Jesus Christ Superstar

[asmith0307]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:17pm

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?

[Nettik]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:18pm

There's a third option too, a 2000 film. (Skip this option.)

I really like the 1973 film, but it's very much a product of its time. I like the vocals in the 2013 Arena tour but the performances are very hit or miss.

[jo]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:22pm

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

[lauraosnesandi]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:26pm

I think the 2013 Arena cast is amazing with a very modern take on JCS; I love it. I was able to see the most recent Broadway revival which was great and there's a bootleg of that on youtube if you want to check that out!

Updated On: 5/23/16 at 10:26 PM

[jo]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:29pm

Here's Glenn Slater's GETHSEMANE --

 

 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:47pm

Honestly I would just listen to the music and just let your mind fill in the visuals. I always imagine it in the "Jesus Of Nazareth" miniseries aesthetic.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 10:51pm

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

[jo]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 11:15pm

You're absolutely correct

 
Sorry, Glenn Carter and Glenn Slater!  Maybe because Glenn Slater has done work with ALWebber ( Love Never Dies and School of Rock) which is why I confused the names. But it is no excuse!
Thanks, CATSNYrevival

Updated On: 5/23/16 at 11:15 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 11:26pm

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. 

[Pauly3]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 11:43pm

Regarding Steve Balsamo, he is a favorite:

 

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 5/23/16 at 11:57pm

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.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 12:28am

There are a few non-commercial professionally filmed versions out there as well. These were filmed for TV in other countries and can easily be found on the Internet. My personal favorite was filmed in Amstetten and features Drew Sarich as a visceral Judas. I know this one can be found on YouTube. Check it out.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 12:32am

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

 

 

 

 

"

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

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:06am

Ranger Tom said: "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.

 

"

Agreed all around. 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:22am

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

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:43am

The best performances and orchestrations are on the Original Broadway Cast Recording, but it is unfortunately a truncated recording due to only having one disc. I normally make a playlist fusing the concept album with the OBC, favoring the OBC performances when available and complete.

 

As for visuals, I think the original movie best captures the feel of the piece. Oddly, on stage it has always been staged professionally with gimmicks, from the 1971 Broadway production to the most recent 2012 revival. While Evita needs a concept to be dramatically satisfying because it abridges someone's entire life into 100 minutes of stage time, Jesus Christ Superstar only uses the last week of a week known religious figure as its takeoff. I think if you stage it as is, with no gimmicks or concepts, it might actually be satisfying - as the 1973 film shows (mostly) well.

[bear88]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 2:20am

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]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 9:33am

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

 

"

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.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 9:45am

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

 

"

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.

 

"

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? 

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:38pm

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

 

"

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.

 

"

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? 

 

"

It is the Farnham production. I am surprised it wasn't released. Someone gave me a copy years ago. I'm not sure where he got it from

[EvanstonDad]

Posted: 5/24/16 at 1:52pm

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.