JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE Discussion Thread

[Jordan Catalano]

Besides GREASE, I think this is the best live musical that’s been done since they started doing them again.

[gypsy101]

i forgot how the commercials completely break all dramatic tension in these live shows, why have they get to get one sponsor so they can provide us limited commercial interruption??

[Elfuhbuh]

I only got to catch the first thirty minutes or so, as I’m traveling back to school now, but WOW! So far, it really seems like NBC finally got the live musical thing down. I do think keeping it contained to a stage and not making the actors run around to a bunch of clunky sets is what keeps the energy alive, and everyone is doing a fantastic job! I can’t wait to watch the rest.

[Up In One]

Fantastic staging, set, orchestra/band I do miss Jesus' high whaling notes but Legend brings a relatable intimacy in exchange. Sarah sang it well but was hoping for something more earthy which would have meant different casting. Hope they release this minus the commercials and mix out the crowd overreacting in spots.

[Babe_Williams]

gypsy101 said: "i forgot how the commercials completely break all dramatic tension in these live shows, why have they get to get one sponsor so they can provide us limited commercial interruption??"

 I feel like a lot of it is for set changes? I don’t know, it does seem like a lot. 

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Well that was one of the worst renditions of Gethsemane I’ve ever heard.

[Nycat63]

Is half the ensemble and the strings from Great Comet? Maybe it's just the vibe but I feel like they look familiar.

Just spotted Jonah Platt (I'm only 45 min in).

[CarlosAlberto]

Jordan Catalano said: "Besides GREASE, I think this is the best live musical that’s been done since they started doing them again."

I wholeheartedly agree with you. 

[Scarlet Leigh]

Welp. That happened. I know it's an "in concert" set up, but you got to still ACT while you are singing.

[Luscious]

Cape Twirl of Doom said: "Well that was one of the worst renditions of Gethsemane I’ve ever heard."

Painful to watch.

 

[Danielle49]

I noticed within the first act tonight that his voice is much more tired than it was at the rehearsal. (As those who were at the rehearsal will recall, he got a standing ovation.) I knew when he got to Gethsemane it'd be rough. He must've strained it too much throughout the day yesterday. What a shame.

[greenifyme2]

Babe_Williams said: "gypsy101 said: "i forgot how the commercials completely break all dramatic tension in these live shows, why have they get to get one sponsor so they can provide us limited commercial interruption??"

I feel like a lot of it is for set changes? I don’t know, it does seem like a lot."

It was a lot for sure, but in person you could see all of the crew team swarm the stage and rush to change the  set, sweep up the glitter, etc. Getting that glitter cleaned up looked like a nightmare!

[bwayobsessed]

Cape Twirl of Doom said: "Well that was one of the worst renditions of Gethsemane I’ve ever heard. "

I can’t disagree more. It’s different than the traditional but I thought it was very effective. 

[rclocalz]

Oh man, that Gethsemane was hard to get through...

[CallMeAl2]

Casting John Legend as Jesus really changes the game here. In every other production you have an actor that starts the show as a nobody and then has to convince you that he could start this movement. But John doesn't have to act the superstar. He steps out and the superstar metaphor is already there from the first note. He doesn't really have to act the part of Jesus - the point of the show is now that Jesus was the John Legend of his time.

[Luscious]

Do you think John Legend will strip to the waist for the crucifixion scene? He appears to be in good shape. Will it matter if he doesn't?

[RaisedOnMusicals]

This brings back so many memories of buying the OCR in 1971 and rushing home to play the records on my stereo. (Yep, I’m old). I remember thinking that the score was a masterpiece. I still think so. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Luscious said: "Do you think John Legend will strip to the waist for the crucifixion scene? He appears to be in good shape. Will it matter if he doesn't?"

It doesn’t...

[curel1]

His Gethsemane was fine, not the best but I liked it

[CallMeAl2]

RaisedOnMusicals said: "This brings back so many memories of buying the OCR in 1971 and rushing home to play the records on my stereo. (Yep, I’m old). I remember thinking that the score was a masterpiece. I still think so."

Yeah. I first heard the score in my Catholic high school religion class. As soon as the record was released the priest that taught the class brought it in and played it for us. Back then it was a while before I could afford to buy the multi-LP set for myself. 

[MikeInTheDistrict]

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.

[Mike Costa]

There is nothing "IN CONCERT" about this staging, you guys should know that.  This is a FULLY STAGED, expensive, first rate, choreographed, CLASS A production with huge sets and extraordinary costumes.  It is only billed as "IN CONCERT" to get people to watch it who would not watch a MUSICAL on television. It was brilliant marketing.

[Babe_Williams]

The actor playing Pilate was fantastic and that was a great scene.

[John Adams]

Completely agree with those who disliked Gethsemane. When he went into falsetto, I felt bad for him. (Everybody's been there - when your voice won't do what you need it to do...)

If his acting was better, he could have gotten away with it, though. I feel like he's doing a lot of "hit the mark and sing the lines" throughout the whole show.

On the other hand, my eye is consistently drawn to the actor playing Simon Zealot whenever he's in frame.

 

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Alice was Alice and it was perfect, even if he flubbed a line.

I agree that the guy playing Pilate is great.