On Friday evening, I walked in the UC Davis Health Pavilion ready for a gritty retelling of Jesus’ crucifixion. From the first note, the show really leaned into its rock opera energy with powerful vocals and electric guitars. As I sat there, I thought about how impressed I was that even after 50 years, the story of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR still feels urgent and provocative in the musical theatre community.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was originally created as a concept album with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. After hitting #1 on the charts, it was then produced into a successful Broadway production. The show follows the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas, giving a new twist to with the Biblical story.
I saw this production in 2023 and seeing it adapted to the Music Circus stage was amazing. The productions’ use of lighting to set the mood and intensify emotions made the show immersive. The team was extremely creative with their sets, including how they used the stage and how they adjusted the stairs to eventually become the cross. I was also impressed with the creativity of the costume department. From the glitzy moments with King Herod to the more post-apocalyptic vibes of the everyday person, the costumes told their own story. My favorite more subtle moment was Judas’s hood—in his moments of shame or embarrassment, he would pull it up to hide his feelings.
As mentioned above, the show gives a powerful and different view of Jesus’ time on earth before being crucified. The show does a beautiful job of showing the duality of Jesus. While he was seen as the son of God, he was also a man. He could lose his temper, get overwhelmed, and get scared, and I think that helps make his crucifixion even more impactful. Justin Sargent did an amazing job capturing this duality. His pain, anger, and despair could not only be heard in the songs but were also clearly displayed on his face. Much of the ease to his burden was Mary Magdalene and Maelyn Jarmon took on the role with grace. I feel lucky to have heard her rendition of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” as it gave me goosebumps numerous times and still has me thinking of it in awe.
From the music to the costumes and amazing cast, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is a show you will be buzzin’ about for weeks to come. Check out the show now through March 22 at the UC Davis Health Pavilion. Learn more here.
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