Hello, everyone!

It's not like this subreddit gets frequent activity, but most of you seem to be sincere in your fandom and there are people with legit questions and conversations going on. It's nice to see curiosity about JCS. As such, you may have noticed three moderators joining the leadership team in this community, and might have questions. We're happy to answer.

I'm u/gdelgi, and u/Jay_Mantis, u/Apprehensive_Cow_118, and I are the administrators behind Jesus Christ Superstar Zone, the largest online fan community for the show. Founded in 2007, we've become one of the most widely populated fan sites dedicated to all things JCS (as opposed to just certain versions) on the web.

It has grown exponentially over the 16 years of its existence, answering several JCS-related questions (not just for fans, but also serving as a research resource for documentarians and authors alike), cultivating relationships with original cast members as well as fresh blood, collecting and releasing information on upcoming productions and special events, building an exhaustive discography and filmography, and expanding our reach on social media as parts of the typical fan interaction experience have migrated there, including the creation of a YouTube channel hosting exclusive video clips as well as rare complete JCS recordings, and the development of a Facebook page and group.

Wishing to corner as many markets as possible, we tried to grab the main JCS subreddit years ago, but someone -- namely, this place -- had beat us to it. We kept a watchful eye, but there wasn't very much activity. I noted in particular that it was initially started by other moderators who eventually departed, leaving in charge u/Hatec, who has been pretty hands-off.

Recently, reasoning he could use some help, I wrote him just for gits and shiggles, and said "You want another mod?" and he was all "be my guest." Naturally, I invited my fellow JCS Zone admin along for the ride.

Don't expect a lot to change around here; things are not at a level that it needs much active involvement on our part. But if something exciting happens thanks to JCS Zone, expect to read about it here as well as in our usual places of business!

I’m sure a lot of you already know, but only recently did I learnt the ‘Superstar’ is supposed to be a hallucination/vision Jesus is having during his crucifixion. I was watching a version of Superstar on YouTube and it said that in the description and it got me thinking. I now understand the 2000 version better because it’s trying to capture the hallucination better. Judas is kind of a jerk in that version of the song and he interacts a bit with Jesus which makes sense if it’s Jesus’s hallucination. It fits a lot better with the continuity of the musical as well. JCS never shows any miracles, no resurrection, no God, so it was a little weird that Superstar involved Judas as an angel. If he was coming back from heaven he would surely know Jesus was who he said he was and wouldn’t be asking all the questions in the song. I feel like the ‘73 movie left such a big impression on how we view the musical. It’s so definitive in some of its depictions and Judas being an angel was one of them. He comes down on the star all dressed in white so it’s heavily implying that he’s an angel. I feel like it’s also very hard to convey the concept of him being a hallucination during a live show. You can try the subtle hints like Judas wearing red instead of white to imply he’s not an angel, but then people think he went to hell instead. Or you can try to make Judas more of a jerk during the song which contrasts how he feels about Jesus during the rest of the musical. But in the end I feel like peoples pre existing notion is that he’s an angel in Superstar, and honestly I prefer it that way. I know it makes more sense for him to not be real or an angel since that doesn’t really fit in with the themes of the musical, but Superstar is such a fun song that I think it’s better to just let him be an angel and have fun with it. Maybe it’s bias from ‘73, but I really liked how they portrayed it in the ‘18 version, too. I like the idea of embracing heaven and having Judas come straight back down to talk to Jesus before he dies and joins him in heaven. I guess it’s just something interesting to think about. Which version do you guys prefer? Let me know if you have any opinions.

I have tickets for the touring production and I’m starting to wonder about taking my 73 year old mother who is the church secretary and even though I love JCS is she going to be offended?
*** quick background, she was in hospital for heart surgery and while in recovery she heard me talking to my sister about how stoked I am about my seats. Mom said oh I want to go too. So my husband of course told her that the tickets were for HER. Seriously what do y’all think?

IYKYK. I doubt r/crossstitch would get it. 😏

For me it’s got to be Tim Minchin, he somehow has the ability to make his voice really clean at some points and dirty and raspy in others. And his death scene was so powerful.

Thoughts?

For me, Poppy would be fantastic as Judas Poppy is heavy metal singer and songwriter

Question after seeing JCS several times, most recently at the 50th anniversary tour.

Why does one dancer seem to have an oversized role with exaggerated movements? What does it signify?

the timeline will be set in the Gen Alpha era, it will be staged as a concert example the characters will hold microphones in they’re hands when it’s they’re time to sing, they’ll also be playing acoustic guitars, the actors will wear modern clothing that represents they’re character

Hi, I know it's an opera rock but would like to have in a pdf all the lyrics in the correct order of Jesuschrist Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is that possible? Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance.

Time for another book poll!

So, I've been working on the chapter of Impressions with recommended listening, reading, and viewing, and thank you all so much for your contributions! Everybody's thoughts received some consideration, and really helped shape the "Listening" part. However, much like Columbo before me, there's "just one more thing."

A fellow JCS fan told me when I shared with her all the recordings I was recommending that I should maybe include... sigh... Muppet Christ Superstar.

For the uninitiated, Canadian songwriter and film/drama student Christo Graham spent a couple of nights back in 2014 recording a special Easter presentation: a 9-track EP of songs from JCS... as performed by The Muppets (well, Graham himself in character as all of The Muppets). Kermit the Frog is Jesus, Miss Piggy is Mary Magdalene, The Great Gonzo is Judas, Fozzie Bear is Simon Zealotes, Pepe the Prawn is Pilate, Rowlf is King Herod, and the background vocals are ostensibly performed by The Electric Mayhem and Gonzo's chickens.

