Jesus Christ Superstar

So, I oddly have never had the opportunity to see a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, but I have heard enough of the music out of context that I am curious about seeing the show in order to piece them together. According to a quick iTunes search, there are two recorded versions currently available: the 1973 movie (I think) and a recording of the 2013 Arena tour. Which would be a better introduction, or is there another option that you all recommend?

I saw the revival in London with Steve Balsamo singing a remarkable GETHSEMANE.



But what was filmed based on the stage revival starred Glenn Slater, of which a DVD was released. I am not sure though if it was made available in Region 1 format.

Updated On: 5/23/16 at 10:22 PM

Here's Glenn Slater's GETHSEMANE --

Jo, that's Glenn Carter. Glenn Slater is the lyricist of Love Never Dies and Little Mermaid.

The 1973 film is the closest to what the show IS; it's so of its time, and I always think it feels a little desperate when efforts are made to update the production around such a culturally specific object. I'd then go with the arena tour. The 2000 film is pretty unfortunate.

If you have the bucks, get whichever cast version you choose but then go on Amazon and get one of the remasters of the original concept album. Broadway has disneyfied works like JCS and Tommy. Go get the original. Do the same for American Idiot too.

Pauly3 said: "Regarding Steve Balsamo, he is a favorite:

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It is a shame that it wasn't his performance that was captured for homega video. He is my favorite in the role.

Also try to find the Australian arena production from the nineties, it is beautifully sang .

I think the original album (from 1970) is available, as is the 1973 film album. A lot of people prefer the former, but the latter is the one I know the best, and I just watched a really crappy YouTube version of it to see how well I remembered it. The answer? Really well. Carl Anderson is terrific as Judas, Yvonne Elliman has a wonderful voice as Mary Magadalene, and Barry Dennen is a haunting, haunted Pontius Pilate. Ted Neeley isn't a great actor, but he's compelling when he needs to be.

It was the first musical I took seriously as a work of art, and I did see a touring production with Neeley and Anderson years later. I agree with Sally Durant Plummer that it's best experienced as a product of its time, so that's my bias. I was thinking about musicals that obsessed me personally, and Jesus Christ Superstar - despite and maybe even because of its flaws - is on that short list.

jimmycurry01 said: "rosscoe(au) said: "Also try to find the Australian arena production from the nineties, it is beautifully sang .



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This was also filmed for a VHS release. Unlike you, I am not a big fan of this one. The singing is fine, but the orchestrations are disappointing.



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Jimmy , you have a copy of this?

it has never seen the light of day in Australia, due to union issues... This is the Warlow / Farnham production, yes?

I find the original Broadway cast recording to be the most satisfying. Many of the more recent versions sound too vanilla for me. My only regret is that the original recording does not include "Could We Start Again Please?", one of my favorite songs from the show.

I saw a production of this years ago that starred Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson reprising their roles from the film, Irene Cara as Mary Magdalene, and Dennis DeYoung as Pontius Pilate. I wish that had been recorded, as that cast blew the roof off the joint.