So many memories
by Cindy on 3/28/24Hershey Theatre - HersheyThe show instantly transformed me back to the 70s when I first saw the show. Loved the set and the performance but, man the seats at Hershey were tight.
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Jesus Christ Superstar on Tour
The musical-theater version of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice's hit 1970 rock opera gets the passionate revival it has long deserved when the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's production of Jesus Christ Superstar comes to the United States. The show's 50th Anniversary Tour offers an emotionally resonant, hard-rocking experience that debuted in London in 2016. Director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie's cutting-edge production won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The 50th Anniversary Tour marks the first major revival of Jesus Christ Superstar in nearly a decade.
Jesus Christ Superstar Background
Jesus Christ Superstar originated as a high-concept rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice in 1970 and sold more than 7 million copies by 1983. Their account of Jesus' last week of life made its Broadway debut as a musical in 1971, dazzling audiences with its stirringly maximal music and minimal dialogue. Two film adaptations followed, in 1973 and 1999, and NBC aired a live concert version, starring John Legend as Jesus, on April 1 (Easter Sunday), 2018.
"This is not your grandmother's Superstar," Catey Sullivan wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times when Timothy Sheader directed the musical in Chicago in 2018. "Drew McOnie's choreography has the explosive feel of barely contained ecstasy, filled with flailing movements that evoke old time tent revivals where snake handlers spoke in tongues and miraculously cured the sick."
The 50th Anniversary Tour production of Jesus Christ Superstar stars actor-singer-songwriter Aaron La Vigne as Jesus, actor-poet James Delisco Beeks as Judas and Jenna Rubaii as Mary Magdalene. You'll shout hallelujah! during the onstage rock band's renditions of "This Jesus Must Die," "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and "Superstar." And when one of the Pharisees sings, "One thing I'll say for him, Jesus is cool," you will take him at his word.
The show instantly transformed me back to the 70s when I first saw the show. Loved the set and the performance but, man the seats at Hershey were tight.
I absolutely loved every minute of it. It was so modern yet so true to the real story. There’s no need to go to New York City when a Company like this comes to Hershey!
Saw this show several times. This was a good show but the weakest one I've seen. I was distracted by the use of handheld microphones and guitars. The choreography was redundant and mostly reminded me of Michael Jackson's Thriller movements. Mary and Judas were excellent. Loved the set. The instrumentalists stole the show.
The music and voices were good. The set was underwhelming, but considering the small stage and venue I guess in hindsight it shouldn't have been unexpected. I had seen it before in DC and MD where it had extraordinary scenery, so I was kind of disappointed.
From the staging to the singing, dancing, lighting, costumes, musicians. You name it and it was beautifully done. We were ecstatic.
This was the 50th anniversary tour. It was a new take on the show, but it really surpassed expectations. The voices and actors were wonderful.
We enjoyed the interpretation, dancing and scenery. The music was a huge disappointment. This is a rock opera and the music should be front and center. At times, we could not hear who was singing or what they were singing. At times they were singing so fast, the words were mushed together. Timing was off. Could not understand what they were saying, except we already knew the words. We were very disappointed. Of course, King Herod was the redeeming character!!
I grew up in the 1970’s so I know this musical by heart! It’s a contemporary piece that is a masterpiece by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. A very open mind is necessary to understand and learn the message of Jesus’s journey and rising. A must see!
Jesus Christ Superstar was an awesome show. I saw the show 50 years ago and this time around was just as great. Music and singing was top notch. The lead characters were wonderful. I would definitely recommend this show.
This was more like a review than the full rock opera play. The cast is talented and does a fine job, although it is mostly impersonations or impressions of the original cast. The exception is Herod, whose take on the character was fun even if there wasn’t much support for his interpretation in the staging, choreography, or music. Pilate was also a standout for me, although more traditional. The stage, by necessity is small and that means a pretty static show, but it still manages a few impactful moments. I very much enjoyed it.