Unlike most musicals that begin on a stage, JCS was born out of a 1970 concept album
: Themes include the corruption of power, the loss of faith, and the revolutionary nature of Jesus' message against the Roman Empire. Jesus Christ Superstar
Rice placed a small advert in a London newspaper seeking a "Jesus" for a rock album. The response led them to Ian Gillan, the then-unknown lead singer of a band called Deep Purple. For Judas, they cast Murray Head. For the haunting role of Mary Magdalene, they enlisted Yvonne Elliman. Unlike most musicals that begin on a stage,
Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics), Jesus Christ Superstar is a groundbreaking rock opera that reimagines the last week of Jesus' life. Originally released as a concept album in 1970 due to a lack of stage funding, it became a global phenomenon, debuting on Broadway in 1971 and holding the record for the longest-running West End musical until 1989. Core Concept and Themes For Judas, they cast Murray Head