Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971. The musical is based very loosely on the Gospels' accounts of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem and ending with the crucifixion. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, struggles that are not in the Bible. The resurrection is not included. It therefore largely follows the form of a traditional passion play.

The work's depiction offers a free interpretation of the psychology of Jesus and the other characters. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas, who is depicted as a tragic figure dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus steers his disciples. Contemporary attitudes and sensibilities as well as slang pervade the lyrics and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. Stage and film productions accordingly feature many intentional anachronisms.

Read more about Jesus Christ SuperstarPrincipal Roles, Musical Numbers, From Album To Broadway, Films

Famous quotes containing the word christ:

    Then to the third—a face nor child nor old, very calm,
    as of beautiful yellow-white ivory,
    Young man I think I know you—I think this face is the
    face of the Christ himself,
    Dead and divine and brother of all, and here again he lies.
    Walt Whitman (1819–1892)