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''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a Rock Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice . Introduced in 1970 , it highlights the political and interpersonal struggles of Judas Iscariot and Jesus . The action largely follows the Canonical Gospel s' accounts of the last week of Jesus's life, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the Crucifixion . Twentieth-century attitude and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the political depiction of the events. Stage and film productions accordingly feature many Anachronism s. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas who is depicted as a realistic, conflicted, and tragic figure who is not satisfied with Jesus's apparent lack of political planning and recent claims of divinity. PLOT AND SONGS The play begins with Judas confronting Jesus, and expressing concern that Christ's popularity is getting out of control ("Heaven On Their Minds"). Jesus is questioned by many of his supporters about the future and is frustrated by their insistence ("What's The Buzz"). In response, Mary Magdalene helps Jesus relax by massaging him with ointment, which makes Judas angry, as he feels that Jesus should not be hanging around with Mary, a former prostitute, and that the expensive ointment should have been used for charity ("Strange Things Mystifying", "Everything's Alright"). Meanwhile, Caiaphas and other high-ranking proud Jewish priests meet to discuss Jesus' movement. Caiaphas worries that if Jesus' supporters proclaim him as their king, the government of the Roman Empire will see him as a political threat and stage a violent crackdown. The Jewish council decides that Jesus must be killed to protect their own sovereignty ("This Jesus Must Die"). Jesus is confronted by a mob of supporters, and Caiaphas demands he silence them. Jesus replies that this is impossible ("Hosanna"). Simon Zealotes encourages Jesus to gain power by leading the mob against Rome ("Simon Zealotes"). Jesus rejects this suggestion cryptically ("Poor Jerusalem"). In the next scene, Pontius Pilate , the Roman Governor, speaks of having a dream foretelling meeting Jesus and being blamed for his death, although he does not understand what it means ("Pilate's Dream"). Jesus and his supporters come to Jerusalem to visit the Temple . While there, Jesus is enraged to see it has become a "den of thieves", and his supporters cause a small riot. While he leaves he is confronted by a mass of lepers, cripples, and beggars, who beg to be healed. Jesus is overwhelmed ("The Temple"). Meanwhile, Mary sings privately of her complicated feelings towards Jesus ("I Don't Know How To Love Him"). Feeling guilty, Judas secretly visits Caiaphas and complains to him that Jesus' supporters are out of control. Caiaphas convinces Judas to tell him of Jesus' location so he can get the Roman Guard to arrest him. Judas reluctantly obliges ("Damned For All Time/Blood Money".) Jesus meets with his Twelve Apostles at the Last Supper and speaks in dire terms that he will soon be betrayed and killed. Feeling confronted, Judas has a quarrel with Jesus interspersed with the other apostles' focusing on themselves. Judas then runs off ("The Last Supper"). While the apostles sleep, Jesus prays and finally agrees to make the sacrifice that God wants ("Gethsemane"). Jesus is arrested and brought to Caiaphas. Along the way he is confronted by reporters. Caiaphas sends him to the Governor, Pilate ("The Arrest"). One of Jesus's apostles, Peter , meanwhile, denies having been with Jesus at his arrest to three people who ask ("Peter's Denial"). Pilate criticises and mocks Jesus, but eventually comments that since Jesus is from Galilee he is not under his jurisdiction, and sends him to King Herod ("Pilate and Christ"). Herod is very excited to meet Jesus, but quickly becomes frustrated when Christ refuses to perform any miracles for his amusement ("King Herod's Song"). In a scene added for the first film, the apostles and Mary Magdalene wistfully remember the beginnings of their movement ("Could We Start Again Please?") Judas, now realizing his guilt, meets Caiaphas again. Unable to obtain forgiveness he hangs himself ("Judas' Death"). Jesus is brought back to Pilate, who tries to decide what to do with Jesus. The mob and the priests call loudly for his death. Pilate hesitates, but eventually agrees ("Trial Before Pilate"). The spirit of Judas then appears to Jesus to question him ("Superstar"). Jesus is beaten and crucified ("The Crucifixion"). The play ends with an orchestral piece, "John 19:41". The title is a reference to a verse in the Bible about Jesus being laid in the tomb. FROM ALBUM TO BROADWAY The opera was first heard as an Album before being staged—on Broadway and later in London 's West End . (The same pattern would be followed by Rice and Lloyd Webber's second musical hit, '' Evita ''.) On the original album, the part of Jesus was sung by Ian Gillan , lead singer of Deep Purple , and that of Judas by Murray Head . The future Gary Glitter had a one-liner as a priest and Michael D'Abo appeared as King Herod . The title song, "Superstar", sung by Judas , and "I Don't Know How to Love Him", sung by Mary Magdalene ( Yvonne Elliman ) about her relationship with Jesus, were both big hits. In June of 1971, the first US staged version was performed at Southold High School in Southold, New York by students of the school. On and Ben Vereen . Carl Anderson stepped into the role of Judas when Vereen fell ill, and the two performers later took turns playing the role. The Broadway show closed after 18 months. The Broadway show and subsequent productions were condemned by some religious groups. Some s said that it bolstered the anti-Semitic claim that the Jews are responsible for Jesus' death by showing most of the villains as Jewish (Caiaphas and the other priests, Herod) and showing the crowd in Jerusalem calling for the crucifixion. [http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0345,winter,48380,6.html Many religious groups protested outside the theatre during the first Broadway production. ''Superstar'' opened at the Palace Theatre in London in 1972, starring Paul Nicholas as Jesus and Stephen Tate as Judas. This