response to Jesus’ outburst in a temple, Judas turns his back on him.

• Rated G
• Genre:musical
• Original language:English
• Director:
• Producer:
• Release date (theaters):August 31, 2004
• Release date (streaming):August 31, 2004 Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures
• Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo
• 1h 47m running time

CastCrew

Opening Date:Sept 21, 2012Closing Date:Oct, 2013Air date:Oct 2012Medium:cinema and DVDWhere to watch:YouTube,iTunes,Amazon,Google Play

Notes on the Stage Production The musical Jesus Christ Superstar, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, began life as a single song, “Superstar,” written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The single was released in 1969, and the success of the song led to the production of a full concept album in 1970. As a result of the record, a full-fledged stage production, which was played in July 1971 in Pennsylvania’s Civic Arena, was staged. Jesus Christ Superstar was touted as a rock opera, and it is widely regarded as a genre-defining production.

1. The musical premiered in October 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City.
2. The musical ran for more than 700 performances until being cancelled in June 1973.
3. Paul Nicholas, Stephen Tate, and Dana Gillespie were among the cast members of the West End production, which premiered at the Palace Theatre in August 1972.
4. At the time of its closure, Jesus Christ Superstar was the longest-running production in the history of the West End’s theatre district (it now sits at number 21 of longest running West End shows).
5. The Lyceum Theatre in London hosted a 25th anniversary show in 1996 to commemorate the occasion.
6. An open-air show presented in London’s Regent’s Park in 2016 earned overwhelmingly positive reviews.
7. The first, directed by Norman Jewison and starring Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, and Yvonne Ellimann, was released in 1973.

The production of Jesus Christ Superstar was sanctioned by the Vatican as part of the Jubilee festivities in the year 2000.

It was planned for the play to include musical comedian Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot, former Spice Girl Melanie C as Mary Magdalene, and British radio broadcaster Chris Moyles as King Herod as its main characters.

Ben Forster was crowned the victor.

It was under Laurence Connor’s direction that the Arena Tour was updated for a contemporary audience and set during the Occupy movement.

As a result of low ticket sales, the production’s North American tour was “immediately canceled.” Lyn Gardner, a theatrical writer for The Guardian, condemned the show as “flashy, noisy, and unconvincing,” among other things.

During their stay in Birmingham, the arena production was shot live over the course of two nights for future cinematic and DVD distribution.

Tim Minchin revealed in an interview for the “A Bit of a Chat” podcast that his voice was auto-tuned during the post-production of the DVD version of the show.

Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play all have DVDs of Jesus Christ Superstar available for purchase or rental, as well as streaming the film.

CREDIT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Birmingham NEC Arena is the venue for this event.

Dione Orrom and Brett Sullivan star in the film.

Andrew Lloyd Webber composed the music.

Louise Hunt is the musical director.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is in charge of the orchestrations.

Mark Fisher was in charge of the scenic design.

Patrick Woodroffe is responsible for the lighting design.

Ashley Newsome is the stage manager for this production.

Sources

• Jennifer J. Bogdanski, “A Musical About Jesus Christ?” (A Musical About Jesus Christ?) , “Jesus Christ Superstar – review,” written by Lyn Gardner. The Guardian (September 23, 2012)
• Adam Hetrick, “Jesus Christ Superstar U.S. Arena Tour Abruptly Canceled,” The New York Times (September 23, 2012). On May 30, 2014, Playbill published an article by Mark Shenton titled “Full Cast Announced for U.K. Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.” Laura Thompson’s “Tim Minchin, Chris Moyles, and Mel C in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, O2 review,” published in Playbill on August 22, 2012. It was reported in The Telegraph (Sept. 22, 2012) by Ray Waddell that the “Jesus Christ Superstar” tour had failed due to “horrendous” ticket sales, according to the promoter. Billboard (June 6, 2014)
• “Jesus Christ Superstar UK Arena Tour” press release (June 6, 2014). In a press statement issued on May 16, 2012, Andrew Lloyd Webber stated, “Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE Arena Tour DVD/Blu-Ray launched!” AndrewLloydWebber.com (November 20, 2012)
• Press Release, “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” New Arena Production Rocks Cinemas This Fall,” Fathom Events (October 9, 2012)
• Really Useful Group, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” AndrewLloydWebber.com (November 20, 2012)
• AndrewLloydWebber.com (November 20, 2012)
• AndrewL AndrewLloydWebber.com
• The official website for Jesus Christ Superstar, which can be accessible through: Tim Minchin, “Tim Minchin 2,”A Bit of A Chat with Ken Plumepodcast (Jan 30, 2013)
• And the official website for AndrewLloydWebber.com.

