Happy 50th Birthday Jesus

Phantom of London
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5,060 posts

Happy 50th Birthday Jesus Aug 8, 2022 23:40:20 GMT peggysue likes this

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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 8, 2022 23:40:20 GMT

So 50 years today at the Palace Theatre Jesus Christ Superstar was born again.

After a disastrous debut on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. At the Palace Theatre, today 50 years ago in London is where Jesus found its mojo. The musical written by 2 unknown composers: Mr Andrew Lloyd Webber and Mr Tim Rice, love or loathe them, there is no denying that 50 years today was a pivotal event in musical theatre history that sent shockwaves through the industry, arguably as big as Rogers and Hammerstein and Sondheim, this date will be just as iconic for theatre historians. JCS changed the theatrical terrain and influenced shows such as Les Miserables, Wicked, Rent & Hamilton etc and JCS today is still successfully revived, 50 years later!

Thanks to Elaine Paige for the heads up on her show on Radio 2 last Sunday.

Happy 50th birthday.

ptwest
Swing

654 posts

Happy 50th Birthday Jesus Aug 9, 2022 7:24:56 GMT via mobile

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Post by ptwest on Aug 9, 2022 7:24:56 GMT

Still my favourite ALW score, the 1996 recording is my go to, and rate the Lyceum production as one of my all time favourite theatre visits.

crabtree
Swing

Lively gent, 65, still going to the theatre, and making theatre with such enthusiasm.

1,259 posts

Happy 50th Birthday Jesus Aug 9, 2022 18:28:41 GMT

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Post by crabtree on Aug 9, 2022 18:28:41 GMT

I saw it about three years after it opened, and I, fresh from doing drama at uni, had my eyes opened at the physical toll of eight shows a week. it was in pretty poor shape sadly. Not enough disciples, and not all the chequer board floor lit up, and it looked very tired indeed. I think resident directors keep things in tauter shape these days. let's hope I caught JCS on a particular limp day, but here i was expecting theatre at it's best.

films, theatre, books, animation

AddisonMizner
Swing

642 posts

Happy 50th Birthday Jesus Aug 9, 2022 21:42:39 GMT

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Post by AddisonMizner on Aug 9, 2022 21:42:39 GMT

For me, SUPERSTAR is by far the best Lloyd Webber show. It just all works, in a way that few of his other shows do. The score is one of his best - the most cohesive, less repetitive, and some of his most interesting work. It has an energy, propulsion and drive that he sometimes lacks. Dramatically, it really works as well, which is mostly always the major flaw with some of his other pieces. If only he could make them like this now!

I didn't see this particular production unfortunately (I wasn't born), and have only seen one professional production of SUPERSTAR done (the Regents Park production when it was mounted at the Barbican. Unfortunately, I seem to be one of the only people that did not like it. To me, it was very much 'The Voice does JCS' and the acting was an afterthought).