The 1973 Broadway smash hit and rock opera concept "Jesus Christ Superstar" is making headlines in the 21st century. Recently, the Hollywood Bowl announced an exclusive three-night event of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. However, the return of the stage production is not the reason for the headlines; it's the cast.
Cynthia Erivo, fresh off a film adaptation of another Broadway classic, "Wicked," is starring in "Jesus Christ Superstar" as Jesus. Adam Lambert, the multi-talented lead singer of Queen and American Idol season 8 runner-up, was cast as Judas Iscariot. The Sergio Trujillo-directed reboot of the emblematic play will be sold out in minutes, regaled by critics this November, and continue to make headlines.
The casting is raising serious eyebrows among faith-based people. According to Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the early 1970s, Christians protested every night when "Jesus Christ Superstar" first hit the stage. Also, Jewish groups, led by the Anti-Defamation League, accused the production of "anti-semitic tropes about Jesus' death."
Despite the controversy and public outcry, "Jesus Christ Superstar" ran for 18 months on Broadway, from Oct. 12, 1971, to July 1, 1973. There have also been three revivals on Broadway in 1977, 2000, and 2012. It began as a concept album, where the idea of a "rock opera" originated. That 1970 record was banned by BBC radio for "sacrilege." Three gold records came from the stage, "Superstar," "Gethsemane," and the less-apropos "I Don't Know How to Love Him." As did five Tony nominations.
Yet, despite not winning any awards, generations can't seem to get enough of the play. Is there a genuine concern for people of faith? Is it a Christian play?
A big word for "Jesus Christ Superstar" is "dramaturgical," essentially the theatrical representation of life. The main characters are core personalities or "front stage." Likewise, people who speak fewer words and have less impact on the story in real historical instances are "backstage." Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the play from Judas' perspective, which is why Adam Lambert's role was named a lead.
That's historical, as the Bible shows. The disciples and Pharisetical priests have speaking parts. The play also includes the Last Supper, betrayal, and the Crucifixion. Yet, that's where the allegories or depictions cease. For example, the core of the play's controversy in 1971 surrounded the blossoming love interest between Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ.
Judas is mesmerized by the stories about Jesus of Nazareth, but only as a political revolutionary. He struggles to believe in Christ's divinity throughout the production. In the famed song "Superstar," Judas sings the lyric, "Jesus Christ, Superstar, do you think you're what they say you are?"
The lyric is inspired by Matthew 16:13 when Jesus asks all of His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" Yet, the idea is flipped on Broadway, and Judas sings about the question to Jesus for some sort of misguided confession. Yet, the play wasn't completely deemed evil.
On one hand, Billy Graham called the play "Blasphemous." Surprisingly, Pope Paul VI said about "Jesus Christ Superstar," "I believe it will bring more people worldwide to Christianity than ever."
"Jesus Christ Superstar" envisions the Messiah as a mega-celebrity, which may not be far from the truth if Jesus walked the earth today. On stage, Jesus goes against the precepts of His teachings. He is vain, anxious, and upset when He thinks about His calling and destiny.
In other situations, there is more creative liberty. Take Mark 11:15–18 when Jesus flipped all the money tables. He was angry because "[His] house will be called a house of prayer," but the people in there were "making it a den of robbers." In "Jesus Christ Superstar," the Lord wields an electric guitar and squeals like He is in a hair-metal band. It's not blasphemy, but not necessarily something to do in a church play.
From Pontius Pilate calling Jesus "Someone Christ" to the disciples daydreaming about fame during the Last Supper, "Jesus Christ Superstar" may have lines inspired by the Bible, but it doesn't follow the Spirit of the words. The play is not a biblical production, nor are most of the concepts, but the Bible-believing crowd wasn't the core demographic when Webber wrote it.
This is entertainment. If this is the closest some people ever get to a Bible, they will learn about Jesus amid the rest of the misguided script. However, if you're praying for some of them to know the Lord, ask God to lead them elsewhere.