Luisa Lyons has written a piece for us (February, 2017, updated April 2020)

Jesus Christ Superstar Live

Opening Date:April 1, 2018Closing Date:April 1, 2018Air date:April 1, 2018Medium:TVWhere to watch:DVD

Notes on the Stage Production The musical Jesus Christ Superstar, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, began life as a single song, “Superstar,” written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The single was released in 1969, and the success of the song led to the production of a full concept album in 1970. As a result of the record, a full-fledged stage production, which was played in July 1971 in Pennsylvania’s Civic Arena, was staged. Jesus Christ Superstar was touted as a rock opera, and it is widely regarded as a genre-defining production.

• In October 1971, the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City hosted the world premiere of the rock opera.
• Jesus Christ Superstar performed for more than 700 concerts before retiring in June 1973.
• The production was a huge success, and it ran for an incredible eight years.
• In addition to being performed all around the world, the musical Jesus Christ Superstar has been translated into a number of other languages including French, Spanish, and Serbian.
• The Lyceum Theatre in London hosted a 25th anniversary show in 1996 to commemorate the occasion.
• In 2012, the Really Useful Group launched an arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, which included Tim Minchin, Melanie C, and Ben Forster, winner of a reality television program.
• An open-air show presented in London’s Regent’s Park in 2016 earned overwhelmingly positive reviews.

The first, directed by Norman Jewison and starring Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, and Yvonne Ellimann, was released in 1973.

Notes about the Filmed Production NBC announced in May 2017 that it would broadcast a live version ofJesus Christ Superstar on Easter Sunday (April 1), 2018, as part of the growing trend of live television musicals.

The live musical performance was announced by NBC between December 2017 and February 2018, with a number of celebrities starring in it, including Alice Cooper as King Herod, John Legend as Jesus Christ, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, and Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas.

The panel was conducted by Michael Paulson, a theatrical reporter for the New York Times, and it was broadcast live on Facebook.

The live broadcast of Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert was shown on NBC television in the United States on April 1, 2018.

In spite of the fact that it was the most viewed television show in its time slot, the figures were insignificant when compared to the prior live television broadcasts on NBC.

The performance of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert got overwhelmingly excellent reviews.

” Almost all of the reviews praised the production’s breathtaking conclusion.

While John Legend’s portrayal of Jesus garnered a mixed response, Brandon Victor Dixon’s portrayal of Judas was overwhelmingly lauded by critics.

Making a live musical in front of an audience and shooting it was another successful strategy, according to the creators.

According to Linda Holmes of NPR, “a move toward theatrical skill and theater styling” has occurred in live television musicals, as she observed.

The musical was broadcast on NBC and was available for purchase on Region 1DVD on June 15, 2018.

The DVD version of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert is now available.

Neil Meron, John Legend, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius, and Alex Rudzinski are among the celebrities that have appeared on the show.

Tim Rice wrote the lyrics.

Brown Scenic Design:Jason Ardizzone-WestCostume 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) (Simon Zealotes)

