JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE Discussion Thread- Page 7

[sabrelady]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 10:57pm

and Good Luck to Bye Bye Birdie.

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 10:58pm

Overall, Fantastic! Norm really stole the show for me. I thought John was perhaps the most effective stunt casting of any of the live musicals. Sara and BVD were both very good, however, I feel that both suffered due to the producers desire to focus the production on John Legend rather than their perspectives as the story demands. I felt like especially BVD never really got the camera time he deserved which led to me not really feeling his love for Jesus until his death (this is one of the things I thought the 2012 revival did exceptionally well: really focusing on the love triangle). Alice Cooper was fine but I think if there were more glitz and glamour (more girls, more lights) it would've worked better. Pilate grew on me but the 2000 production's Pilate will always be superior to me. I will second whoever said that Simon stole any moment he was on camera. The staging was great, camera work best of any live production yet. Very much enjoyed it. The last moments were stunning.

[nmlhats]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:01pm

I am a Catholic child of the 60s and 70s, and the two musicals most ingrained in me are Hair and JCS. As for the former, my wannabe hippie mom allowed me to play it constantly, and she just casually ignored my singing along to syllables and words I didn't understand. As for JCS, I was raised in what you'd call progressive Catholic parishes, so it was fairly well supported all around....and I could almost swear the first production I saw was at a Catholic high school.

JCS has always had a serious religious connection for me, and I turn to it every year during Lent and especially during Holy Week. Every year at Palm Sunday mass and Good Friday service, as the Passion is read, my brain plays the soundtrack of the appropriately-timed songs fom JCS. And the gospel readings of the Passion also remind me just how much of the lyrics and sentiments expressed by the characters come straight from the New Testament narratives. For my entire life I have dearly loved JCS as an artistic creation unlike almost anything else I have ever heard, but it really does go hand in hand with my faith and annual Lenten experience.

Even though tonight was not perfect, I am still so grateful that this production was offered and was overall pretty good.

Updated On: 4/1/18 at 11:01 PM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:03pm

Easily one of the best live broadcasts by far. Still #2 to Grease in my book, but they nailed this one.

BVD, Bareilles, and Norm were the standout performances for me. The entire production was a big wow.

Well done, NBC. You’re finally onto something here.

Updated On: 4/1/18 at 11:03 PM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:07pm

Wow. That was a lot of fun. I love to hate watch these broadcasts, but this was just amazing. My only quibble was Alice Cooper. He didn't bring the humor and the staging could have been bit more. Would've loved to have seen what Titus Burgess could have done with that part. Overall, a really special production.

[John Adams]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:12pm

Miles2Go2 said: "I also hope this gets huge ratings so they’ll do more of these as “concerts” as opposed to the others that never seem to completely work with multiple sound stages."

I don't consider this to be a concert version. If they were all sitting on stools, with music stands, 3-ring binders, in tuxes and gowns, with minimal movement - that would be a concert version.

NBC just picked a show that is usually performed on a single, representational set.

Updated On: 4/1/18 at 11:12 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:14pm

Yeah, that’s why I put “concert” in quotes.

[John Adams]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:17pm

bwayobsessed said: "I felt like especially BVD never really got the camera time he deserved which led to me not really feeling his love for Jesus until his death (this is one of the things I thought the 2012 revival did exceptionally well: really focusing on the love triangle). "

I felt that way, too. I didn't like the way they had him lurking on the scaffolding - like a villainous outsider.

[labellaragazza1]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:17pm

Really enjoyed it. Lots of opinions but overall, it was great. Here are a few random thoughts I jotted down.

Thought John Legend held his own (wanted more from his gethsemane but alas).

Sara was great. Absolutely loved her and I’m thrilled they included Could We Start Again Please?

I wasn’t super into BVD until Superstar.

I thought King Herrod’s Song fell kind of flat. I wanted it to be bigger and showy-er I guess?

Norm and Jin Ha were AMAZING.

The costume department really outdid themselves on the evil characters.

The ensemble was stellar.

Very thrilled to have caught this production, but MAN did those commercial breaks ruin the flow.

[Mediamaven2]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:18pm

dramamama611 said: ".... the cast's energy was incredible. I thought the staging and the camera work were outstanding.

I simply cannot imagine the work and energy that went into a one night only performance."

I so agree with the above -this was terrific in such an all around way. But the camerawork especially  - so important when translating 'stage' to screen big or small - was excellent !   From the close ups of action to the sweeping movements across the stage capturing the staging, the dance, the energy of the action and the chorus - just fantastic.  It is so often missing from every televised musical production. I am talking about simple numbers performed for the Tonys along with full fledged musicals to screen.   Tonight BVD, Bareilles, Norm, and Daniels were my favorites... Just great energy, staging and set  to accompany the standout star performances - all so well captured by camera work. (I have to admit: I love JCS. It was my first bway show, I grew up listening to the record.) Tonight was great.

Updated On: 4/1/18 at 11:18 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:22pm

I agree the camera work was terrific. Too many times these live tv productions feel static. The camera work felt fluid. I hope future productions can replicate this.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:25pm

I fell in love with the score for JCS the first time I heard it, but this staging and arrangement will be the "definitive" version for me for a very long time.

That was the best production NBC has put on to date, even surpassing Peter Pan Live, which I absolutely loved.