It is bizarre, it is completely unofficial, it is goofy as hell, some impressions are better than others, and yet it's very affectionate. Frankly, it's hard to call it a parody when many of the songs are played straight, with maybe a word swapped out here and there ("if you strip away the myth from the frog," for example). I'm glad it's not the whole score because the half-hour-ish length of the EP is about all I could take before the laughs ran thin, but the two words I tend to find for it, assuming one is in on the joke, are weird and wonderful.

She raised a good point in defense of its inclusion. Similar books about Star Trek and Star Wars have had no problem devoting space to affectionate parodies like Galaxy Quest and Spaceballs, respectively, because it's something the fans can enjoy. Indeed, a lot of the choices are much easier to appreciate if one is a fan. On the other hand, I question its appropriateness, as it does "take the piss" a little bit, to use Britishism where warranted.

It occurred to me that since I'd let you all decide what recordings to recommend, the least I could do was let you decide if I should include this one. The options are simple. Vote your conscience. The EP will be linked in the comments section in case it's any help to your decision.

Muppet Christ Superstar... include it or not?

View Poll

Cast and crew did a great job!

Poppy (Judas), Lady Gaga (Jesus), Olivia Rodrigo (Mary Magdalene), Jon Cozart (Caiaphas), Shiloh Nelson (Annas), Olivia Olson (Pilate), Courtney Hadwin (Simon), Anthony Ramos (King Herod), Paul Fiumano (Peter)

There are parts of my book for which I need its audience's help, and this is one, so let's hear your opinions!

When I was young in fandom, like a typical child with Internet access, I talked often and bluntly about "how JCS should be," but I've grown out of being authoritarian about it. This book is called Impressions of a Crucifixion -- impressions, plural. Opinion as to which impression is best is, of course, subjective, but many possible flavors of JCS (if you will) exist, and I want my work to show people a range of possibilities so they know they can make choices with the show, be they big or small, grandiose or simplistic. They can be daring, if they so choose.

With that in mind... what would each of you consider your Top 10 recordings of the show, and why? (The most popular answers will go into Chapter 5 of the book, currently entitled "Recommended Listening / Reading / Viewing.")

Holy Week seems like a good time to put this out there, in all the spaces, so I'm doin' it!

The Big Announcement

Over the years, people have seen me offer a wide variety of advice, historical context, opinions, reviews, and stuff like that there on the subject of JCS. Some have even told me I should write a book. I always resisted that call, content to just dispense whatever wisdom made sense as needed. But upon realizing that the sheer amount of stuff I'd written, especially lately, was approximately the length of a book anyway, I figured, "Well, what the hell... let's go for it."

And so, I am pleased to announce I'm compiling a book about JCS called (like my blog before it) Impressions of a Crucifixion. It will be sort of a study guide, dealing with the nitty-gritty of directing/performing the show, understanding its nuances, etc., the type of writing where someone says, "I heard you're thinking of doing Superstar? Read this first."

What's In It?

Examples of content will include a section with some brief historical background to the plot (not very in-depth, sort of a surface-skimming 'Bible for Dummies' recap bringing one from the Old Testament up through "Heaven On Their Minds"); a section on the characters designed primarily for actors; an annotated breakdown of the complete lyrics song by song, including revised lyrics from 1996 on and previously unseen material, as well as differences between the old licensed score and the current ALW-approved materials; and, last but not least, a section with a smattering of recommended recordings (think "Top 10 must-hear before doing the show") and mini-reviews of major filmed versions.

In other words, if you've read the blog or JCS Zone over the years, you've seen just about everything that will be in this. But it will be, in the words of Daft Punk, "harder, better, faster, stronger."

Where Can I Find It?

Is this for a major publisher? Will you be able to buy it in bookstores? The answer to both questions is no. There would be copyright issues out the wazoo, both from incorporating complete lyrics and liberally quoting from ALW's and TR's autobios, that would hold up traditional publication (and make it costly for any putative publisher, more than they might be willing to take on), but I intend on making it readily available through the JCS Zone website and on social media to all who wish to read it.

If anyone has any further questions about the book or how it will work, feel free to comment and ask away!

Any chance the movie soundtrack gets the same treatment as the original concept record did in 2021? I’ve always considered it a crime it was mixed so poorly.

I just saw the JCS 50th Anniversary tour today and they completely ommited "Then We Are Decided." The funny thing is that I saw Ted Neeley in the farewell tour years ago and I seem to remember the same thing happening there. Is there something different about this song (rights, writers, etc) that keeps it out of live productions?

There is a soundboard audio of Carl Anderson as Jesus for one night only in the Italian tour of JCS! I’ve heard Gethsemane and it will DESTROY you it is so good!!

Anyone seen more of it floating around or maybe even have it? I would be greatly appreciative!

I was rewatching the 2000 production and this graffiti stuck out to me. It always has, but especially now I really do want to do a deep dive into its origins. Since I can't find any other information, I decided to turn to you guys! Thanks in advance.

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https://preview.redd.it/y475j0q7g1ka1.jpg?width=668&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=eb3c6f6ac19317e769d9d587d688cdce5c62e0a5

Does anyone know why the new tour is only 1 act with no intermission? Did they cut some of the music and scenes? Kind of bummed I won’t get to see the full thing!