Jesus Christ Superstar as an NBC Live Musical for Easter 2018

The original album is the definitive version of this material but I disagree that it's impossible to portray on stage. I wasn't crazy about the film (Ted Neeley was the weakest link IMO) but there have been many really good stage productions of this. Every production seems to have a slightly different interpretations & wildly different presentations & visuals. I'm not sure the reasoning behind the album great/play bad argument because the album is pretty much the play.

 

Ted Neeley as Jesus, was the weakest part in the movie, throughout the emotionally revealing script, his voice showed no emotion. He hardly ever physically moved, and there was no emotion in his facial expressions.

I went on to see him, with Carl Anderson, doing the play in Atlanta, and this Jesus was an entirely different character. Would have fit in the record, not that I would want to see that happening.

To me, the worst part of the movie was when they were showing modern day tanks and TV screens. Really a bad artistic decision, really bad!

 

I disagree. The album is an audio experience. A play should be far more, or what is the point? Actors are supposed to act (and sing). If they were just supposed to sing, this would be a concert, not a musical play.

 

The worst part of watching the movie is the downright odd mix of the music.

Vocals are way too high. Music is way too low in the mix.

It's not a powerful experience.

 

It’s tonight at 8 PM/7 Central on NBC.

 

A good Judas so far but I could do without the screaming audience.

 

Not bad.

 

A good cast. John Legend is no Ian Gillan but who is? He's fine.

 

Who's playing Pilate? He looks familiar.

 

Ben Daniels

 

Too many commercials!!

 

Hopefully this will come out on DVD.

 

This is brutal to sit through, waiting for Cooper!

 

I really like it.

I bet we'll find it streaming on NBC in the next few days.

 

John Legend was a bit in over his head on Gethsemane. He tried but it was kind of painful.

 

I just can't get into John Legend as Jesus. The guy playing Judas is a far, far better singer.

My wife and I like this version of J.C.S. ...

https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Christ...pID=51YYQC9R9YL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

John Legend's Gethsemane was good but never Ian Gillian good...

 

Maybe I’m making the mistake of comparing him to Gillan. He just doesn’t have the power.

 

This is the definitive version of this this song that no one has ever equaled.

 

Alice stole the show!

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

"Could We Start Again Please" is a GREAT song, but it makes me long for Yvonne Elliman's version!

 

W

What a voice.

 

Brandon Victor Dixon deserves an Emmy for that amazing performance as Judas!

 

See Alice’s interview: How John Legend, Sara Bareilles and Co-Stars See ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Roles