JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE Discussion Thread- Page 11

[Broadway.Melody]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 1:14am

NBC is going to push Brandon Victor Dixon for Emmy Award consideration.

But a respected theater vet like Dixon in an emotionally complex and theatrically showy role like Judas could be a force to be reckoned with for Best Movie/Mini Actor, where NBC is currently planning to campaign him.

I found the information in an article written on goldderby.com

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 1:18am

It was also nice to see Norm Lewis. I had no clue he was in it until i watched it.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 2:06am

CarlosAlberto said: "smallworld said: "I've needed some time to process this one. Here's my full, blunt review. No sugar coating.

I found it to be a mixed bag. Sarah Bareilles was fantastic, as expected. Erik Gronwall was the highlight of the evening for me as Simon Zealotes - he should have been playing Judas with that amount of talent. The orchestra was also incredible. I really enjoyed the ensemble and how the audience played into the show - it worked. Alice Cooper was a delight as King Herod, and I loved how campy his song was. Norm Lewis did the best he could, but his talents were not put to their best use with the notes that his role required. The crucifixion was incredible and gave me chills all over.

John Legend was a catastrophe up until the lashing scene, where he finally decided to take the subdued look off of his face and attempt to act. His voice was absolutely pitiful and his Gethsemane made me cringe multiple times. I also felt that Brandon Victor Dixon was a mess as Judas. The transition from the intense overture into his weak rendition of Heaven on Their Minds was laughable. He looked extremely uncomfortable and his voice was not suited for the role whatsoever. The only song I somewhat enjoyed him in was the Superstar.

This is how I see it: If you're going to put on a production of a ROCK opera, you need to cast ROCK singers - which Legend and Dixon are clearly not. This show needs to be raw. Jesus needs to convey his high notes with power, rather than squeak them out in falsetto with no stamina. Judas should be wailing out his notes and songs, not lightly belting them out.

I'll just continue listening to one of Drew Sarich's recordings of Superstar. That's how Superstar should be in my eyes. Gritty, raw, and edgy - three things that this production was not for most of the evening.
"

I don’t recall Ben Vereen ever being referred to as a rock singer - and he was the original Broadway Judas and did quite well from what I hear."

 

Carl Anderson wasn't a rock singer either and he was amazing in the productions I saw in 1995 and 1996. He was known for that Friends and Lovers song with Gloria Loring.

 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 2:26am

I read the GoldDerby.com article that speculates about Legend and Dixon being up for Best Actor and Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries, but ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' was neither a TV movie, nor a miniseries. According to a GoldDerby editor, however, that's where the ballot lists musical performers who are Emmy-eligible. Considering there hasn't been a single performer from the recent spate of live TV musicals nominated in those acting categories, the odds would seem to be slim. Emmy voters are naturally gonna vote for the straight dramatic performers first.

I wish the Emmys would bring back the category of Outstanding Individual Performance in a Music or Variety Program. In the past, winners included Nell Carter in ''Ain't Misbehavin', '' George Hearn in ''Sweeney Todd'' and Elaine Stritch in ''Elaine Stritch at Liberty,'' as well as headliners of their own TV specials, like Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and Robin Williams. Alas, the Emmys retired this category and it hasn't been given out since 2008. 

Updated On: 4/3/18 at 02:26 AM

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 8:05am

DigificWriter said: "Judas is presented as a "narrator" who colors a lot of the events we see with his own perceptions, but if the show were truly built around him, we would only witness the parts of the story for which he himself were present."

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber have described their concept for this show as an account of the last days of Jesus' life from the perspective of Judas.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 9:21am

Lot666 said: "DigificWriter said: "Judas is presented as a "narrator" who colors a lot of the events we see with his own perceptions, but if the show were truly built around him, we would only witness the parts of the story for which he himself were present."

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber have described theirconcept for this show as an account of the last days of Jesus' life from the perspective of Judas."

I'm aware of that, but in looking at the show as a complete package, that's not actually what they ended up giving us. In analyzing the musical and narrative structure of the show as it exists in its current staged form, Judas is but one of the characters from whose POV the story is told; the others are Mary Magdalene and Jesus himself.

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 9:55am

The show is available to stream on the NBC app and on the website, they have several clips for those of us who can't figure out how to download the NBC app to their kindle (ahem...). It was really fun to watch those clips again. Heaven on their Minds is so amazing anyway, I really enjoyed BVD take on the role.

