Jesus Christ Superstar began as a concept album in 1970 before making its stage debut in 1971. The original 1970 concept album was the brainchild of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice.
During and prior to the Golden Age of Broadway, songs regularly premiered on stage and then charted, spending time on the radio and becoming popular worldwide. In the 1960s, Broadway songs and popular music diverged, and work from musicals was no longer synonymous with chart hits. There have certainly been a good share of exceptions since that decade, as Broadway has evolved to mirror popular, current music genres. Several of the songs that have broken through to the Billboard charts can be heard on Broadway!
It's been over three decades since a fully performed production of Chess has been seen on a Broadway stage. While many of its songs have become beloved standards, the show's plot remains largely unknown to audiences. With months until performances begin, study up on everything you need to know about Chess.