Film & TV NewsJohn Legend Will Star in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live!In a twist from previous live musical broadcasts, the April 1 production will be presented as a live concert from Brooklyn.
By
Ryan McPhee
December 19, 2017
John Legend
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter John Legend will take on the title role in NBC's upcoming presentation of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!, airing from the Marcy Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn April 1, 2018.
Alice Cooper
Craig Sterken / Shutterstock
The recording artist joins the previously announced Alice Cooper, who will take on the role of King Herod in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock musical.
Legend won an Oscar in 2015 with Common for the Selma anthem "Glory." The song also won him one of his ten Grammy Awards (he's also won for Best R&B album for Wake Up! and Get Lifted).
Though he has not yet performed on the Broadway stage, Legend won a Tony earlier this year as a producer on the revival of Jitney. He also penned the song "(I Guess I) Miss You" for Broadway's SpongeBob SquarePants.
Legend will also serve as an executive producer, joining Lloyd Webber, Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Mike Jackson, and Ty Stiklorius. David Leveaux will direct.
The Easter Sunday telecast will deviate slightly from NBC's previous live musicals, with Jesus Christ Superstar being presented as a concert with a live audience. The network's last production, Hairspray Live!, was shot at the Universal Studios backlot, while the first three (The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, and The Wiz) aired from a Long Island soundstage.
Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
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PHOTO ARCHIVE: Jesus Christ Superstar on Stage and Screen
PHOTO ARCHIVE: Jesus Christ Superstar on Stage and Screen
The most recent revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar closed on this date two years ago. Playbill looks back at the show in various stage and screen incarnations.
44 PHOTOS
Playbill Cover from the original Broadway production
Jeff Fenholt and company in the original Broadway production
Jeff Fenholt and company in the original Broadway production
Carl Anderson, Ted Neeley and Yvonne Elliman starred in the 1973 film
A portion of the proceeds from the concert will benefit the Entertainment Community Fund's Women's Health Initiative, founded by the late Phyllis Newman.
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