Back in July, La Jolla Playhouse announced that the acclaimed Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Des McAnuff would head from Toronto out to La Jolla from November 18 - December 31, 2011.
Today, Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that the show will then head to Broadway this Spring, playing the Neil Simon Theatre. It's long been rumored that the show, which received rave reviews and visits by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and numerous producers was hoping for a Broadway transfer which today seems much more likely.
This ground-breaking rock opera, which reinvented musical theatre for the modern age, tells the story of the last week of Christ's life. The zeal with which Christ's followers are hailing him as the Son of God becomes a source of dismay to his disciple Judas Iscariot. Fearing that this tide of religious fervor will provoke brutal repression by the occupying Romans, Judas must make his fateful choice between faith and betrayal.
The production has received glowing reviews across the board. The Globe and Mail raved, "This production is an absolute miracle," while the Toronto Star called it "the best show you'll see this year." "A sparkling production literally pulsing with life," wrote the Toronto Sun; and Variety enthused, "McAnuff has managed to come up with a vision that is faithful to the original but manages to make it seem fresh to an audience in 2011."
Set as an epic rock concert, this sensational new production features Paul Nolan as "Jesus," Chilina Kennedy as "Mary Magdalene," Josh Young as "Judas Iscariot," Tony Award winner Brent Carver as "Pontius Pilate," Bruce Dow as "King Herod" and Mike Nadajewski as "Peter."
The full creative team includes Des McAnuff, Director; Lisa Shriver, Choreographer, Rick Fox, Music Director; La Jolla Playhouse Honors award recipient Robert Brill, Set Designer; Paul Tazewell, Costume Designer; Howell Binkley, Lighting Designer; Jim Neil, Sound Designer and Sean Nieuwenhuis, Video Designer. Rounding out the artistic team are Chad Sylvain, Dramaturge; Daniel Levinson, Fight Director; Simon Fon, Aerial Stunt Coordinator; Bradley "Shooz" Rapier, Associate Choreographer; Laura Burton, Associate Musical Director; Lezlie Wade, Assistant Director and Marc Kimelman, Assistant Choreographer.
