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7 Days Of THE LORD & THE MASTER: Day #7 - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

By: Jun. 10, 2014
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Today we kick off a special spotlight series highlighting the spectacular entertainment event set to be presented this coming Monday, June 16, at legendary NYC cabaret venue Joe's Pub, THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM, tickets available here, with a tribute to JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

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JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR virtually broke the mold of what a musical could be, from its very conception to actual enacting - we must remember, no one had ever created a rock score for the theatre quite like this before, further compounded by the fact that it was released as a concept album before it was even performed in concert or on a stage, let alone actually directed or produced in the West End or on Broadway. Nevertheless, it was and is nothing short of outright revolutionary, even on disc - or, as it was first presented, LPs. Without a doubt, in many ways, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is the show that started it all - not only religious-based musicals as a viable theatrical subject, but the reign of Andrew Lloyd Webber as the world's topmost theatrical composer. Plus, in a perfect parallel with the themes of BroadwayWorld's dual-composer concert event, it played on Broadway concurrently with Stephen Sondheim's paean to the significantly more recent past (aka 1940s), FOLLIES. While the shows themselves could not seem more dissimilar on the surface, their audacious, at times phantasmagoric, treatment of history and past events was bristling and bravo-worthy, both then and now.

Originally released as a concept album in 1970, the first realization of the iconoclastic Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice score featured rock vocalists in many roles, including Ian Gillan of Deep Purple (and, later, Black Sabbath) and Murray Head. Additionally, vocalist Yvonne Elliman began her multi-project marriage with the musical beginning with the concept album, as well - she would later go on to star in the 1971 Broadway production as well as the 1973 feature film adaptation, directed by Norman Jewison. Yet, for many SUPERSTAR fans, the original 2-LP set is where the best version of the show will forever remain in their minds, hearts and ears - and, considering it was the top-selling album of 1971, it was certainly well-loved by the multitudes then and continues to be today.

In paying homage to the original concept album, we have some unique takes on some of the timeless tunes from the score set for THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM, including an encore performance by the most recent star to essay the role of Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR on the Great White Way, Josh Young.

Tickets for THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM are available here.

Let's look back at some of the best moments from JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR over the years with a special focus on our upcoming concert event, THE LORD & THE MASTER.

First up, witness Josh Young stopping the show on the 2012 Tony Awards with the unforgettable title song from JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

Next, see Josh Young perform a spine-tingling concert version of "Heaven On Their Minds".

Also, check out this awe-inspiring acoustic take on the same SUPERSTAR song.

After that, hear where it all began with the Overture from the original concept album.

Lastly, here is the original 1972 production as seen on that year's Tony Awards.

So, what makes JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR such an enduring classic in the musical theatre canon despite its real rock roots? Furthermore, what song from the score would you like to hear most in THE LORD & THE MASTER? After all, with a score this strong, any selection is a recipe for success - especially with real-life musical theatre superstars such as these performing them!

Tickets for THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM are available here.




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