Murray Head News

With all the kerfuffle about the Superstar search and the forthcoming arena tour, the news about the digitally remastered reissue of the original Jesus Christ Superstar concept album has been a little lost.

Designed to enhance the entertainment experience through the second screen of an iPhone or iPad, the app is a convenient, one-stop, mobile companion for the exciting series of events coming up for the UK revival of the legendary rock classic 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group today launched the official Jesus Christ Superstar app.

Today we are talking to the Tony Award-nominated Best Featured Actor In A Musical who has set Broadway ablaze with his much-talked-about portrayal of Judas in Des McAnuff's spectacular revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - the electric and charismatic Josh Young. Tracing his journey with the Biblically-themed musical from the hallowed grounds of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada - where he first made his mark on the theatre world with his acting of another iconic Lloyd Webber/Rice anti-hero, Che in EVITA; as well as THE GRAPES OF WRATH - all the way to La Jolla in California, and, now, to eight performances a week on the Great White Way, Young shares his overflowing enthusiasm for the theatrical form and details his life as a performer; a veritable dream come true for the self-proclaimed Broadway baby. In addition to all about his perspective on Judas and his thoughts on the daring and innovative SUPERSTAR, Young also describes working with Tony-winning director Des McAnuff and how his training at the Royal Shakespeare Festival has prepared him for the rigors of a Broadway hit. Plus, Young looks back on past performances and his favorite roles to date as well as shines a light on some of the parts he would consider taking on in the future, both near and far. Plus, Young reacts to his Tony Award nomination, fills us in on genesis of the many new lyrics for the heavenly SUPERSTAR revival, shares thoughts on GLEE, SMASH and much, much more!

The Really Useful Group and AEG Live today announced the first ever UK arena tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's legendary rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar. Award-winning musical comedian Tim Minchin - also the co-writer of West End smash musical Matilda - is confirmed for the role of 'Judas Iscariot'. Three million album selling pop icon and former Spice Girl Melanie C will take the only female lead as 'Mary Magdalene', and BBC Radio 1's Breakfast Show host Chris Moyles will make his major stage debut as 'King Herod', in what is set to be one of the biggest and most impressive arena tours to hit the UK.

Auckland Music Theatre presents CHESS from 12th-26th of May, by arrangement of The Play Bureau (NZ) Limited.

In celebration of 25th anniversary, Dave Clark's "TIME - The Album" now available on iTunes. This ground-breaking, critically-acclaimed 80s musical broke box office records, was seen by over 1 million and was the most technically advanced musical in London's West end history.

A few days shy of the holiest week of the year for Christians - aptly named Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter (with Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the most sacred events on the calendar coming between) - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was resurrected on Broadway by TOMMY and JERSEY BOYS director Des McAnuff - modeled after the hit Stratford Shakespeare Festival production last year and comprised of many of the same cast members, including all three leads - to hails of praise and hosannas, mostly. While JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR itself will always divide audiences and critics alike - and not merely because of its controversial content and its button-pushing treatment of the hallowed tale it tells - the magnetism and sheer power that Lloyd Webber's propulsive, throbbing rock score imbues gives the show an energy, vitality and life rare to find in even the most earnestly effervescent and energetic of comparable entities - the recently revived and similarly-themed GODSPELL in a revival a few blocks away included. Then, there are Tim Rice's lyrics - oh-so-spot-on in 1970, but still biting and edgy today in McAnuff's hi-tech and elaborately presented new Broadway production. Using the book of John as the jumping off point, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ (Paul Nolan) and his subsequent betrayal by Judas (Josh Young) and sentencing to death at the hands of King Herod and Pontius Pilate (Tom Hewitt). The twelve apostles, Mary Magdalene and her female companions, lepers, Pharisees, priests and others populate the grand story told almost entirely through song - the show is 90% music - and Webber and Rice's score never, ever lets up. While this may not be the most faithful rendering as far as the Bible is concerned, nor the most historically accurate, SUPERSTAR is now available to experience for a whole new generation thanks to this new revival and the timing could not be more ideal. The time is ripe for a revival of SUPERSTAR, and, as Andrew Lloyd Webber himself has recently related, this new production of the show is the best ever as far as he is concerned. High praise indeed - coming from no less than the Lord.

Josh Young makes his Broadway debut as 'Judas Iscariot' in The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's production of Jesus Christ Superstar directed by Des McAnuff at The Neil Simon Theatre. Preview performances beginMarch 1, 2012 with an opening on March 22.

Auckland Music Theatre will present CHESS from 12th-26th of May, by arrangement of The Play Bureau (NZ) Limited.

Today in 1970, JESUS CHRIST SUERSTAR creators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice received gold records for the original cast album of the show. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971. The musical is based very loosely on the Gospels' account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the crucifixion. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, struggles that are not in the Bible. The resurrection is not included. It therefore largely follows the form of a traditional passion play.

The MIT Musical Theatre Guild is now looking for Directorial Staff for the Summer 2010 production of Jesus Christ Superstar by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Musical Theatre West kicks off its 2009-2010 Season with the stage version of the classic 1944 MGM film Meet Me in St. Louis. Featuring the timeless songs 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,' 'The Trolley Song,' and 'The Boy Next Door,' Meet Me in St. Louis is the heartwarming tale of love and family against the backdrop of the 1904 World's Fair. Meet Me in St. Louis runs October 30-November 15 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

On Saturday, October 31st, SESSIONS, the candid and witty musical about the everyday life of a New York therapist and his patients, celebrated its 300 performance at the Algonquin Theatre (123 East 24th Street).

Musical Theatre West kicks off its 2009-2010 Season with the stage version of the classic 1944 MGM film Meet Me in St. Louis. Featuring the timeless songs 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,' 'The Trolley Song,' and 'The Boy Next Door,' Meet Me in St. Louis is the heartwarming tale of love and family against the backdrop of the 1904 World's Fair. Meet Me in St. Louis runs October 30-November 15 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Musical Theatre West kicks off its 2009-2010 Season with the stage version of the classic 1944 MGM film Meet Me in St. Louis. Featuring the timeless songs 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,' 'The Trolley Song,' and 'The Boy Next Door,' Meet Me in St. Louis is the heartwarming tale of love and family against the backdrop of the 1904 World's Fair. Meet Me in St. Louis runs October 30-November 15 at the beautiful Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, the first masterpiece from the legendary writing team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is to have a new big screen transfer. According to the Risky Biz blog, Universal Pictures is keen to follow-up the phenomenal success of last year's 'Mamma Mia!' film, and is turning to 'Superstar' to make that happen.

The Boiler Room Theatre (BRT), Williamson County?s resident professional theatre company, will present Andrew Lloyd Webber?s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, beginning Aug. 21, 2009 at the theater, located in the historic Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd., Building Six, for a run through Sept. 19, 2009.

Robert Newman, star of 'Guiding Light' and a two-time Daytime Emmy nominee for his longtime work on 'Guiding Light,' joined the cast of SESSIONS beginning Friday, May 29th. SESSIONS, directed by Thomas Coté, is now playing off-Broadway at the Algonquin Theater (123 East 24th Street). Albert M. Tapper (From Where I Stand, Broadway: The Golden Age) pens this candid and witty new musical about the everyday life of a New York therapist and his patients. Tony Sportiello/Algonquin Theatre Productions and Jason Hewitt are the producers.