[Mediamaven2]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 10:06am

This a.m. I was reading the NY Times review which remarked on, and I wanted to underscore as I didn't mention in earlier postings - how the live audience and its interaction with the performance was a fantastic element in the show coming off as well as it did.  One key obvious moment was at the beginning when John Legend/Jesus enters the stage during Heaven on My Mind and strolls over to the mosh pit, shaking hands with screaming delighted fans. How was that for  the layers of meaning on celebrity in our culture then and now, reality imitating art. That was one obvious moment at the start but it continued. I know some above complained about the noise from the audience but I agree with the review I was reading - it was a terrific element.

[nmlhats]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 7:10pm

Mediamaven2 said: "This a.m. I was reading the NY Timesreview which remarked on, and I wanted to underscore as I didn't mention in earlier postings - how the live audience and its interaction with the performance was a fantastic element in the show coming off as well as it did. One key obvious moment was at the beginning when John Legend/Jesus enters the stage during Heaven on My Mind and strolls over to the mosh pit, shaking hands with screaming delighted fans. How was that for the layers of meaning on celebrity in our culture then and now, reality imitating art.That was one obvious moment at the start but it continued. I know some above complained about the noise from the audience but I agree with the review I was reading - it was a terrific element."

I had read that review as well and it was mostly right on point, in my view (save for any praise for Alice Cooper). The fact that Jesus preached to large crowds was perfectly reflected in the idea of having Legend interact with the audience. I thought it was a brilliant directorial idea, even if the arm waving got a bit ridiculous. Plus the whole idea that theater is a communal experience....they should find a way to make the crowd in all the future live musicals visible to the home audience at different points of the show.

[Patash]

Posted: 4/4/18 at 10:17am

I read through some 200 plus posts here before watching it on demand last evening.  Wow.  I'm in shock now at some of the comments of things I was expecting.   I normally hate screaming audiences and after reading here I was bracing myself for the worst,  but for the life of me I didn't get the reaction to this one.  I never thought it interfered with anything, and only brought the element of concert and having an audience front and center.  People were really bothered by the "screaming"?   I found John Legend wonderful.  Perhaps he had a little problem with those upper registers, but I found his subdued style not just "stiff" or "lacking acting ability".  In fact I saw it as the calm and inner peace which is a part of Jesus and an amazing contrast to the other characters "drama" and/or extreme energy.   I found his perfomance incredibly moving and sensitive.   I have to admit Alice Cooper is no dynamic actor, but he is Alice f%@##$g Cooper, for God's sake and was really just about perfect for that role and song.  Loved it.  Clearly I'd put this production at the very top of the list of all those "live" Broadway on TV productions.  

[OneSingularSensation2]

Posted: 4/4/18 at 1:30pm

Mediamaven2 said: "This a.m. I was reading the NY Timesreview which remarked on, and I wanted to underscore as I didn't mention in earlier postings - how the live audience and its interaction with the performance was a fantastic element in the show coming off as well as it did. One key obvious moment was at the beginning when John Legend/Jesus enters the stage during Heaven on My Mind and strolls over to the mosh pit, shaking hands with screaming delighted fans. How was that for the layers of meaning on celebrity in our culture then and now, reality imitating art.That was one obvious moment at the start but it continued. I know some above complained about the noise from the audience but I agree with the review I was reading - it was a terrific element."

Mostly yes to this - I agree, but do wish the sound mixing made the cast a little bit easier to hear. (And, I'll admit that at times, the cheering in the middle of a song bothered me... just wanted them to wait 30 seconds to let loose! Still, I get it.) 

In addition to the audience's interactions with Legend, I felt like the greeting (cheering, screaming, clapping) for Alice Cooper added to that scene.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 4/4/18 at 6:43pm

Patash, I couldn’t agree with you more about Legend’s performance. I felt his calmness was a perfect acting choice. I love the JCS movie, but Ted Neeley’s performance always bothered me. He always seemed slightly irritated throughout the film, not something you’d expect from the leader of a new religion. And this may be blasphemy, but I enjoyed Legend’s vocal performance more than Neeley’s. I realize that most people want a “rocker” voice for Jesus, but I thought Legend’s voice was a nice change.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 4/4/18 at 6:44pm

DOUBLE POST

But I’ll take this opportunity to add that my 83 year old mom approved!  She is a fairly conservative Christian and has always resisted watching or listening to any version of JCS. Low and behold, she shocked the heck out of me when she told me yesterday that she had watched the entire production (her usual bedtime is 9 PM). She gave it very high marks and even said she now understands what all the fuss has been about. She gave particularly high marks to Legend, Sara, and the musicians.  She said she loved the audience interaction as well. I never dreamed that she’d give it even a glance and I’m so glad she did!

 

 

Updated On: 4/4/18 at 06:44 PM

[Timothy Tate]

Posted: 4/5/18 at 12:17am

Random question about last nights performance.  When they went to commercial break I believe after the title song at the bottom of the screen backstage footage was being shown and in one of the sections they showed a few of the female cast members wearing feathered angle wings, but I don't remember anyone  actually wearing angle wings throughout the live broadcast. I thought it was odd that these cast member had them on backstage but were not seen in the live broadcast. Did I maybe overlook the wings in the show?  

