Jesus Christ Superstar
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:16:49 AM Wikipedia source
Jesus Christ Superstar is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospel accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with much of the plot centred on Judas, who is dissatisfied with how Jesus steers his disciples. Contemporary attitudes, sensibilities, and slang pervade the rock opera's lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events; stage and film productions accordingly contain many intentional anachronisms. Initially unable to get backing for a stage production, the composers released the score as a 1970 concept album, an immediate success which led to its Broadway stage debut in 1971. By 1980, the musical had grossed more than $237 million worldwide. Running over eight years in London between 1972 and 1980, the show held the record for longest-running West End musical until 1989 (overtaken by Cats).
Infobox
Tables
| Character | Voice type | Description |
| Jesus Christ | baritenor (A2–A♭4, falsetto to G5) | Title role, leader of the twelve disciples, called the "Son of God" and the "King of the Jews". |
| Judas Iscariot | tenor (B2–B4, falsetto E5) | One of Jesus' twelve apostles; concerned for the poor and the consequences of Jesus's fame. |
| Mary Magdalene | mezzo-soprano (F3–E♭5) | A follower of Jesus who finds herself falling in love with him. |
| Pontius Pilate | baritenor (A2–B♭4) | Governor of Judea who foresees the events of Jesus's crucifixion from beginning to aftermath in a dream and finds himself being presented with that very situation. |
| Caiaphas | bass-baritone (C♯2–F4) | High priest who sees Jesus as a threat to the nation. |
| Annas | countertenor (G3–D5) | Fellow priest at the side of Caiaphas who is persuaded by Caiaphas into seeing Jesus as a threat. |
| Peter | baritone (A2–G4) | One of Jesus's twelve apostles; denies Jesus three times upon the night of Jesus's arrest to save himself. |
| Simon Zealotes | tenor (G3–B4) | One of Jesus's twelve apostles; urges Jesus to lead his followers into battle against the Romans. |
| King Herod | baritone (B2–G4) | The King of Galilee; Jesus is brought to him for judgment after first being taken to Pilate. |
| Character | Broadway | West End | Film | Broadway revival | West End revival | Broadway revival | Film | Broadway revival | UK arena tour | NBC live concert |
| 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1977 | 1996 | 2000 | 2012 | 2018 | |||
| Jesus Christ | Jeff Fenholt | Paul Nicholas | Ted Neeley | William Daniel Grey | Steve Balsamo | Glenn Carter | Paul Alexander Nolan | Ben Forster | John Legend | |
| Judas Iscariot | Ben Vereen | Stephen Tate | Carl Anderson | Patrick Jude | Zubin Varla | Tony Vincent | Jérôme Pradon | Josh Young | Tim Minchin | Brandon Victor Dixon |
| Mary Magdalene | Yvonne Elliman | Dana Gillespie | Yvonne Elliman | Barbara Niles | Joanna Ampil | Maya Days | Renée Castle | Chilina Kennedy | Melanie C | Sara Bareilles |
| Pontius Pilate | Barry Dennen | John Parker | Barry Dennen | Randy Wilson | David Burt | Kevin Gray | Fred Johanson | Tom Hewitt | Alexander Hanson | Ben Daniels |
| Caiaphas | Bob Bingham | George Harris | Bob Bingham | Christopher Cable | Pete Gallagher | Frederick Owens | Marcus Nance | Pete Gallagher | Norm Lewis | |
| Annas | Phil Jethro | Jimmy Cassidy | Kurt Yaghjian | Steve Schochet | Martin Callaghan | Ray Walker | Michael Shaeffer | Aaron Walpole | Gerard Bentall | Jin Ha |
| Peter | Michael Jason | Richard Barnes | Paul Thomas | Randy Martin | Paul Hawkyard | Rodney Hicks | Cavin Cornwall | Mike Nadajewski | Michael Pickering | Jason Tam |
| Simon Zealotes | Dennis Buckley | Derek James | Larry Marshall | Bobby London | Glenn Carter | Michael K. Lee | Tony Vincent | Lee Siegel | Giovanni Spano | Erik Grönwall |
| King Herod | Paul Ainsley | Paul Jabara | Josh Mostel | Mark Syers | Nick Holder | Paul Kandel | Rik Mayall | Bruce Dow | Chris Moyles | Alice Cooper |
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 1972 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Ben Vereen | Nominated |
| Best Original Score | Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Robin Wagner | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Randy Barceló | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Jules Fisher | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Most Promising Composer | Andrew Lloyd Webber | Won | |
| Theatre World Award | Ben Vereen | Won | ||
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 1997 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Musical Revival | Nominated | |
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2000 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Josh Young | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Steve Canyon Kennedy | Nominated | ||
| Theatre World Award | Josh Young | Won | ||
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2016 | Evening Standard Theatre Award | Best Musical | Won | |
| Emerging Talent | Tyrone Huntley | Won | ||
| 2017 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Musical Revival | Won | |
| Best Actor in a Musical | Tyrone Huntley | Nominated | ||
| Best Theatre Choreographer | Drew McOnie | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Lee Curran | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design | Nick Lidster for Autograph | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Achievement in Music | The band and company | Nominated | ||
References
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