Sources

• “NBC’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live’ should not have been successful,” writes Lorraine Ali. “Here’s why it happened,” The Los Angeles Times published an article stating that (April 2, 2018) “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concertwas a wonderful glitter bomb: EW review,” Kristen Baldwin, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concertwas a brilliant glitter bomb: EW review,” Jennifer J. Bogdanski’s article “A Musical About Jesus Christ?” appeared in Entertainment Weekly on April 2, 2018. , Anthony Crupi, a.k.a. THE RATINGS FOR JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’ ARE A LITTLE SHY OF MIRACULOUS,” says the author. ad age adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage adage idiom lexicon eloquent adage adage emotive adage adage adage eb adage (April 2, 2018)
• Lyn Gardner’s “Jesus Christ Superstar – review,” in the New York Times. According to The Guardian (Sept 23, 2012)
• Leslie Goldberg, “Sara Bareilles Joins NBC’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Live,” Los Angeles Times, March 1, 2012. The Hollywood Reporter (January 6, 2018)
• Adam Hetrick, “Jesus Christ Superstar U.S. Arena Tour Abruptly Canceled,” The Hollywood Reporter (January 6, 2018). Actors’ Playbill (May 30, 2014)
• Linda Holmes, “‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Brings Strong Voices to a Familiar Story,” The New York Times, November 1, 2004. On April 2, 2018, NPR’s All Things Considered aired an interview with Adrienne Jones, who wrote “Jesus Christ Superstar Live! There has been an update to the cast list.” “John Legend Will Star in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live!” writes Ryan McPhee in Cinema Blend (December 2017). Playbill (Dec. 19, 2017)
• Noel Murray, “Review: In ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ an Old Story for (Yet Another) New Millennium,” Playbill (Dec. 19, 2017)
• “Review: In ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ an Old Story for (Yet Another) New Millennium,” Playbill (Dec. 19, 2017)
• “Review: In ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ an Old Story for (Ye NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” will include “Hamilton” alum Brandon Victor Dixon (Joe Otterson, “‘Hamilton’ Alum Brandon Victor Dixon Joins NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” Variety (February 22, 2018)
• Dino-Ray Ramos, “‘Hamilton’ Star Brandon Victor Dixon to Star as Judas in NBC’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar'” (Brandon Victor Dixon to Star as Judas in NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar”). David Rooney, deadline (February 22, 2018)
• “‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert’: A Television Review,” The New York Times. The Hollywood Reporter (April 1, 2018)
• Maureen Ryan, The Hollywood Reporter (April 1, 2018). “TV Review: NBC’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,'” says the New York Times. Variety (April 1, 2018)
• Mark Shenton (April 1, 2018). According to the press release, “the full cast of Jesus Christ Superstar’s U.K. arena tour has been announced.” Playbill (Aug. 22, 2012)
• Hank Stuever, Hank Stuever & Company In the end, “NBC’s live ‘Superstar’ managed to rise above its own turbulence and find redemption.” The Washington Post (April 2, 2018)
• Brittany Spanos, “NBC Plots Live ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ for Easter 2018,” The Washington Post (April 2, 2018)
• The Washington Post (April 2, 2018). Rolling Stone (May 10, 2017)
• Kate Stanhope, “NBC Sets ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Live Musical for Spring 2018,” Rolling Stone (May 10, 2017)
• Rolling Stone (May 10, 2017). Tim Minchin, Chris Moyles, and Mel C in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2 Arena (May 10, 2017)
• Laura Thompson, “Tim Minchin, Chris Moyles, and Mel C in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar at the O2 Arena,” The Hollywood Reporter (May 10, 2017). It was reported in The Telegraph (Sept. 22, 2012) by Ray Waddell that the “Jesus Christ Superstar” tour had failed due to “horrendous” ticket sales, according to the promoter. Billboard (June 6, 2014)
• “Jesus Christ Superstar UK Arena Tour” press release (June 6, 2014). In a press statement issued on May 16, 2012, Andrew Lloyd Webber stated, “Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE Arena Tour DVD/Blu-Ray launched!” On November 20, 2012, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” new arena production will be shown in theaters this fall. On October 9, 2012, Fathom Events released a press release titled “JOHN LEGEND SET FOR TITLE ROLE IN NBC’S ‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT!’ FROM BROOKLYN, N.Y.” 19th of December, 2017
• NBC Universal

• “Jesus Christ Superstar” is a Really Useful Group that you should join. AndrewLloydWebber.com
• The official website for Jesus Christ Superstar, which may be accessible through: Tim Minchin, “Tim Minchin 2,”A Bit of A Chat with Ken Plumepodcast (Jan 30, 2013)
• And

Luisa Lyons (January 2018) contributed to this article. (Revised in February, April, and June 2018, as well as in March 2020.)