[Patash]

Posted: 4/5/18 at 10:35am

Is this where I ask "at what angle were the wings worn"?  

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 4/5/18 at 12:42pm

luvcaroline's post made me think of something. I remember when the concert was first announced, people on this board were questioning whether or not it was a good idea to air on Easter, since history says that Christians are offended by this show. And I have to say that really, the controversy's relevance to today's audiences doesn't seem as prevalent as it was back in the 70's.

My grandparents are devout Catholics and have been for many decades, and they told me that they used to play the record during gatherings with their church friends all the time when it was first released. They were absolutely thrilled when they learned that this was NBC's next live musical project. Most people I know today who enjoy JCS are Christians in some way, and they've all been shocked when I tell them about the controversy that followed the musical's release. Mind you, this is all coming from someone who grew up in the deep South, surrounded by Christians and people who grew up in Christian households. I guess I'm trying to say that I think it was a good idea to air this on Easter, as it indeed managed to find a Christian audience and appeal to certain groups that some didn't think would be interested. Times are definitely changing.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/5/18 at 2:48pm

Patash, re: being surprised by criticism about the crowd overwhelming the show...The sound mix was really cleaned up for the West Coast and streaming veraions, which helped a lot. What you heard was a lot better than the original airing, where the constant cheering really did take away even from the audibility of much of the show.

Updated On: 4/5/18 at 02:48 PM

[Patash]

Posted: 4/6/18 at 8:50am

Ah, thank you, scarywarhol.  I didn't realize it had been cleaned up before the "on demand" airings.  

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 4/6/18 at 10:14am

Patash said: "Ah, thank you, scarywarhol. I didn't realize it had been cleaned up before the "on demand" airings."

Eh, I didn't really notice any excessive audience reactions even watching it in real time. 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/6/18 at 11:27am

Babe_Williams said: "Patash said: "Ah, thank you, scarywarhol. I didn't realize it had been cleaned up before the "on demand" airings."

Eh, I didn't really notice any excessive audience reactions even watching it in real time."

Neither did I.

Yes, the audio wasn't tuned up quite as loud as you might expect given the staging, the audience participation, and the size of the venue, but I didn't feel like there was anything overtly distracting or overwhelming about the audience's sound recording in relation to the performers' sound recording.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 4/6/18 at 11:39am

Watched some of the main clips on YouTube till I can get it here in Europe. 

I wasn’t impressed (I rarely am lol) for the money, the stars and resources available to them it was bad. 

They literally could have done anything or perhaps not judging by all the religious comments, we just don’t get that here in UK. 

If you are gonna cast John Legend then cast John Legend don’t make him try sing a role he clearly isn’t cut out for. He’s a beautiful singer and I could listen to some of the soulful stuff of JC for days but those bigger notes. No. No. 

Sara sounded beautiful. Dixon is great but the suicide was awful. For me it’s the moment with the biggest impact and they literally threw it away for fear of upsetting the pearl clutchers. 

Cooper is Cooper is Herod I’d just like a different vision. Herod is the Herod of Salome to me so something a bit more Dionysian than Follies. 

The lashings was terrible. No impact and out of sync. Again the money and resources were wasted. 

Thats my two cents. 

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 5/4/18 at 1:54pm

The DVD is now up for pre-sale on Amazon and will be released June 15.

Interesting that they have chosen to release it on DVD two months after the broadcast. NBC's four previous live musicals were all released on DVD two or three weeks after the broadcast.

https://www.amazon.com/Superstar-Concert-Original-Soundtrack-Television/dp/B07CG1QPD5/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1525456110&sr=8-5&keywords=jesus+christ+superstar+dvd&dpID=513pEW1lsnL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Also love how they are including Brandon Victor Dixon on the DVD cover art. He wasn't featured in the initial marketing for the show nor was he featured on the album artwork.

Updated On: 5/4/18 at 01:54 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 11:43am

Without going back through the whole thread (where the answer may be) - does anyone know if NBC intends to repeat the broadcast around Easter 2020?  (I originally typed re-air, but that revealed that I am not as young as I think I am)

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 4:48pm

Doubtful, as it's available on Blu Ray. Did a search for any rebroadcast, but found nothing.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/12/19 at 5:47pm

I finally watched this over the summer and found it to be mediocre, which means it was better than most of the live musicals.  Probably because I saw the London revival that played the Chicago Lyric Opera before seeing this broadcast.  It's the best production of the show I've ever seen and I highly recommend it everyone.