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'''''Jesus Christ Superstar''''' is a [[rock opera]] by [[Tim Rice]] and [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]].  Introduced in [[1970]], it highlights the political and interpersonal struggles of [[Judas Iscariot]] and [[Jesus]]. The action largely follows the [[Biblical canon|canonical]] [[gospel]]s' accounts of the last weeks of Jesus' life, beginning with Jesus and his followers arriving in [[Jerusalem]] and ending with the [[Crucifixion]]. [[20th century|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 intentional [[anachronism]]s.

'''''Jesus Christ Superstar''''' is a [[rock opera]] by [[Tim Rice]] and [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]].  Introduced in [[1970]], it highlights the political and interpersonal struggles of [[Judas Iscariot]] and [[Jesus]]. The action largely follows the [[Biblical canon|canonical]] [[gospel]]s' accounts of the last weeks of Jesus' life, beginning with Jesus and his followers arriving in [[Jerusalem]] and ending with the [[Crucifixion]]. [[20th century|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 intentional [[anachronism]]s.

==From album to Broadway==

==From album to Broadway==

The opera was first heard as an [[album]] before being staged—on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and later in [[London]]'s [[West End theatre|West End]]. (The same pattern would be followed by Rice and Lloyd Webber's second musical hit, ''[[Evita (musical)|Evita]]''.) On the original album, the part of Jesus was sung by [[Ian Gillan]], known later as lead singer of [[Deep Purple]], [[Black Sabbath]], and others, and that of Judas by [[Murray Head]]. The future [[Gary Glitter]] had a one-liner as a priest and [[Mike d'Abo|Michael d'Abo]] appeared as [[King Herod]]. The title song, "[[Superstar (JCS song)|Superstar]]", sung by [[Judas Iscariot|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.  (A cover of the latter song, recorded by singer [[Helen Reddy]], would also reach the top ten on the U.S. pop singles charts in early [[1971]].)

The opera was first heard as an [[album]] before being staged—on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and later in [[London]]'s [[West End theatre|West End]]. (The same pattern would be followed by Rice and Lloyd Webber's second musical hit, ''[[Evita (musical)|Evita]]''.) On the original album, the part of Jesus was sung by [[Ian Gillan]], known later as lead singer of [[Deep Purple]], [[Black Sabbath]], and others, and that of Judas by [[Murray Head]]. The future [[Gary Glitter]] had a one-liner as a priest and [[Mike d'Abo|Michael d'Abo]] appeared as [[King Herod]]. The title song, "[[Superstar (JCS song)|Superstar]]", sung by [[Judas Iscariot|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.  (A cover of the latter song, recorded by singer [[Helen Reddy]], would also reach the top ten on the U.S. pop singles charts in early [[1971]].)

=== Community Productions ===

=== Community Productions ===

In June of 1971, the "first" US staged version was performed at Southold High School in [[Southold, New York]] by students of the school. [http://web.archive.org/web/20070310203500/http://www.timesreview.com/st03-16-00/stories/news2.htm] ''Suffolk Times'' article] on the original Southold High School production.</ref> However, other unauthorized productions were also going on at the time, eliciting a response in court from the authors, eventually shutting down several hundred productions between them before the official premiere (and becoming a benchmark in copyright law). The show remains a favorite for community and regional theater, sometimes with women taking male roles (particularly Judas).

In June of 1971, the "first" US staged version was performed at Southold High School in [[Southold, New York]] by students of the school. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310203500/https://www.timesreview.com/st03-16-00/stories/news2.htm] ''Suffolk Times'' article] on the original Southold High School production.</ref> However, other unauthorized productions were also going on at the time, eliciting a response in court from the authors, eventually shutting down several hundred productions between them before the official premiere (and becoming a benchmark in copyright law). The show remains a favorite for community and regional theater, sometimes with women taking male roles (particularly Judas).

=== On Broadway ===

=== On Broadway ===

On [[October 12]], [[1971]], the show, directed by [[Tom O'Horgan]], opened at the [[Mark Hellinger Theatre]] on Broadway. The Broadway production received mixed reviews, as reviewers from the ''[[New York Times]]'' deemed it to be a heartless overhyped production; Andrew Lloyd Webber has also criticized it harshly.<ref>http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/jesus/inspiration.htm</ref> The show starred [[Jeff Fenholt]], [[Ben Vereen]] and [[Bob Bingham]]. [[Carl Anderson (singer)|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.

On [[October 12]], [[1971]], the show, directed by [[Tom O'Horgan]], opened at the [[Mark Hellinger Theatre]] on Broadway. The Broadway production received mixed reviews, as reviewers from the ''[[New York Times]]'' deemed it to be a heartless overhyped production; Andrew Lloyd Webber has also criticized it harshly.<ref>https://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/jesus/inspiration.htm</ref> The show starred [[Jeff Fenholt]], [[Ben Vereen]] and [[Bob Bingham]]. [[Carl Anderson (singer)|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.

=== Controversy ===

=== Controversy ===

The Broadway show and subsequent productions were condemned by some religious groups.  Tim Rice was quoted as saying "The idea of the whole opera is to have Christ seen through the eyes of Judas, and Christ as a man, not as a God." Some [[Christian]]s considered this, as well as the omission of the resurrection, to be [[sacrilege|sacrilegious]].  They also found the character of Judas too sympathetic and some of his criticisms of Jesus offensive.<ref>http://www.tbaptist.com/aab/superstar.htm</ref><ref>http://www.freepres.org/pamphlet_details.asp?superstar</ref>  At the same time, some [[Jew]]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.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E3DD103DE63ABC4053DFBE668388669EDE</ref><ref>http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0345,winter,48380,6.html</ref>  Many religious groups protested outside the theater during the first Broadway production.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

The Broadway show and subsequent productions were condemned by some religious groups.  Tim Rice was quoted as saying "The idea of the whole opera is to have Christ seen through the eyes of Judas, and Christ as a man, not as a God." Some [[Christian]]s considered this, as well as the omission of the resurrection, to be [[sacrilege|sacrilegious]].  They also found the character of Judas too sympathetic and some of his criticisms of Jesus offensive.<ref>https://www.tbaptist.com/aab/superstar.htm</ref><ref>https://www.freepres.org/pamphlet_details.asp?superstar</ref>  At the same time, some [[Jew]]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.<ref>https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E3DD103DE63ABC4053DFBE668388669EDE</ref><ref>https://www.villagevoice.com/news/0345,winter,48380,6.html</ref>  Many religious groups protested outside the theater during the first Broadway production.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

=== Success in London ===

=== Success in London ===

==External links==

==External links==

* [https://www.jesuschristsuperstarzone.com/ JCS Zone, a Jesus Christ Superstar fansite]

* [http://www.jesuschristsuperstarzone.com/ JCS Zone, a Jesus Christ Superstar fansite]

* [https://www.jesuschristsuperstar.net Guide to JCS online]  JesusChristSuperstar.net.

* [http://www.jesuschristsuperstar.net Guide to JCS online]  JesusChristSuperstar.net.

* [https://neeleyontheroad.com Ted Neeley's personal website]  Neeley On The Road.

* [http://neeleyontheroad.com Ted Neeley's personal website]  Neeley On The Road.

* [https://www.teddieneeleythree.com SuKaDe's Ted Neeley website. Teddie Neeley Three - TNT]

* [http://www.teddieneeleythree.com SuKaDe's Ted Neeley website. Teddie Neeley Three - TNT]

* [https://cverbelun.addr.com Cindi's Ted Neeley and Joseph Fuqua Page]

* [http://cverbelun.addr.com Cindi's Ted Neeley and Joseph Fuqua Page]

* [https://www.andrewlloydwebber.com The Official Andrew Lloyd Webber Site]

* [http://www.andrewlloydwebber.com The Official Andrew Lloyd Webber Site]

* [https://www.timesreview.com/st03-16-00/stories/news2.htm ''Suffolk Times'' article] on the original Southold High School production.

* [http://www.timesreview.com/st03-16-00/stories/news2.htm ''Suffolk Times'' article] on the original Southold High School production.

* [https://www.thejcstour.com ''Farewell Tour Website''] The Official Site of Ted Neeley's Farewell Tour.

* [http://www.thejcstour.com ''Farewell Tour Website''] The Official Site of Ted Neeley's Farewell Tour.