My Ramblings of Jesus Christ Superstar

The 50th Anniersary Broadway tour of Jesus Christ Superstar is making it’s rounds! This show is near and dear to my heart. Read on for my ramblings of Jesus Christ Superstar, which we will refer to as JCS.

The 2019-2020 season of Playhouse Square’s Broadway lineup was pretty lackluster, BUT the shining star was sure to be Jesus Christ Superstar! The show was going on its 50th Anniversary Tour. Alongside the band that was on the tour would be local performers making up the full orchestra for its Playhouse Square production.

I couldn’t wait to finally go see a show I was excited about that season. Sadly, the tour started near us on March 10th, and the run hadn’t quite made it to our ticket date when the pandemic shut down the world! And all my excitement was washed away.

My History

You see, Jesus Christ Superstar is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE musicals of a time, both stage and screen! I know every word to every song and could probably perform the entire movie, including the dances if I wasn’t so out of shape. (ha)

My parents introduced us to the vinyl albums (BOTH the original cast and motion picture) when we were just tiny tykes. Then to the movie by later grade school. By middle school, we were introducing it to all of our friends. Around that time, I had the most transformative musical theater experience! It changed the way I thought of theater productions and performative singing all together.

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JCS was one of the first shows I went to in the theater. The actors from the movie we had grown to love, Carl Andeson (Judas) and Ted Neeley (Jesus), were in a touring production, and we just HAD to get tickets. The first note of the first song sung by Judas hit me in a way I had never felt. Then the entire lyric. The hair on my neck stood up, and I just cried. Nothing had even happened yet. No story had developed. It was just the most emotional and beautiful thing I had ever heard. The experience was surreal. And from that point, I was addicted!

During high school, and to this day, it has become our Church on Easter Sunday. We would listen to it while preparing Easter dinner and then watch it after while we belted the lyrics at the top of our lungs or just harmonized wherever we could. It truly bonded us as a family. After my mom’s passing over a decade ago, my sister’s and I try to maintain this tradition as it keeps my mom’s spirit close to us and alive during the holiday. We try get our kids involved, too.

But it moves beyond our little family unit. I have also shared many memories of blaring the music, singing, and dancing to this JCS with cousins, aunts and uncles. I am certain our impromptu performances have left an impression here and there.

I will admit that I am a little bit of a snob when it comes to this show. The bar was set high many moons ago. So how was this revival going to hold up???

The 50th Anniersary Tour

The Story

If you are not familiar with Jesus Christ Superstar, you should know that this story starts at the height of Jesus’ popularity, when the Romans become scared enough to orchestrate his death using Judas’ fears to assist. It retells the happenings leading up to the crusification from a few different eyes: Jesus, Judas, and Pontious Pirate, to name a few. You see how they all questioned their roles in this grand plan they could not escape.

Additionally, it should be noted that this is a ROCK OPERA and, as such, there is no speaking parts. The entire shown is sung. This particular version of the show also did not have an intermission. It was 90 minutes beginning to end.

The Music

The orchestra was hands down the best part of the show! The band was both in the background on stage AND in the audience along the front balconies. The tour encompasses an 11-piece band. However, we were also were able to enjoy the addition of 22 local musicians playing alongside in the balconies.

The overture is quite long, and when the music first started playing, I knew I was in for an amazing experience. It was so powerful, and the sound was just incredible. At times, it felt like I was listening to my own headphones, which made me feel even more part of the show. Plus, the rock element of the score just makes you excited!

They seemed to have really leaned into the rock opera concept for this tour.

Set

Overall the set was simple and gave an industrial feel. In the middle of the stage was a cross-shaped stage. On each side was a two level simple background. Musicians were the background of all 4 spaces. Different chorus members and characters could be found in these various spaces.

The cross in the center was the focal point and was used as a stage throughout the show. The set matched the idea of a rock concert environment with full microphones and stands being used to perform the songs. The microphone stands were a prop in themselves at times.

As I write this, I realize how symbolic the way they presented the music was. When it was a character’s time to shine they got the “stage”.

To drill the concept home they also featured three women as the “background vocalists” that any rock group would require. The hair, the costume, the dancing. It all screams, ROCK CONCERT.

The Performances

Where I normally struggle with this show is the performances. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the performers’ renditions of their characters and the ability to hit their notes. It is NOT an easy show to sing.

The mens parts often hit these beautiful and hair-raising notes in that rock star way, and too often, the actors can not deliver. But Judas was absolutely incredible. Pontious Pilot was stunning. Jesus hit the notes he needed to beautifully. I did feel he was fairly medicore in general, and I didn’t care for some of his musicality choices, but his voice was stellar! Caiaphas and Annus provide that perfect juxtaposition of high and low that makes the duo fascinating. King Herald may have been the most toned down version I have seen on stage, but his gravitas and flamboyance are perfectly depicted. Mary’s soothing sounds are just what we needed to balance the tension of the show. Although a small part, Simon the Zelot, leaves a big impression during his solo, but this time, it was very disappointing.

The Dancing

The choreography was perfect. It fit the theme and made sense. It was respectfully very difficult. The full body movement could cause anyone to be winded, but it did not sacrifice the sound and singing.

Overall

After breaking it down, I am happy to say that I rather liked this run of one of my all-time favorite musicals, Jesus Christ Superstar.

I know that I will never experience it as I did the first when I was just a young girl; however, I expect that any other version does justice to the incredible talent that came before it.

Sure, there were some musical choices that I questioned. And the beginning was oddly rushed, but this 90-minute, no intermission performance was a delightful treat. I highly recommend it if it comes around to you.

I’m no theater expert, just a gal who loves all things musicals. So get out and see a show and let me know what you think!

If you are interested in my ramblings on any other shows, you can check them out these:

Hadestown, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hanson