CAST PARTY
“Superstar” memories.
BY RANDEE DAWN >>> NEW YORK — NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!,” which broadcast the 1970 rock opera musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber from Brooklyn on Easter Sunday, was by all rights a success. Visually ambitious (if sometimes audio-challenged, thanks to an overenthusiastic audience of 1,200), the rock ’n’ religion revival drew 9.4 million TV viewers who watched such superstars as John Legend playing Jesus Christ and Alice Cooper as King Herod. And producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan couldn’t be more proud.
“It was a big breakthrough for us,” says Meron. “It was a true test to see if audiences would stick with it and respond to it — and that’s a great achievement. We really weren’t expecting the absolutely remarkable response, which was a little overwhelming.”
Reviewers responded as well. L.A. Times critic Lorraine Ali said of Legend as Jesus and Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, “They brought the songs to life for a modern audience without forsaking the original charm of the numbers.” And added, “Their melodious deliveries were complemented by the gruffer voice and more theatrical likes of [Brandon Victor] Dixon, as Judas.”
Down on the stage as fans cheered and reached out, the performers kept their cool — even while retelling one of the most emotional stories of all time, complete with glitter, gold and giant cowled coats. Here’s the impact it had on some of them.