The cast was phenomenal from top to bottom, with BVD, John Legend, and Sara Bareilles more than earning their top billing.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:32pm

nmlhats said: "I wish they did not have to cast the top of the bill with pop stars all the time, but I guess they feel like they need to do it for the mass appeal."

unfortunately TV networks get higher ratings if people who are well-known appear in their programs so these events are usually cast with a few popular stars. i guess it has to do with money-making and advertising and all that. unfortunately i doubt we’ll ever see a big live musical on television starring a big theater star without a few celebrities thrown in.

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:34pm

sabrelady said: "and Good Luck to Bye Bye Birdie."

Is that still planned? I'll be surprised if it ever actually sees the light of day

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:37pm

DigificWriter said: "I fell in love with the score for JCS the first time I heard it, but this staging and arrangement will be the "definitive" version for me for a very long time.

That was the best production NBC has put on to date, even surpassing Peter Pan Live, which I absolutely loved.

The cast was phenomenal from top to bottom, with BVD, John Legend, and Sara Bareilles more than earning their top billing.

"

I agree with your assessment that this is the best one NBC has done, but you liked Peter Pan live? That was a hot ass mess if i've ever seen one.

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/1/18 at 11:45pm

broadwayboy223 said: "DigificWriter said: "I fell in love with the score for JCS the first time I heard it, but this staging and arrangement will be the "definitive" version for me for a very long time.

That was the best production NBC has put on to date, even surpassing Peter Pan Live, which I absolutely loved.

The cast was phenomenal from top to bottom, with BVD, John Legend, and Sara Bareilles more than earning their top billing.

"

I agree with your assessment that this is the best one NBC has done, but you liked Peter Pan live? That was a hot ass mess if i've ever seen one."

I love Peter Pan Live because of the presentation and arrangement of the score, which I have a personal connection to on account of my younger brother having appeared as a n Ensemble Lost Boy in a production put on by my High School. I also like Allison Williams, Christian Borle, Laura Benanti, Taylor Lauderman, and Christopher Walken's performances.

[OneSingularSensation2]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:05am

chernjam said: "MikeInTheDistrict said: "I didn’t think John’s “Gethsemane” was that bad either. It was just the “Just watch me die” he botched, but everything elss was good. I’d rather he just have not attempted the falsetto and just sung it down in his chest register, though."

Yeah honestly, for a majority of people watching this live, they wouldn't have noticed anything off on Gethsemane. For those of us who probably have heard multiple versions of it live or on recording, it sounded off, but not a disaster."

Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Legend nailed that at the dress. Sucks that NBC chose to run a promo of him hitting that note - people don't watch commercials though, right? Maybe (as you suggest) most didn't notice anything off. I so felt for him... Hard to whiff that then have to keep going.

[Danielle49]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:18am

Legend definitely nailed it at dress. I mentioned earlier that he must've worked his voice too hard yesterday - his voice sounded tired from the start of tonight's broadcast. That and nerves. I praise him for moving through the rest of the song though. Couldn't have been easy. Part of me wants them to sub out that segment with yesterday's for the West Coast and DVD cut.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:19am

loved it
the bar is high for future tv productions

does anyone know if brandon victor hansen was first choice for producers?
did they approach leslie odom???

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:25am

OneSingularSensation2 said: "chernjam said: "MikeInTheDistrict said: "I didn’t think John’s “Gethsemane” was that bad either. It was just the “Just watch me die” he botched, but everything elss was good. I’d rather he just have not attempted the falsetto and just sung it down in his chest register, though."

Yeah honestly, for a majority of people watching this live, they wouldn't have noticed anything off on Gethsemane. For those of us who probably have heard multiple versions of it live or on recording, it sounded off, but not a disaster."

Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Legend nailed that at the dress. Sucks that NBC chose to run a promo of him hitting that note - people don't watch commercials though, right? Maybe (as you suggest) most didn't notice anything off. I so felt for him... Hard to whiff that then have to keep going."

Agreed. My jaw dropped to the floor at the rehearsal. They should definitely sub it out.

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 12:55am

Sara B. should have played Maria in The Sound of Music!

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:00am

Danielle49 said: "Legend definitely nailed it at dress. I mentioned earlier that he must've worked his voice too hard yesterday - his voice sounded tired from the start of tonight's broadcast. That and nerves. I praise him for moving through the rest of the song though. Couldn't have been easy. Part of me wants them to sub out that segment with yesterday's for the West Coast and DVD cut."

Nah.

 

There's no reason not to preserve/air the production exactly the way it happened in real time, even if there were hiccups.

[antonijan]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:11am

A Broadway Concert ?

[umbrellaman]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:19am

Great fun! One of the advantages of these one-offs is you get leading role talent in some of the supporting roles. Norm Lewis, Ben Daniels show what can happen with that.
My major nitpicks was the staging of Simon Zealotes and Superstar which were fine performances but dramatically flat. Jesus just shrugges at the stormtroopers and they leave. The 2000 film does a better job with the mob overpowering the stormtroopers and illustrating the point of the song - which is the mob is itching for a revolution - which makes Judas’s motives clearer.
Superstar is just dropped in there - interaction between Jesus and Judas would have made sense here - as it is wasn’t clear why we were seeing what we were seeing.

Otherwise, I suspect this may become the definitive recording - in the studio Legend hit more of those notes- no sound mixing issues with the audience.

[TravisOKC]

Posted: 4/2/18 at 1:30am

Didn't know much about JCS going into tonight's performance, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!  Like others have said, the set, staging, and lighting were incredible  I thought Sara was the standout, and also really loved Alice Cooper as King Herrord, and the actor playing Pontius Pilate.  

Also, I couldn't help but to think during the raising of the cross that there was finally a lift slower than the one Wicked uses in Defying Gravity at the Gersh!