production was much more successful, running for eight years and becoming the world's longest-running musical at the time (a title currently held by the The Phantom Of The Opera ) FILM During the filming of '' Fiddler On The Roof '', Barry Dennen (who played Pilate on the concept album) suggested to Norman Jewison that he should direct ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' as a film. After hearing the album, Jewison agreed to do it. The movie was filmed in Israel (primarily at the ruins of Avdat ) and other Middle Eastern locations in 1973 . The cast consisted mostly of actors from the Broadway show, with Ted Neeley (a reporter, leper and Jesus understudy in the Broadway version) and Carl Anderson starring as Jesus and Judas, respectively. Along with Dennen, Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene) and Bob Bingham (Caiaphas) reprised their Broadway roles in the film. Originally, Jewison had wanted Ian Gillan to reprise his role as Jesus, but Gillan turned down the offer, deciding that he would please fans more by touring with Deep Purple . Like the stage show, the film gave rise to controversy, and a religious group bombed a theater in South America at which it was playing. Some of the lyrics were changed for the film, partly enriching its content ("Hosanna", "The Temple") and partly making it more acceptable for a Christian audience. When Jesus had originally said to a group of beggars overpowering him "Heal yourselves!", the film had "Leave me alone!". In "Trial before Pilate", Jesus said "There may be a kingdom for me somewhere else, if you only knew", while the original line had been "if I only knew". These latter changes weren't espoused by later productions and recordings. One member of the film's cast went on to an unusual film career. Philip Toubus , who played Peter, found himself struggling as a mainstream actor. But three years after appearing in ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', and having changed his name to Paul Thomas , he began a long and successful career performing in and directing Adult Films . SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS In 1976, the opera began its first U.S. national tour with a company managed by Laura Shapiro Kramer . The tour continued until 1980. By the turn of the century, the furor over the play had died down so greatly that it is now often performed by church groups, who appreciate it simply as an established secular play concerning Jesus, with excellent music. There was also a North American touring revival of "Superstar" in 1992 , with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson once again reprising their roles as Jesus and Judas and getting rave reviews for their performances. Originally expected to run for a couple of months, the tour ended up running for seven years. 1992 also saw the London production on its 20th Anniversary, featuring Paul Nicholas from the original cast as Jesus, and the highly acclaimed Australian concert cast, starring John Farnham as Jesus and Jon Stevens as Judas and produced by the entrepreneur Harry M. Miller . In 1994, a revival (also produced by Harry M. Miller) in New Zealand saw changes in production style, such as the rock guitar solo introducing the show played by a guitarist on a spotlighted, elevated platform, and costuming which included a complete lack of sandals. Jesus was played by Darryl Lovegrove ; Caiaphas by Frankie Stevens, elder brother of Jon Stevens (the two played together on stage when the production toured Australia, with Jon in his previous role as Judas); and Judas by the stage, televison and cinema star Jay Laga'aia . Red laser was used to represent the whip during the scourging; similarly lasers were used for the wounds of the crucifixion. The show closed with an expanding cone of green laser, centred on Jesus' crucified corpse, shining through mist to eventually envelop the whole audience. Also in 1994, a studio version featured the Indigo Girls as Jesus and Judas. In 1996, ''Superstar'' was revived once again in London. Directed by Gale Edwards, this version of ''Superstar'' was updated to appeal to a new generation of fans. It starred Steve Balsamo and Zubin Varla as Jesus and Judas. Referred to as the " Lyceum Production," it was relatively successful. This eventually led Gale Edwards to restage the show for a UK tour, followed by a video starring Glenn Carter as Jesus and Jerome Pradon as Judas. This "new" interpretation of the show was revived on Broadway in 2000 again starring Carter, but a last minute change made Tony Vincent , who had played Simon in the video, step into the role of Judas. It opened to mixed reviews and closed quickly. It was more popular in its UK/European run; it opened in 1998 and closed around 2001 . In 2002 , a national tour was begun with the 1980s rock star Sebastian Bach as Jesus and Carl Anderson once again as Judas. Bach received mixed reviews, while Carl Anderson was again praised. In April 2003, following a disagreement with the director, Bach was replaced with the Broadway star Eric Kunze . Carl Anderson eventually left the show after being diagnosed with leukemia. He was replaced by Lawrence Clayton , who had appeared as Simon and understudied the part of Judas in the previous national tour. Carl Anderson died on February 23, 2004 . According to the '' Los Angeles Times '', Anderson had been planning to appear in a worldwide tour that was to open in Vatican City in the fall of 2004. As Of 2005 , this tour was still scheduled to open, with Ted Neeley as Jesus, at an undisclosed time. The show has become a cultural phenomenon and has been produced many times, including productions in Hungary, New Zealand, France, Mexico, Chile, Bulgaria, Sweden, Moscow, Poland, Australia, The Philippines, Bolivia (where it was also released as a TV movie) and many more. One notable Jesus was Takeshi Kaga of Iron Chef fame in the 1976 Japanese version. Germany has produced the show several times, such as the 2001 live recording. In 2004 the show was revived for yet another tour around Britain. Glenn Carter reprised his role as Jesus and the British pop star James Fox played Judas. A Farewell Tour staring Ted Neeley has been announced. EXTERNAL LINKS
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