Sunday’s son: ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ gets Legend-ary treatment
In the late 1960s, musical theater was getting a complete makeover. For years, the genre did its best to avoid serious subjects, keeping joy and whimsy in the forefront. While it seemed for a time that interest in this form of theater was waning, a new breed of musical theater would resurrect the genre. Rock was woven into the pages of fresh, new takes on biblical narratives and, in 1970, “Jesus Christ Superstar” was born. On Sunday, April 1, NBC brings this legendary rock musical to audiences across North America, when “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” takes over prime time.
Initially a concept album, “Jesus Christ Superstar” delves into the last days of Jesus Christ, with particular focus on the relationships between Jesus and some well-known biblical figures, including Judas, Mary Magdalene and King Herod.The show plays fast and loose with depictions of these figures, as the musical’s creators, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, look to humanize them and make them relatable.The lines between God and man are blurred, with Jesus unafraid to confront modernday social issues.
While the musical has no doubt been performed in countless high schools and independent theaters around the globe, its professional runs have been consistent since the concept album’s creation, with more than 19 productions, including four on Broadway.
For NBC’s live, prime-time adaptation, some major star power has been recruited. In the titular role of Jesus Christ is singer, songwriter and actor John Legend (“La La Land,” 2016). Not only is Legend the star of the production, he is also co-producer. When asked by The Paley Center for Media to express why he was intrigued by the opportunity, Legend’s answer was amusingly simple: “Bottom line is, they offered me the chance to play Jesus Christ ... I was like, let’s do it.”
While this is Legend’s first leading role in a televised musical, it’s not his first screen gig — he played the role of Keith in the multiple award-winning feature musical film “La La Land” in 2016. He also co-wrote and recorded a song with the film, “Start a Fire,” enjoying a rare opportunity to contribute to a musical’s score.
Joining Legend onstage — and on screen — is singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, a notable follower of Jesus, according to biblical records. Sadly, she was known less for her witnessing of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection and more so for her profession as a sex worker, a depiction not entirely present in the gospels or other biblical texts. Another key player in the musical, one well familiar with its story and lyrical content, is legendary rocker Alice Cooper. Cooper takes on the role of King Herod, a ruler who lives for excess and decadence and fails to see the divinity of Christ, declaring him a liar.
This isn’t Cooper’s first time in the role: a 1996 cast recording of “Jesus Christ Superstar” also featured him as the king. Sitting at The Paley Center’s discussion on this anticipated televised production with his fellow cast and crew, Cooper expressed his feelings about returning to the role. According to Cooper, Tim Rice is an “old friend of [his],” and it was Rice who long believed Cooper had the “[cynicism] and dangerous” nature required for the part.
Despite finding the same appeal as Legend with regard to being cast as Jesus, Cooper admits that “[he] never gets cast as Jesus,” though he’s not surprised and fairly certain he knows why. His stage persona as a rock musician doesn’t really give that Christlike vibe.
This all-new, one-time production of “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” is not the first television special of its kind. Many viewers may be familiar with recent small-screen live adaptations of other musicals by NBC, including “The Sound of Music Live,” “The Wiz Live,” “Hairspray Live!” and “Grease: Live.”
While these offerings may seem to be a recent phenomenon, NBC is no stranger to the teleplay. Both 1955 and 1956 found the musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie’s classic “Peter Pan” making waves on TVs across America — notably the first time that a Broadway musical had ever been televised as a complete production, at that time also including almost the entire stage cast. Fittingly, “Peter Pan Live!” was also a recent NBC production, with the adaptation airing Dec. 4, 2014.
“Jesus Christ Superstar” made a name for itself in the early ‘70s for its infusion of rock ‘n’ roll with the Bible’s foremost narrative. At once daring and mesmerizing, the production, which also received cinematic treatment in 1973, wasn’t afraid to challenge preconceived notions and depictions of Christ and the figures that surrounded him.
At its core, though, much like the variability of the characters portrayed and the depths of their personas, Legend sees the production’s music as not merely one-note. To him, the musical is “kind of a genre-bending and expanding piece,” one that, “for those ... who love music and those ... who love to perform,” does not have “as many boundaries as some would suggest.”
Take a break from the quiet contemplation of Easter weekend and rejoice, for a renowned rock musical is about to shake up prime time. Catch John Legend, Sarah Bareilles and Alice Cooper as they’re joined by an incredible cast for “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” airing Sunday, April 1, on NBC.