New Urban CULTURE- A Night at the Theater (VIDEO): Award-Winning Singer, Songwriter & Film Producer John Legend Shines in Debut Theater Role, Leading TV Revival of the 1970's Rock Opera, "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR"

Legend in an impassioned moment during the live television production of "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR"

Though the intended concept originally began as a rock opera recording by Tim Rice and Andrew Llyod Webber, 1970's Jesus Christ Superstar is one of the great Broadway productions in musical theater history, and outside of the musical, "HAIR", has served as one of the primary templates for rock opera productions throughout decades, inspiring the style of other great musicals that would wow theater audiences in later years like Godspell, Grease, Tommy, and Rent.

Borrowing from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the last seven days of Jesus Christ’s life. When the show begins, apostle Judas Iscariot (played extraordinarily by Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon) is in angst that Jesus’ followers will be seen as a threat to the occupying Roman Empire.  Meanwhile, priests Annas, Caiaphas, and others gather to observe Christ's growing movement- and come to agree that Jesus (John Legend) and his followers must be eradicated.  Jesus exaltedly arrives in Jerusalem but is distressed to find the temple filled with sleazy merchants and money lenders. Overrun by a flood of people needing his help, he tells them to heal themselves, and his confidante Mary Magdalene (Sara Bareilles) must bring calm to the situation. Judas, fearing the movement is getting out of Jesus’ control, goes to the Romans and tells them Jesus will be in the Garden of Gethsemane the following night. He receives 30 pieces of silver as payment. In the Garden,  Roman soldiers arrive with Judas and he identifies Jesus by kissing him on the cheek. Jesus is arrested and sent to Caiaphas; Pontius Pilate, then King Herod (played by rock legend Alice Cooper),  condemns Jesus to death on the cross.

Though our original experience with Jesus Christ Superstar first began with seeing the 1973 film version some 25 years ago, and later a traveling revival version in theatre, the live television version does not disappoint and surprisingly offers layered, nuanced performances that inspire a lot of emotion, more than you would expect from watching a theater musical on the small screen. Visually speaking, the grand scope of the theater design also manages to come across well on this television version.  The production's art direction has been updated from the 1970s version by replacing the psychedelic, Trippy Hippie visuals of that time period with minimalist, modern stage & costume design. 

 As a rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar has almost no spoken dialog, relying solely on the songs to tell the story. Regarding the talent in the production, as the prostitute, Mary Magdalene, pop music vocalist Sara Bareilles sings with a mixture of purity and vulnerability entirely capable of capturing the earnestness of a "fallen woman" who for once in her life, strives for Agape love, and is entirely believable as Jesus's believer, friend, and champion. Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (who has also starred in the  Broadway hit musicals "Hamilton", and "The Color Purple") delivers a performance of Judas that is, quite simply, utter perfection.   While John Legend is known primarily as the master of contemporary love ballads and not as a classical singer, his formative musical background as a young boy in Pentecostal church ministry bestows his voice with a searing pain and gruffness that places us in the passionate intersection where rock & opera meet good old fashioned, Old Man Church shouting. Jesus Crist Superstar Live! is, in short, well worth watching and may even draw you close to a tear- but like most loud, brash, rock musical productions of its kind, will need your full attention to become emotionally invested as the story unfolds.

So turn the lights down low, get a snack, and lose yourself in this moving theatre experience. The production video will be available for a limited time only.  To follow the lyrics to the opera, you can read them here at:  ALL MUSICALS- JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR