| Jesus Christ Superstar | |
|---|---|
 Album cover for the 1970 American release ofJesus Christ Superstar | |
| Music | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| Lyrics | Tim Rice |
| Premiere | 12 October 1971 (1971-10-12):Mark Hellinger Theatre |
| Productions |
|
Jesus Christ Superstar is asung-throughrock opera with music byAndrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics byTim Rice. Loosely based on theGospels' accounts ofthe Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with much of the plot centred onJudas, who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus is steering his disciples. Contemporary attitudes, sensibilities and slang pervade the rock opera's lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. Stage and film productions accordingly contain many intentionalanachronisms.
Initially unable to get backing for a stage production, the composers released it as aconcept album, the success of which led to the show'sBroadway on-stage debut in 1971. By 1980, the musical had grossed more than$237 million worldwide.[1] Running for over eight years in London between 1972 and 1980, it held the record for longest-runningWest End musical before it was overtaken byCats in 1989.[2]
Judas Iscariot, one of theTwelve Apostles, worries that the followers of Jesus are getting out of control and may be seen as a threat by theRoman Empire, who might harshly suppress them ("Heaven on Their Minds").
The other apostles anticipate enteringJerusalem alongside Jesus and ask him about his plans, but Jesus tells them not to worry about the future. Meanwhile,Mary Magdalene tries to help Jesus relax. Judas warns Jesus to avoid Mary, because a relationship with a prostitute could be seen as inconsistent with his teachings and be used against him. Jesus scolds Judas, saying he should not judge others unless he is free of sin. Jesus then reproaches the apostles and complains that none of them truly care for him ("What's the Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying").
Mary reassures Jesus while anointing him. Judas fumes that the money spent on fine oil should have been used to help the poor. Jesus reasons they do not have the resources to end poverty, and that they should treasure what comforts they possess ("Everything's Alright").
Meanwhile,Caiaphas, theHigh Priest of Israel, assembles thePharisees and priests. Like Judas, they fear that Jesus's followers will be seen as a threat by the Romans, and that many innocent Jews might suffer the consequences. Thus, Caiaphas concludes that for the greater good, Jesus must be executed ("This Jesus Must Die"). As Jesus and his followers arrive exultantly in Jerusalem, they are confronted by Caiaphas, who demands that Jesus disperse the crowd. Jesus instead greets them ("Hosanna").Simon the Zealot suggests that Jesus lead his mob in a war against Rome and gain absolute power ("Simon Zealotes"). Jesus rejects this, stating that none of his followers understand what true power is ("Poor Jerusalem").
Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, has a dream in which he meets a Galilean and then receives the blame for the man's violent death at the hands of a mob ("Pilate's Dream"). Jesus arrives at the Temple and finds that it is being used as a marketplace; angered by this, hedrives everyone out. A group oflepers ask Jesus to heal them. Their number increases, and overwhelmed, Jesus rejects them ("The Temple"). Mary Magdalene sings Jesus to sleep ("Everything's Alright (Reprise)"). While he sleeps, Mary acknowledges that she is in love with him, and it frightens her ("I Don't Know How to Love Him").
Conflicted, Judas seeks out the Pharisees and proposes helping them arrest Jesus, believing that Jesus is out of control and that Jesus himself would approve of this action. In exchange for his help, Judas is offeredthirty pieces of silver. Judas adamantly refuses, but then accepts upon Caiaphas's suggestion that he could use the money to help the poor ("Damned for All Time/Blood Money").
Jesusshares a Passover meal with his disciples, where they get drunk and pay little attention to him. He remarks that "for all you care" the wine they are drinking could be his blood and the bread his body. He asks them to remember him, and then, frustrated by their lack of understanding, he predicts thatPeter willdeny him three times that night, and that another one of them will betray him. Judas admits that he is the one who will betray Jesus and, saying that he does not understand why Jesus had no plan, leaves ("The Last Supper").
The remaining apostles fall asleep as Jesus retreats to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He tells God his doubts about whether his mission has had any success and angrily demands to know why he should continue and suffer the horrible death that awaits him. Receiving no answer, he realizes that he cannot defy God's will, and surrenders to God. ("Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)"). Judas arrives with Roman soldiers and identifies Jesus bykissing him on the cheek. When Jesus is brought to trial before the Sanhedrin, Caiaphas and the priests send him to Pilate ("The Arrest"). Meanwhile, Peter is confronted by three witnesses of Jesus's arrest, to each of whom he denies that he knows Jesus. Mary observes that Jesus had predicted this ("Peter's Denial").
Pilate asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews. Jesus answers: "That's what you say." Since Jesus is from Galilee, Pilate says that he is not under his jurisdiction and sends him toKing Herod ("Pilate and Christ"). The flamboyant King Herod pressures Jesus to prove his divinity by performing miracles, but Jesus ignores him. Herod angrily sends him back to Pilate ("King Herod's Song"). Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the apostles remember when they first began following Jesus, and wish that they could return to a time of hope and peace ("Could We Start Again, Please?").
Judas is horrified at Jesus's harsh treatment. He expresses regret to the Pharisees, correctly dreading that he will forever be remembered as a traitor. Caiaphas and Annas assure him that he has done the right thing. Judas throws the money he was given to the floor, and storms out. He curses God for manipulating him, and commits suicide ("Judas' Death").
At Jesus's trial, Pilate attempts to interrogate Jesus, but is cut off by a bloodthirsty mob which demands that Jesus becrucified.[a] Unnerved, he tells the mob that Jesus has committed no crime and does not deserve to die, but to satisfy the mob he will have Jesusflogged. Pilate pleads with Jesus to defend himself, but Jesus says weakly that everything has been determined by God. The crowd still calls for Jesus's death, and finally Pilate reluctantly agrees to crucify Jesus ("Trial Before Pilate (Including The 39 Lashes)").
As Jesus awaits crucifixion, the spirit of Judas returns and questions why Jesus chose to arrive in the manner and time that he did, and if it was all part of a divine plan after all ("Superstar"). Jesus is crucified, recites his final words, and dies ("The Crucifixion"). Jesus' body is taken down from the cross and buried ("John 19:41").
| Character | Voice type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Jesus Christ | baritenor (A2–A♭4,falsetto to G5) | Title role, leader of thetwelve disciples, called the "Son of God" and the "King of the Jews". |
| Judas Iscariot | tenor (B2–A4, falsetto E5) | One of Jesus' twelve apostles; concerned for the poor and the consequences of Jesus's fame. |
| Mary Magdalene | mezzo-soprano (F3–E♭5) | A follower of Jesus who finds herself falling in love with him. |
| Pontius Pilate | baritenor (A2–B♭4) | Governor of Judea who foresees the events of Jesus's crucifixion from beginning to aftermath in a dream and finds himself being presented with that very situation. |
| Caiaphas | bass (C♯2–F4) | High priest who sees Jesus as a threat to the nation. |
| Annas | countertenor (G3–D5) | Fellow priest at the side of Caiaphas who is persuaded by Caiaphas into seeing Jesus as a threat. |
| Peter | baritone (A2–G4) | One of Jesus's twelve apostles; denies Jesus three times upon the night of Jesus's arrest to save himself. |
| Simon Zealotes | tenor (G3–B4) | One of Jesus's twelve apostles; urges Jesus to lead his followers into battle against the Romans. |
| King Herod | baritone (B2–G4) | The King of Galilee; Jesus is brought to him for judgment after first being taken to Pilate. |
Act One
| Act Two
|
The songs were written and conceived as analbum musical, before the musical was created and staged.[3] On the original album, the part of Jesus was sung byIan Gillan, withMurray Head as Judas,Michael d'Abo asKing Herod,Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene, andBarry Dennen as Pilate. In July 1971, the first authorised American production of therock opera took place in front of an audience of 13,000 people atPittsburgh, Pennsylvania'sCivic Arena—staged as a concert, like anoratorio, rather than enacted, withJeff Fenholt singing the role of Jesus,Carl Anderson as Judas and Elliman repeating as Mary Magdalene.[4]
In August 1971,MCA Records executive David Skepner reported that MCA had been investigating and shutting down 21 unauthorised productions in the US to protect the rights of London-basedLeeds Music, which owned the musical. The biggest violations Skepner found were a theatre troupe fromToronto that had crossed the US–Canada border to perform with theDetroit Symphony Orchestra, with only a few hours prior announcement, and another big production mounted by theLas Vegas Hilton. Other American cities with unauthorised productions includedWashington D.C.,Boston,Kansas City,Baltimore,San Francisco,Cincinnati,Richmond,Louisville,Cleveland,St. Louis,Memphis,Atlanta,Columbus,Troy,Philadelphia,Los Angeles,New Orleans,Brooklyn inNew York City, andHollywood, Florida. Court injunctions were obtained in each of these cities to close the shows. ProducerRobert Stigwood, who was assembling an authorised touring company, called these unsanctioned groups "outright pirates", stressing that he would continue to protect his rights by "relentlessly" pursuing legal action.[5]
The musical opened on Broadway on 12 October 1971, directed byTom O'Horgan, at theMark Hellinger Theatre. It starredJeff Fenholt as Jesus,Ben Vereen as Judas andBob Bingham as Caiaphas. Dennen and Elliman played the roles that they had sung on the album. Paul Ainsley was Herod.[6] Carl Anderson replaced Vereen when he fell ill, and the two performers later took turns playing the role. The show closed on 30 June 1973 after 711 performances. The production received mixed reviews; the bold casting of African-Americans as Judas was lauded, but reviewerClive Barnes fromThe New York Times said, "the real disappointment was not in the music ... but in the conception."[7][8] The show was nominated for fiveTony Awards, including Best Score, but won none. Lloyd Webber won aDrama Desk Award as "Most Promising Composer", and Vereen won aTheatre World Award.
The Broadway show and subsequent productions were condemned by different religious groups. Tim Rice was quoted as saying, "It happens that we don't see Christ as God but simply the right man at the right time at the right place."[9][10]Christians considered such comments to beblasphemous, the character of Judas too sympathetic, and some of his criticisms of Jesus offensive.[11] The musical's lack of allusion to theresurrection of Jesus has resulted in criticism similar to that of fellow musicalGodspell, which also did not clearly depict a resurrection.
At the same time, someJews claimed that it bolstered the myth ofJewish deicide by showing most of the villains as Jewish (Caiaphas and the other priests, Herod) and showing the mob in Jerusalem calling for Christ's crucifixion.[12][13]
The musical was banned inSouth Africa for being "irreligious",[14] and in theHungarian People's Republic for "distribution of religious propaganda".[15]
Superstar opened at thePalace Theatre in London in 1972, starringPaul Nicholas as Jesus,Stephen Tate as Judas andDana Gillespie as Mary Magdalene. It was directed by AustralianJim Sharman and based on his 'stripped back' production staged in Australia soon after the Broadway production opened. This version was deemed by the creators to be more efficient than the New York show, hence its use as a template for London and other subsequent productions. This production was much more successful than the original production on Broadway, running for eight years and becoming the United Kingdom's longest-running musical at the time.Dmitri Shostakovich attended this production in London just before his death. He regretted that he could not have composed something like it; he lauded especially a rock band underpinning full symphonic strings, brass, and woodwind.[16]
One of the earliest foreign productions wasa five-day run in Sweden atScandinavium inGothenburg, opening on 18 February 1972 and playing to 74,000 people (a record at the time). Starring as Mary Magdalene wasAgnetha Fältskog. On 16 March 1972 an oratorio version was performed atMemorial Drive Park in Adelaide, South Australia as part of theAdelaide Festival of the Arts.[17] This was followed in May by the first official Australian production (A studio production was made in Australia earlier the same year, but it wasn't officially licensed[18]), at theCapitol Theatre, Sydney, later moving to thePalais Theatre in Melbourne.[19] Sharman again directed, and the cast included Trevor White as Jesus,Jon English as Judas, andMichele Fawdon (1972–1973) andMarcia Hines (1973–1974) as Mary Magdalene. Hines was the first black woman to play the role. Other cast members includedReg Livermore,John Paul Young,Stevie Wright andRory O'Donoghue as well asGraham Russell andRussell Hitchcock who met during the production and subsequently formed the bandAir Supply. The production ran until February 1974.[citation needed] In June 1972 the show opened inBelgrade,Yugoslavia, inAtelje 212 theatre, in adaptation byJovan Ćirilov.[20] The role of Jesus Christ was played byKorni Grupa vocalistZlatko Pejaković, the role of Mary Magdalene by Azra Halinović and the role of Pontius Pilate byBranko Milićević.[20] The premiere was directly broadcast byRadio Television of Belgrade.[20]Bora Đorđević andSrđan Marjanović, at the time little known musicians, also participated as members of the choir.[21][22] The production was praised by the Yugoslav public.[20]
In 1973, the show opened in Paris at theThéâtre de Chaillot in a French adaptation byPierre Delanoë. The title role was sung byDaniel Beretta, and Mary Magdalena wasAnne-Marie David. The critics were unimpressed, and the production stopped after 30 performances.[citation needed] In the same year,Noel Pearson produced the show at theGaiety Theatre, Dublin,Republic of Ireland, withLuke Kelly giving a critically acclaimed performance as King Herod andJim McCann as Petrus.[23] In 1974, first Spanish-language production ran in Mexico with the title "Jesucristo Super Estrella".Julissa played Mary Magdalen.[citation needed] One year later, the musical was released for the second time in a Spanish-speaking country. It was released in Spain under the title "Jesucristo Superstar" and directed by the Spanish singer and songwriterCamilo Sesto, who also played the title role of Jesus Christ.[24] The musical was seen in 1974 in Peru and Singapore.[25][failed verification]
Robert Stigwood launched two road touring companies in 1971 to cover North America, withRobert Corff and Tom Westerman as Jesus, respectively.[citation needed] The first major US National Tour, however began In 1976, managed by Laura Shapiro Kramer. The tour continued until 1980. In 1977, the show had its first Broadway revival, running from 23 November 1977 to 12 February 1978. It was directed by William Daniel Grey, with choreography by Kelly Carrol and starred William Daniel Grey as Jesus, Patrick Jude as Judas, and Barbara Niles as Mary Magdalene.[26] Regional productions followed.[citation needed]
In 1981, Emilio de Soto directed an English-language version in Venezuela, with 163 actors.[citation needed] From 1982 to 1984, an Australian production toured Australia and South-East Asia, directed by Trevor White, who also reprised his role of Jesus. The cast includedDoug Parkinson as Judas andMarcia Hines (reprising her role as Mary Magdalene).[citation needed]
TheNorth American touring revival ofSuperstar in 1992 starred Neeley and Anderson reprising their respective Broadway and1973 film roles as Jesus and Judas, receiving positive reviews for their performances. This production also starred bothDennis DeYoung as Pilate, andSyreeta andIrene Cara sharing Mary Magdalene. Originally expected to run for three to four months, the tour ended up running for five years. Original cast replacements to this tour included Christine Rea as Mary Magdalene,Jason Raize as Pontius Pilate andSimone as the Maid by the Fire and understudy for Mary.
Also in 1992 a touring concert version was stage in Australia starringJohn Farnham as Jesus,Jon Stevens as Judas andKate Ceberano as Mary.Anthony Warlow was also originally set to star as Pilate but he had to leave the production due to hisNon-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis. This production broke box office records and produced a number 1 soundtrack album. In 1994, a New Zealand production starred Darryl Lovegrove as Jesus,Jay Laga'aia as Judas andFrankie Stevens as Caiaphas. Also in 1994, a stage version titledJesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection was performed inAtlanta,Austin andSeattle featuringAmy Ray andEmily Saliers of theIndigo Girls as Jesus and Mary Magdalene respectively, andMichael Lorant as Judas.
In 1996, the musical was revived in London at theLyceum Theatre and ran for a year and a half. Directed byGale Edwards, it starredSteve Balsamo andZubin Varla as Jesus and Judas, andJoanna Ampil as Mary Magdalene.Alice Cooper sang the role of King Herod on the cast recording but did not play the role on stage. The production was nominated for anOlivier Award for Best Musical Revival but did not win. It was followed by a UK tour. This production was revived on Broadway at theFord Center for the Performing Arts in 2000, starringGlenn Carter as Jesus andTony Vincent as Judas. It opened to mixed reviews and ran for 161 performances.[27] It was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical but did not win. In 2002, a national tour starredSebastian Bach as Jesus and Carl Anderson once again as Judas. Bach received mixed reviews while Anderson was again praised. In April 2003, Bach was replaced byEric Kunze. Anderson left the show later in 2003 after being diagnosed with leukaemia and died in 2004. The tour closed shortly after Anderson's departure.
In 2004 a year-long UK tour began, directed by Bob Tomson andBill Kenwright. Carter reprised his role as Jesus, withJames Fox as Judas. In 2005, a successful Scandinavian tour starred Peter Murphy as Jesus, Kristen Cummings as Mary Magdalene, Jon Boydon née Stokes as Judas,Jérôme Pradon as King Herod and Michael-John Hurney as Pilate. A US tour starring Neeley, reprising his role as Jesus,Corey Glover as Judas, and Christine Rea as Mary, began in 2006 and played for five years. A Chileanheavy metal version has played annually inSantiago since 2004.[28] In Boston,Gary Cherone portrayed Jesus in productions in 1994, 1996 and 2003 and Judas in 2000.
A new production ofJesus Christ Superstar was mounted at theStratford Shakespeare Festival, inStratford, Ontario, in 2011. Directed byDes McAnuff, the cast starredPaul Nolan as Jesus,Josh Young as Judas,Brent Carver as Pilate,Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene,Bruce Dow as Herod andMelissa O'Neil as Martha. This moved toLa Jolla Playhouse later in the year and transferred to theNeil Simon Theatre on Broadway in 2012, withTom Hewitt taking over the role of Pilate.[29] Reviews were mixed.[30][31] The revival was nominated for two Tonys: Best Revival and, for Young, Best Actor.[32] Neither award was won, but Young won aTheatre World Award. The revival closed after 116 performances and 24 previews.[33]
Through a 2012ITV competition TV show calledSuperstar, produced byAndrew Lloyd Webber, the UK public choseBen Forster for the role of Jesus in anarena tour of the musical, beginning atO2 in September 2012.[34][3] The production also starredTim Minchin as Judas,Melanie C as Mary Magdalene andChris Moyles as King Herod.[35] Lloyd Webber stated, "The funny thing is thatJesus Christ Superstar [as a rock concert] is what we actually intended it to be. When it is done in a conventional proscenium theatre production it feels shoe-horned in. That is why I wanted to do this."[3] The tour resumed in March 2013 in the UK, and an Australian leg of the tour commenced in Perth in May 2013.[36]Andrew O'Keefe played King Herod in Australia, withJon Stevens, who had played Judas in the 1992 Australian arena tour, as Pilate.[37][38]
In 2016, celebrating 45 years since the musical debuted on Broadway,Jesus Christ Superstar returned to London atRegent's Park Open Air Theatre from 15 July to 27 August, directed byTimothy Sheader. The production won theBBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical at theEvening Standard Theatre Awards,[39] and aLaurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.[40] The production returned to the Open Air Theatre as part of the 2017 season, running from 11 August 2017 to 23 September.[41] Additionally, theLyric Opera of Chicago hosted a run of the production from late April 2018 to late May 2018.[42] before returning to London at theBarbican Centre from 9 July to 24 August 2019 prior to a 50th anniversary US tour from October 2019.[43] However, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the US tour was temporarily suspended in March 2020. The production returned to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in a socially distanced environment in a concert staging from 14 August to 27 September 2020.[44] The US tour resumed performances on 28 September 2021 at theKeller Auditorium. On 23 November 2021, James D. Beeks, who played Judas in the tour, was arrested for involvement in the2021 United States Capitol attack. Beeks, performing in the show under the stage name James T. Justis, is alleged to have been one of those who forced entry into the Capitol and to have paid dues to the far right-wing anti-government militiaOath Keepers.[45] Beeks was immediately suspended from the touring production with the role of Judas assumed by another performer in the cast.[46] On 2 December 2021,Tyrone Huntley, who played Judas in the 2016 London production, was announced to have replaced Beeks.[47] A UK tour began at thePalace Theatre, Manchester from September 2023 featuring comedianJulian Clary as Herod.[48][49]
In 2017, a production featuring an all-Black cast was directed byRon Kellum at theParamount Theatre inAurora, IL. Kellum's production ran from 19 April 2017, through 28 May 2017.[50][51]
Two notable Jesuses wereTakeshi Kaga, in the 1976 Japanese production, andCamilo Sesto in the 1975 Spanish production.[why?] Mary Magdalene was played byRocío Banquells in a 1981 production in Mexico.
An Australian arena tour launched in 1992, with an all-star line-up. Headline stars John Farnham (Jesus), Jon Stevens (Judas) and Kate Ceberano (Mary) lead this star-studded cast, including John Waters (Pilate) and Angry Anderson (Herod).
A Czech version premiered in 1994 inPrague's Spirála Theatre and ran until 1998, with 1288 performances.[52] In the 2000s, a Venezuelan production ran for two years (2006–2008), directed byMichel Hausmann. A Spanish production produced byStage Entertainment ran from 2007 to 2009, followed by long-running productions in Italy and Sweden (featuringOla Salo) and Norway.
Concerts of the show have been mounted in Vienna, Austria, since 1981, including one on Easter of 2015 starringDrew Sarich in the title role.[53]
A 2014 production inSão Paulo, Brazil starredIgor Rickli as Jesus.Negra Li was Mary Magdalene.[54] A 2014 production inLima, Peru, at the Sarita Colonia prison, as part of a rehabilitation program for inmates, received some press.[55] Eighty prisoners mounted the production, directed by inmate Freddy Battifora, who also played the role of Jesus.[56] The Catholic Church approved of the production.[56]
In 2018, a new production, directed by Michael Hunt was premiered at thePerm Academic Theatre,Russia. Hunt worked closely withThe Really Useful Group on a new translation together with the concept for a new staging. This rock opera is very popular in Russia but is the first authorised production to receive the support of the Really Useful Group.
Theoriginal 1970 concept album was very popular; its 1971 release topped the USBillboard Pop Albums.[57] The1972 and 1992 Australian cast recordings were also both highly successful.[58]
In 1994, a studio recording under the name ofJesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection was released.
A 1996 radio production forBBC Radio 2 starredTony Hadley as Jesus,Roger Daltrey as Judas,Frances Ruffelle as Mary Magdalene andJulian Clary as King Herod; this production was re-broadcast onBBC Radio 4 Extra on 6 August 2016.[59]
In May 2018, Aztec Records released a 1973 live recording of the Australian production; previous recordings of that production were released as "bootleg" copies.[60]
Afilm adaptation ofJesus Christ Superstar was released in 1973. The film, directed byNorman Jewison, was shot inIsrael[61] and other Middle Eastern locations.Ted Neeley,Carl Anderson andYvonne Elliman were each nominated for aGolden Globe Award for their portrayals of Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene, respectively.Bob Bingham (Caiaphas) andBarry Dennen (Pilate) also reprised their roles. A new song, called "Then We Are Decided" and phrased as a dialogue between Caiaphas and Annas, was written for this adaptation.
A second adaptation was filmed in 1999 and released around the world on video in 2000 and 2001.[62] It starredGlenn Carter as Jesus,Jérôme Pradon as Judas, Reneé Castle as Mary Magdalene, andRik Mayall as Herod, and was directed byGale Edwards andNick Morris. It was released on video in the UK in October 2000.[63] In the U.S. it was released on VHS and DVD in March 2001, and aired onPBS'sGreat Performances series in April 2001.[64] It won theInternational Emmy Award for Best Performing Arts Film in November 2001.[65] The style of the film is more like the stage version than the location-based 1973 adaptation, and it used many of the ideas from the 1996–1999 UK production.[62]
On Easter Sunday, 1 April 2018,NBC aired a live concert version of the show featuringJohn Legend as Jesus,Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene,Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas,Alice Cooper as King Herod,Norm Lewis as Caiaphas,Ben Daniels as Pilate, Jin Ha as Annas,Erik Grönwall as Simon Zealotes andJason Tam as Peter.[66]
| Character | Broadway[67] | West End[68] | Film[69] | Broadway Revival[70] | Australian Arena Tour | West End Revival[71] | Broadway Revival[72] | Film | Broadway Revival[73] | UK Arena Tour[74] | NBC Live Concert[75] | US Tour[76] | Tokyo Concert[77][78] | UK Tour | Australian Tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1977 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2012 | 2018 | 2019 | 2019/21 | 2023 | 2024/25 | |||
| Jesus Christ | Jeff Fenholt | Paul Nicholas | Ted Neeley | William Daniel Grey | John Farnham | Steve Balsamo | Glenn Carter | Paul Alexander Nolan | Ben Forster | John Legend | Aaron LaVigne | Declan Bennett Michael K. Lee | Ian McIntosh | Michael Paynter | |
| Judas Iscariot | Ben Vereen | Stephen Tate | Carl Anderson | Patrick Jude | Jon Stevens | Zubin Varla | Tony Vincent | Jérôme Pradon | Josh Young | Tim Minchin | Brandon Victor Dixon | James Delisco Beeks | Ramin Karimloo | Shem Omari James | Javon King |
| Mary Magdalene | Dana Gillespie | Yvonne Elliman | Barbara Niles | Kate Ceberano | Joanna Ampil | Maya Days | Renée Castle | Chilina Kennedy | Melanie C | Sara Bareilles | Jenna Rubaii | Joanna Ampil Celinde Schoenmaker | Hannah Richardson | Mahalia Barnes | |
| Pontius Pilate | John Parker | Barry Dennen | Randy Wilson | John Waters | David Burt | Kevin Gray | Fred Johanson | Tom Hewitt | Alexander Hanson | Ben Daniels | Tommy Sherlock | Robert Marien | Ryan O'Donnell | Peter Murphy | |
| Caiaphas | Bob Bingham | George Harris | Bob Bingham | Christopher Cable | David Gould | Pete Gallagher | Frederick Owens | Marcus Nance | Pete Gallagher | Norm Lewis | Alvin Crawford | Soma Suzuki Hironobu Miyahara | Jad Habchi | Elliot Baker | |
| Annas | Phil Jethro | Jimmy Cassidy | Kurt Yaghjian | Steve Schochet | Guy Taylor | Martin Callaghan | Ray Walker | Michael Shaeffer | Aaron Walpole | Gerard Bentall | Jin Ha | Tyce Green | Aaron Walpole | Matt Bateman | John O'Hara |
| Peter | Michael Jason | Richard Barnes | Paul Thomas | Randy Martin | Paul Hawkyard | Rodney Hicks | Cavin Cornwall | Mike Nadajewski | Michael Pickering | Jason Tam | Tommy McDowell | Telly Leung | Joshua Hawkins | Tana Laga'aia | |
| Simon Zealotes | Dennis Buckley | Derek James | Larry Marshall | Bobby London | Russell Morris | Glenn Carter | Michael K. Lee | Tony Vincent | Lee Siegel | Giovanni Spano | Erik Grönwall | Eric Lewis | Naoto Kaiho Hayato Kakizawa | Luke Street | Graeme Isaako |
| King Herod | Paul Ainsley | Paul Jabara | Josh Mostel | Mark Syers | Angry Anderson | Nick Holder | Paul Kandel | Rik Mayall | Bruce Dow | Chris Moyles | Alice Cooper | Paul Louis Lessard | Songha Masaaki Fujioka | Julian Clary Timo Tatzber | Reuben Kaye |
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Ben Vereen | Nominated |
| Best Original Score | Andrew Lloyd Webber andTim Rice | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Robin Wagner | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Randy Barceló | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Jules Fisher | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Most Promising Composer | Andrew Lloyd Webber | Won | |
| Theatre World Award | Ben Vereen | Won | ||
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Musical Revival | Nominated | |
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Josh Young | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Steve Canyon Kennedy | Nominated | ||
| Theatre World Award | Josh Young | Won | ||
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Evening Standard Theatre Award[39] | Best Musical | Won | |
| Emerging Talent | Tyrone Huntley | Won | ||
| 2017 | Laurence Olivier Award[79] | Best Musical Revival | Won | |
| Best Actor in a Musical | Tyrone Huntley | Nominated | ||
| Best Theatre Choreographer | Drew McOnie | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design | Lee Curran | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design | Nick Lidster for Autograph | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Achievement in Music | The band and company | Nominated | ||
